Bay Water Trail Point Isabel
Regional Shoreline
TRAILHEAD INFORMATION
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline is a well-loved park located in the southern portion of the City of Richmond. Point Isabel is a popular windsurfing launch due to the ideal wind direction and frequency. When conditions are calm, the site offers an ideal kayak launch or destination with picnic tables, restrooms, and a café.
The primary water access location features a wide cement ramp that leads to a small gravel beach protected behind a rock jetty. An ADA path to the beach also provides access to the gravel beach. A large rigging area is located at the top of the ramp.
In addition, a water entry path of cement cobble is located just south of the Hoffman Channel, which is primarily used by dogs to access the water but also provides an emergency egress for windsurfers.
From I-580 take the Central Avenue exit and head west (towards the Bay). Follow Central Avenue past Costco until it turns into Isabel Street. Isabel Street terminates in Point Isabel Regional Shoreline.
Free parking is available in a large lot north of the site and along Isabel Street. The parking area has eight ADA spaces.
There are two ADA accessible restrooms within Point Isabel that provide running water and flush toilets.
A picnic area is located adjacent to the primary water access. The two ADA-accessible restrooms are located near the parking area and close to Sit & Stay Café.
The East Bay Regional Park District recently completed (2019) a new launch that provides ADA access to the shore that includes a path of travel from the parking area and restrooms to the high tide line.
The riprap that comprises the shoreline can be hazardous for windsurfers that get stuck too far inshore and are unable to tack back to the launch. The emergency egress can be an important exit in such situations.
Point Isabel and adjacent shoreline is fairly urban, with limited natural habitat occurring in the immediate vicinity. Wetlands along the Richmond shoreline are located approximately 0.75 miles to the north. The Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve / State Marine Park, an important feeding ground for a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl, is located approximately 0.5 miles to the south.
In addition, Brooks Island is within four miles of the site. Brooks Island contains 18 species of nesting birds, including herons, gulls, and terns. Access to Brooks Island is only allowed seasonally on the western sandspit of the Island or as part of a scheduled East Bay Regional Park District naturalist tour. Trips to Brooks Island can be scheduled through EBRPD Reservations Department.