Distance: ~ 6 miles one way. We plan to hike the trail one way out to Treasure Island
Elevation Gain: ~ 300’ Easy to Moderate
Estimated Time: 4+ hours
Parking: Free

A pedestrian/bike path runs along the south side of the Bay Bridge from Oakland to Yerba Buena Island with nice views of the bay and San Francisco. The trail begins on Shellmound St. in Emeryville directly across from the entrance road into IKEA. https://511.org/biking/bay-bridge-trail

Description:
The first mile passes under the 80, 580 and 880 freeways and along a large wastewater treatment plant that handles much of the east Bay. There are several displays describing the facility and its operation. Passing the toll plaza, the trail, a 15 ft. wide pathway shared by bikers and pedestrians and separated from the main roadway, begins a gentle climb toward Yerba Buena Island. There are good views of SF and the bridge. After 4.5 miles, the trail ends at Yerba Buena Island. From there we follow Hillcrest Road to Treasure Island Road across Yerba Buena Island down to Treasure Island. The road is a bit steep and does not have much of a shoulder. I have walked along it with a number of hikers and bikers and have had no problems. Treasure Island has some great views of SF, the Bay Bridge and the east Bay.

Here there is a small museum commemorating the 1939 World's Fair and the original site of San Francisco International Airport. On a previous visit there was a nice exhibit on the Pan Am Clippers that flew from San Francisco to Manila in 6 days in the 1930's https://www.treasureislandmuseum.org/visit

On the Treasure Island is a former Flea Market, now known as the TreasureFest. This is an upscale arts and crafts fair with food vendors and live music. We paid small admission charge ($7 in 2018) and spent an enjoyable afternoon there after our hike.

The TreasureFest takes place on the last weekend the month starting in February. https://www.treasurefest.com/experience

So I am proposing a Bay Bridge hike for the weekend of February 24/25 with optional extensions to the Treasure Island Museum and TreasureFest. The bridge walkway is fully paved so any recent rain, which would muddy normal hiking trails, won't be a problem. If the weather is poor on Saturday, we will postpone until Sunday.

The hike is one way out to the island. Return options include hiking another 6 miles back to the start point in Emeryville (not my first choice), taking an Uber, taking the #25 Muni bus into San Francisco and then catching BART. A recent option is the Treasure Island Ferry which for $5 will bring you to the SF Ferry building on the Embarcadero. https://tisf.com/ferry-service/

Restrooms are not available at the trailhead but can be found at the MacArthur BART station, along the trail about 1.5 miles from the starting point, at the eastern end of the trail at Yerba Buena Island, and on Treasure Island.

Dogs on short leash are allowed on the Bay Bridge Trail but there are severe restrictions on bringing dogs, other than service animals, on BART or MUNI.

What to Bring:
Bring snacks and water, and pack a lunch if you like. However, there are several restaurants on Treasure Island. I'm planning to eat at Treasure Fest, where there will be several food trucks.

If the day is clear there can be quite a bit of sun exposure so sunblock and a hat are recommended. Dressing in layers with a windbreaker is a good idea, as it can be breezy on the bay.

Directions:
One can park at the Emeryville IKEA. However, I plan to take BART to the MacArthur station and catch the free Emery-Go-Round shuttle to IKEA and the trailhead. Shuttles labelled with the destination Shellmound/Powell may be found by walking to the right as you exit the BART station. Shuttles leave BART every 20 minutes (I recommend the ones at 9:20 or 9:40 AM) arriving at the IKEA about 7 minutes later. For more information see: https://emerygoround.com/standard-service/

Rain policy:
If there's any question about the weather on the day of the hike, you can check the forecast the morning of the hike. The NWS forecast for the Emeryville may be found at http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-122.29254003601065&lat=37.83270228100024#.WCf4BNy9Y7w If it's raining significantly, the hike is postponed until the following day, Sunday 2/25.

If the weather is ambiguous, we will send out an email on the morning of the hike to all that have registered or sent an RSVP.

The MIT Club of Northern California and organizers do not assume any responsibility for any personal injuries or property damage suffered during this event.