El Cerrito, CA: Northern California Chapter, Bay Trail Walk

Come spend a day with us on the Bay Trail walking along the shores of Richmond, Albany and Berkeley. Starting from the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station, we’ll wind our way down to Point Isabel (aka Doggie Heaven on Earth) to join up with the trail and then turn south around the Albany Mudflats to Golden Gate Fields and the Albany Beach. Because no visit to Albany would be complete without it, we’ll head out to the Albany Bulb to marvel at the fantastical urban art by local artists and the community members who made their homes there from the 1990s up to 2014. Next, we’ll cross over into Berkeley and make our way up Addison Avenue through the tranquil West Berkeley neighborhood, passing a few more points of interest, and end in Downtown Berkeley. As a bonus, we’ll drop by a super-secret spot along the way. What is it? Shhh… You’ll have to come to find out! Registration required.

Schedule: Meet at 10:00 AM for sign-in and briefing outside the main entrance to the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station. We’ll have lunch at the Albany Beach and expect to arrive at the Downtown Berkeley BART Station around 3:30 PM. For those interested, we’ll have cool-down beverages and bites afterwards in the outdoor back patio of nearby Jupiter.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate. About 10 miles, mostly flat, on sidewalks and paved trails. Total elevation gain is only 164 feet (about 16 flights of stairs). Because of the distance, this hike is suited for those who can walk continuously for 3-4 hours.

Advance online registration is required. Click the Register button above to sign up by Thursday, May 19. Because space is limited, we ask that you register if/when you are certain you can attend. Thank you!

Cancellation: If you are unable to attend, please email us as soon as possible at norcal@americanpilgrims.org so we can offer your space to someone else.

Getting There: This is a BART station-to-station walk so getting there and back is a cinch! Just use the BART Trip Planner to take a train to the El Cerrito Plaza Station and then from the Downtown Berkeley Station for your return home. If you drive to the El Cerrito Plaza Station, parking is unrestricted in the lot on weekends.

Note: Before exiting the El Cerrito Plaza Station, be sure to take the opportunity to visit the restroom!

Carpooling: Registered participants will have access to an online “Carpool Bulletin Board” to post a message if they need a ride or can give one. But we encourage you to use public transportation (BART) if it is accessible.

What to Bring: A bag lunch, snacks, water and sun protection (hat, sunscreen). Good walking shoes are sufficient. Hiking poles may be helpful, but not necessary. Clipper card/app with enough funds for the BART fare.

Leaders: Chapter members Guy Joaquin, Merula Furtado, Marilyn McCartney and Laurie Ferris

The Ruff Stuff: For insurance purposes, we are unable to welcome dogs, except service animals, at our events.