Bay Meadows

Calling all outdoor enthusiasts. Cyclers, joggers and walkers will love this new destination complete with a redwood boardwalk and bridge over gorgeous wetlands where wildlife can be viewed. The newest segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail is open at the Ravenswood Open Space Preserve! San Francisco Bay Trail connection at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve has been nominated for @bikesiliconvalley‘s Project of the Year as part of their annual #SVBikeSummit Awards.

An easy-access paved pathway, bridge and a raised boardwalk with an overlook and interpretive signs now connect University Avenue directly to the preserve. Walkers and bicyclists can access the preserve via the new trailhead, parking is only available at the main preserve entrance on Bay Road.

• Enjoy 1.2-mile easy-access trail runs along the marsh on a raised levee.
• Overlook platforms are located at each end of the trail—a great location for birdwatching or watching the tide roll away.

After 15 years of effort, Midpen closed a 0.6-mile gap to connect 80 contiguous miles of the San Francisco Bay Trail. The trail opened a new portion of the San Francisco Bay shoreline to the public and offers a commute alternative to the tech campuses in the Silicon Valley.

The Ravenswood Bay Trail project is an easy-access paved pathway, bridge and a raised boardwalk with an overlook and interpretive signs that closed a 0.6-mile critical gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail on the peninsula, between University Avenue and Ravenswood Preserve. Completing this trail gap connected 80 miles of continuous Bay Trail connecting from Menlo Park to Sunnyvale and across the Dumbarton Bridge to the East Bay.

Preserves are open from one-half hour before official sunrise until one-half hour after official sunset. No dogs allowed, please.

Did you know? You can access the San Francisco Bay Trail directly from Bay Meadows. The San Francisco Bay Trail is a planned 500-mile walking and cycling path around the entire San Francisco Bay running through all nine Bay Area counties, 47 cities and across seven toll bridges. With over 350 miles in place, the Bay Trail connects communities to parks, open spaces, schools, transit and to each other, and also provides a great alternative commute corridor. Established in 1989, the Bay Trail is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Watch the video to learn more about this milestone in the making!

Funded by Measure AA, as well as partners Association of Bay Area Governments/Coastal Conservancy, County of San Mateo, Santa Clara County , California Natural Resources Agency, Facebook and Caltrans, the project also included wetlands restoration projects ranging from creating high-tide refuge islands for wildlife to vegetation planting in the high-tide transition zone.

Cover: Family Birdwatching by Frances Freyberg/Midpen

Experience Midurban life. Bay Meadows is a family-friendly neighborhood with lots of open space to enjoy all-year long. Whether it’s growing your own vegetables in an organic community garden, playing a game of pick-up basketball after work, team building over bocce in the beer garden, picnicking with family on warm summer nights or with a run around the park, there’s no shortage of green space to explore. Check out life out and about at Bay Meadows by following us on Instagram.