Berkeley Marina

The Berkeley Marina Ramp is used by both motorized and non-motorized boaters, providing access to the marina and open waters of the Bay, with sweeping views of the Bay Bridge, San Francisco, Angel Island, and the Golden Gate in the distance. The marina provides a protected launch and over 52 acres of water for docks and paddling that is sheltered from the winds that frequent this area. The boat launch is owned and managed by the City of Berkeley.

Boat launch facilities consist of two cement boat ramps with three high-freeboard docks. The site is designed primarily for trailered boats, but is used by many different boat types. Ample free parking is available as well as accessible restrooms, a picnic area, and a fish cleaning station.

The Berkeley Marina Ramp is located off of Spinnaker Way, in the northern portion of the Berkeley Marina. From Interstate 80, exit at University Avenue and head south towards the Marina. At the fork in University Avenue near the Marina, stay right and the Ramp parking is located near the end of Spinnaker Way across from Cesar Cavez Park.

AC Transit also operates the Bus 51B line, that runs from the Rockridge BART station in Oakland, through downtown Berkeley and along University Avenue to the Berkeley Pier. The bus stop is located on the far side of the marina from this site.

Free parking is available in a large lot north of the site. Parking for boat trailers is allowed for up to 72 consecutive hours. The parking area has 2 ADA spaces.

There are four unisex, accessible restrooms with running water.

The site has ample parking and access to a variety of nearby amenities, including the adjacent Cesar Chavez Park and the Double Tree Hotel. Around the marina, visitors can bike ride on the Bay Trail, hike or fly a kite in Cesar Chavez Park, enjoy fresh seafood or snacks at a variety of restaurants, fish off of the Berkeley Pier (temporarily closed), and hike or bird watch in McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.

The docks and ramp are not currently accessible.  The shoreside facilities include a path of travel (not marked), sidewalks, restroom, and parking that all appear to be ADA accessible and well maintained.

Please be respectful and courteous to your fellow boaters. Navigation rules to not give human-powered boats right-of-way over powerboats or sailboats. All boats are obligated to make early and substantial course changes to avoid risk of collision.

This launch is used primarily by motorized boats and can get crowded on weekends, so care needs to be taken to avoid user conflicts. Motorized boats and sailboats are regularly moving throughout the marina, particularly near the mouth of the marina, so small non-motorized boats need to take caution to avoid these vessels.

This site and adjacent shoreline is fairly urban, with limited natural habitat occuring in the immediate vicinity. Low traffic docks are used by gulls, cormorants, terns, and other shorebirds for resting and warming. No nesting or major roosting sites are known to occur in the area; however, Brooks Island is within four miles of the site. Brooks Island contains 18 species of nesting birds, including herons, gulls, and terns.

The Water Trail recommends boaters maintain a buffer distance of 200 meters (656 feet) from nesting colonies of birds and 820 feet (250 meters) from large groups of floating waterbirds. To help you visualize what these distances mean, 100 feet is approximately the distance of six sea kayaks.