The Redwood Shores Branch Library and Belmont Slough, as seen from the Bay Trail around Oracle Parkway.

This is effectively the start of the continuous Bay Trail in Redwood Shores. It's between the parking lot of the hotel at the end of Twin Dolphin Drive and the San Carlos Airport. This part of the trail is paved and relatively new. It wasn't there when I did the original guided photo tour.


Where the paved path turns to follow along Steinberger Slough, there is a short path leading to this lookout point at the edge of the slough. The fence marks the boundary of the San Carlos Airport.


The Bay Trail ends here, but the Bay Trail map shows a planned route running along the edge of the San Carlos Airport. If and when that happens, it may run on top of the levee next to the slough. However, safety, security, and environmental concerns may be roadblocks to implementing an off-road trail past the airport.


The paved trail runs between the landscaped grounds of the hotel on the left and the banks of the slough on the right.


Near the child care center is a viewing area along the trail.


This is another viewing area on the trail next to the child care center.


The paved trail runs on this straight section between the slough on the right and a stormwater pond on the left.


Looking across Steinberger Slough here, you can see Middle Bair Island, the bulk material processing facilities at the Port of Redwood City, and the office buildings at Pacific Shores Center.


A flock of pelicans flies over Steinberger Slough headed for the stormwater pond. The childcare center and hotel are in the background.


This stormwater pond is behind the athletic center and the adjacent shopping center. There are informal dirt paths around the pond.


This is a closeup of the flocks of birds in the stormwater pond.


Ahead, the paved trail gives way to a gravel trail. This part of the trail hasn't changed since the original guided photo tour. One of the entrances to the trail at the end of Spar Drive is just ahead.


This is grassy 6.25-acre Mariner Park. It's entrance is on Tiller Lane and provides another access point to the Bay Trail.


On the slough side of the trail, opposite Mariner Park is a broad pickleweed-covered marsh. The marshes that surround Redwood Shores, except at the end of the peninsula, are part of the Redwood Shores Ecological Preserve, administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.


Ahead on the left is a pocket park on the left. On the right, the trail follows a wide graded gravel path below the high bank of the levee. Trail users are advised to stay on the wide trail instead of the levee top.


This is the pocket park, with a path that leads to the intersection of Cringle Drive and Barkentine Lane.


This is a landscaped section of the trail behind homes on Cadiz Circle and Riviera Circle.


The trail passes by a private park and tennis court on Martinique Drive.


Across Steinberger Slough is a breach in the levee around Outer Bair Island.


There is a large lawn area with a small park behind residences. This is a private park for residents only.


This is another part of the private park area.


A short distance from the trail is the end of one of the arms of the Redwood Shores lagoon system, between Waterside Circle and Bay Harbour Drive.


There is a small private park and playground off of Sea Chase Drive.


The trail runs behind a line of houses on Governors Bay Drive. There is a short path next to a small playground near here that provides access to the trail from Redwood Shores Parkway.


There's a broad pickleweed marsh next to the trail.


When the houses end, there's a huge flat, open area, which becomes a wetland in the rainy season.


On the slough side, there are power towers. A rickety catwalk leads to the towers.


The line of power towers continues on the other side of the trail. The powerline right-of-way creates a long, wide swatch of undeveloped open space and developed parkland, but no buildings.


This ramp leads down to Shore Dogs Park. The ramp is a relatively recent addition, and it routes the Bay Trail to Radio Road. There is parking here at the dog park. On the other side of the road is a pond that's part of the South Bayside Systems Authority's wastewater treatment plant.




The trail passes the water treatment plant but ends at a fence. (Hold your nose as you pass by the plant.) There is a viewing platform here at the mouth of Steinberger Slough. Ahead are the open waters of San Francisco Bay. The interpretive sign talks about herons, egrets, and waterfowl.




This view across the mouth of Steinberger Slough shows the Coyote Hills Regional Park on the other side of the Bay.




This is a closeup of the birds on the water treatment plant's pond.


As seen from Radio Road, this is Shore Dogs Park, an off-leash dog park. It sits next to a lagoon.




