Four of the Best Bike Routes in Oakland and East Bay
Due to its central location and plethora of flat, bikeable streets, Oakland has a lot to offer cyclists who want to tour around the East Bay by bike. The best bike routes in Oakland aren’t necessarily the same for everyone, but there is sure to be a route that will work for just about every cyclist, no matter what your skill level, preferred scenery, and interest in climbing hills for incredible views.
In this post, we’ve put together what is by no means a comprehensive list of the best bike trails in Oakland, but some of the highlights for you to try out and see what you like.
When it comes to cycling, Oakland and the surrounding East Bay area have so much to offer — nature, historical sites, bustling downtowns — and seeing it all by bike sure beats sitting in traffic in your car.
Port Of Oakland
This scenic ride is perfect for cyclists of all skill levels who want to check out a wide variety of landscapes on a casual ride. Most of the ride takes place on streets that aren’t highly trafficked by cars, and the entire route is quite flat. You can start in Oakland and take Broadway to Jack London Square and then take 3rd to Adeline; wrap up your leisurely ride in Harbor View park and enjoy the gorgeous views (especially good for sunset or sunrise).
If you’re feeling bold, you can continue your ride over the Bay Bridge and head into San Francisco for some city riding.
Montclair to Skyline
Beware, hill-avoiders! This trail is not for the faint of heart, but it does rewards those who are willing to brave a few steep (but fairly short) climbs with incredible views of the bay and the city.
This 20-mile trail will take you from downtown Oakland, past Lake Temescal, and through Montclair — even including a section through a wooded area of a trail for bikes and pedestrians only. To pick up this trail, start on Broadway in Oakland and head towards Skyline Boulevard via Mountain Boulevard. Follow Skyline around Joaquin Miller Park to begin your loop back home.
Martin Luther King, Jr Shoreline
If you want to ride across the water to Alameda, you can head towards the Martin Luther King, Jr Shoreline from downtown Oakland by crossing the Park Street bridge. This 17-mile route wraps around the San Leandro Bay, offering relatively flat terrain and plenty of water views until you reach the Shoreline and you can look back towards Oakland on the Garretson Point Trail.
Because most of this route consists of bike trails, cyclists can enjoy rides free from cars, which makes it a great choice for a leisurely weekend ride out of the city.
Historic Oakland Bike Tour
According to East Bay Express, this ride is great for groups who want to tour around some of Oakland’s historic landmarks without breaking a sweat.
The route goes like this:
“The roughly six-mile ‘Five Historic Houses Bike Tour’ takes riders from East Oakland to West Oakland to five homes that have preserved part of local history. Cyclists can start at the Peralta Hacienda Historical Park in Fruitvale (2465 34th Ave.) and then head south along 34th Avenue to the Cohen Bray House (1440 29th Ave.).
From there, cyclists can ride west on Foothill Boulevard to the Camron-Stanford House (1418 Lakeside Drive) next to Lake Merritt. Next, head west on 14th Street to the Pardee Home in Old Oakland (672 11th St.). The last stop is the Defremery Recreation Center (1651 Adeline St.) in West Oakland.”
What’s the best bike route in Oakland and the East Bay?
We hope some of this trails will inspire you to get out and enjoy the many trails and cycling routes that Oakland has to offer. If you think we missed a great one, let us know on our Facebook page!