San Diego Bay Trail

The trail circles the entire bay, and each stretch has its own character. Starting from the South Bay bayfront at Chula Vista, the path runs north along the water past marinas and the reclaimed shoreline, then out onto the Silver Strand, a slender sandbar that separates the calm bay from the open Pacific surf, with beach on one side and sailboats on the other.

From there it reaches Coronado, wraps past its harbor and landmark hotel, and continues around to downtown San Diego's Embarcadero, where the working waterfront, museum ships, and skyline take over. About half of the full loop is a genuine separated path, safely off the roads, while the remainder follows on-street bike lanes through the towns, so a full circuit mixes wide-open waterfront cruising with a few stretches of urban riding.

The southern end of the bay is the surprise for most first-time visitors. Where the harbor narrows and shallows near Chula Vista and Imperial Beach, it opens into broad salt marshes and mudflats that form part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most important stops on the Pacific Flyway for migrating and wintering birds.

Ride or walk this stretch slowly and you will see great blue herons standing still in the shallows, snowy egrets stalking the flats, and clouds of shorebirds working the mud at low tide. It is a striking contrast to the busy harbor a few miles north, a reminder that beneath the marinas and naval piers, San Diego Bay is still a living estuary. The quiet, protected feel here is exactly why the Chula Vista end makes such a pleasant, low-stress start to the trail.

Head north and the trail delivers the postcard San Diego. The Silver Strand carries you along a thin line of land with the bay's flat blue water on one side and the Pacific rolling in on the other, past state-beach access points where you can stop for a swim. Then comes Coronado, its shady streets and green parks leading to the sprawling red-roofed Hotel del Coronado, a wooden Victorian resort that has stood at the edge of the sand since 1888 and hosted presidents, royalty, and film crews ever since.

From Coronado the skyline of downtown San Diego rises across the water, and a short ferry ride can carry you and your bike over to the Embarcadero rather than tackling the high bridge. That flexibility is part of the trail's charm: you can piece together a big loop, a one-way ride with a ferry, or a simple out-and-back, and end up somewhere scenic no matter which piece you choose.

The trail is accessible from many points around the bay, but the Chula Vista bayfront at the southern end is a relaxed place to start, with the continuous car-free path beginning there and easy out-and-back options along the salt marshes and Silver Strand. Because it is essentially flat the whole way, it rewards a slow pace as much as a fast one, and you can turn around whenever you like.

Come ready for open water and open sky. There is little shade along most of the route, so bring sun protection, plenty of water, and a wind layer for the afternoon sea breeze. Where the path drops onto city streets, ride defensively and watch for traffic and pedestrians. Time your ride for a calm morning, aim to reach the South Bay marshes near low tide for the best bird activity, and you will see the many faces of San Diego Bay from its most beautiful vantage: right down at the water's edge.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.