I was recently stuck near the San Francisco Airport waiting to pick up friends at the airport. I didn’t hang out in a coffee shop. I went directly to the shoreline south of the airport, parked my car, and took off walking along the shoreline. The paved trail winds along the bay offering views of the airport to the north and the San Mateo Bridge to the south. The trail seemed endless as I strolled for about an hour and saw no end in sight. I decided to finally figure out how far I could walk, depending on how late a flight might be in the future. I discovered that the trail is part of the Bay Trail, a planned 500 mile hiking and biking trail around the entire San Francisco Bay. Over 290 miles have been completed.
While wandering along the trail I spotted Marbled Godwits, American Avocets, Willets, and many gulls. As the winter migration season picks up steam, you are sure to see more shorebirds out in the wetlands. The Bay Trail website offers birding guides and a wealth of information about this amazing project.
So, next time you find yourself in the congested, industrial area around the San Francisco Airport, head off any exit south of the airport, find yourself a parking spot, and head directly east. You’ll spot this paved, marked trail and your worries will disappear.