Bay Water Trail 
TRAILHEAD INFORMATION
Highlights
Tidewater Boating Center is located on the shore of the Oakland Estuary in San Leandro Bay. San Leandro Bay offers unique paddling opportunities behind Alameda Island, with Arrowhead Marsh and a mixture of history, industry, commercial activity, and houseboats. Despite the urban shoreline, shorebirds and harbor seals abound, and if you are lucky, leopard sharks and bat rays can be seen.
Nearby destinations include Crown Beach, 2.5-miles around Alameda Island to the east, with a wide sandy beach, concessions, and other amenities. Jack London Square provides a fun destination 3.5-miles north with restaurants and concessions.
Boat Facilities
Tidewater Boating Center provides a large low-freeboard dock accessed from two gangways, one of which is ADA accessible. There are staging and boat drop-off areas near the top of the launch. Boat dollies are available to borrow from the East Bay Regional Parks District office near the top of the launch. A boat rinsing hose is available to wash down gear following a paddle.
The East Bay Regional Park District provides naturalist-led paddling programs. Tidewater also offers a boathouse, training area, boat storage facility, Recreation Department offices, and a security residence. The Oakland Strokes, a non-profit junior rowing organization for middle and high schools, operates the main boathouse and indoor training area and provides outreach to neighborhood youths in the sport of competitive rowing.
Directions
From I-880 in Oakland, exit at High Street and head west. Turn right onto Tidewater Avenue and right again at the signed entrance to Tidewater Boating Center.
Tidewater is also reachable by bus on AC Transit routes 98 or 73.
Parking
Tidewater provides a large parking area with six ADA parking spaces and approximately 55 total spaces. Parking is free with no limits during park hours. Park hours vary seasonally – please check the park website for information.
Restrooms
There are four unisex, ADA-accessible restrooms with flush toilets.
Amenities
Picnic tables, BBQs, drinking fountain and benches.
Accessibility
Tidewater provides an ADA gangway to an accessible low-freeboard dock. There are six ADA parking spaces and the path of travel between the parking area and the ADA gangway is paved. There are four ADA restrooms – two near the parking lot and two near the launch.
Nearby Trails
The Bay Trail runs throughout the Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline.
Safety Tips
San Leandro Bay can be shallow in areas. Check the tides and stay out of more narrow channels during low tides to avoid getting stuck in mud.
Along the Oakland Estuary and particularly at Jack London Square you are advised to beware of ferry boats and larger commercial shipping vessels.
Wildlife Tips
Tidewater is located near sensitive wildlife habitat, particularly at Damon Marsh and Arrowhead Marsh (see map). Help protect important wildlife area by keeping a respectful distance and watching for signs of disturbance, such as behavior changes or flushing.
The Water Trail recommends boaters maintain a buffer distance of 50 feet from Ridgway’s rail habitat and 820 feet from large groups of floating waterbirds. To help you visualize what these distances mean, 100 feet is approximately the distance of six sea kayaks.
