For a long, flat outing in the southern East Bay, few routes beat the Alameda Creek Regional Trail. Managed by the East Bay Regional Park District, it follows Alameda Creek for about 12 miles from the mouth of Niles Canyon in Fremont's Niles district west to San Francisco Bay.

Two trails, two surfaces

The trail runs on both banks of the creek. According to the park district, the south-side trail is paved and recommended for cyclists, walkers and runners. The north-side trail is unpaved and designed for horseback riding. Both sides are wheelchair accessible. Only the south side connects directly to Coyote Hills Regional Park.

Quarter-mile markers make it easy to time your run. The district notes that adding a 3.5-mile loop into Coyote Hills and back gives you a full marathon distance. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed on paved sections, and motor vehicles are not allowed. Cyclists must wear helmets and call out or ring a bell when passing.

Before you go

  • Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted.
  • Construction: The Alameda County Flood Control District is removing sediment between the Isherwood Staging Area and the I Street entrance in Niles through November 2026. The Isherwood parking lot and parts of the trail may be closed Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Water: The park district has posted blue-green algae caution advisories at Shinn Pond, so keep pets out of the water.
  • Access: Entrances are along streets in Fremont, Union City and Newark.

The creek's story

Alameda Creek runs about 45 miles and is unusual because it cuts straight across the Diablo Range through Niles Canyon, Wikipedia notes. Geologists see that as a sign the creek existed before the East Bay hills rose, about a million years ago. Five Spanish expeditions, including those led by Portolà and Anza, crossed it between 1769 and 1795.

After dam removals and fish-passage projects, ocean-run steelhead trout can again reach parts of the creek. The first young trout migrating downstream from the upper watershed toward the bay was documented in April 2023. Combine the trail with a stop in historic Niles, or continue to Coyote Hills for bay views.