This small park is off Rockport Avenue. Nearby is public parking off Radio Road.




Ahead, the trail crosses a lagoon arm on a bridge. There's a short spur on the right to a viewing platform.


While the old trail route at the edge of the peninsula is off-limits, there are several viewing platforms that provide views of the protected areas. This is the easternmost platform, nearest to the radio antennas.


Crossing the bridge, there is a park on other side of the lagoon. The Bay Trail route goes to the right.


This is a view from one viewing platform along the lagoon channel towards the first viewing platform to the east. The trail is on the south side of the lagoon. The dirt road below and all lands to the left are off-limits.


Looking to the northeast from the end of the viewing platform, you can see the old levee trail, Bay Slough, Bird Island, the East Bay hills, and Mt. Diablo in the distance.


Looking to the north from the viewing platform, you can see more of the old levee trail, Bird Island, and the San Mateo Bridge.


This is the viewing platform, looking west along the lagoon towards another viewing platform.


This section of the Bay Trail along Seabrook Court is paved and landscaped. The ramp leads over the lagoon to the viewing platform.


This is the last viewing platform at the northwest corner of the peninsula.


Looking back to the east from the viewing platform, the Bay Trail route goes over the bridge to the paved path on the right.


Looking south from the viewing platform, the paved Bay Trail runs next to a small park.


Looking across the lawn of the park, behind it is the viewing platform and the Bay Trail sign. Canada geese and a jackrabbit find the lawn appetizing.


The trail intersects this paved pathway along a lagoon and landscaped greenbelt under the powerlines. A similar path runs along the south side of the lagoon and is an alternate route for the Bay Trail.


The area here is part of a new project called The Preserve at Redwood Shores, by Keech Properties. A trail spur leads out to the levee along Belmont Slough.


This interpretive sign is at the end of the spur trail on the levee. It talks about the history of the area.


This part of the sign talks about the origin of Redwood Shores Lagoon.


Ahead a gate blocks further travel on the levee. Belmont Slough is on the left.


Back to the main trail, this is a new paved section. The housing development on the right is the developed residential part of The Preserve. Along the left side of the lagoon is an older paved and gravel path that leads to Shearwater Parkway.


The paved trail runs between the new housing development and Belmont Slough.


This interpretive sign, placed by Keech Properties, explains the restoration process for the 80 acres of privately-held wetlands that were restored to tidal marsh, starting in 2008 and completed in March 2011.


The interpretive sign is at a rest area and wetlands overlook on the trail Ahead is a new school on the right.


Next to the trail is a new elementary school, Redwood Shores Elementary School, on 7 acres off Shearwater Parkway. It was opened in 2010.


The trail goes around the playing fields at the end of the school.


Next to the school is the parking lot for Preserve Park, a new public park built as part of The Preserve development.


This is 3-acre Preserve Park, completed in 2011.


The trail leads to another overlook with signs.


This interpretive sign talks about life in the tidal marsh, including the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse and California clapper rail.


This is a spur trail leading out to an overlook on the levee.


This is the wetland overlook platform.


The levee beyond the overlook is closed. Belmont Slough is on the left of the levee. Foster City is in the distance.


The trail passes over a forebay. Large pipes under the trail bring Bay water from Belmont Slough into the Redwood Shores Lagoon system. It also brings in fish, which is why this is a popular feeding spot for birds.


An older section of the trail begins here. The trail surface is gravel. The houses on the left are new.


The trail runs above a string of apartments off Marine Parkway. There are benches along the trail for viewing Belmont Slough.


The gravel trail ends at the end of the row of apartments. There are 2 possible routes from there. One is to take the sidewalk and bike lane along Bridge Parkway. The other is to take a dirt levee path along Belmont Slough.


This is the start of the dirt levee path. A marsh separates it from Bridge Parkway on the left.


This is a view looking across the marsh towards Bridge Parkway, which runs around a large industrial park.


The dirt levee trail has been around for a long time. It used to be narrow and rough. It's now wider and smoother.


This is a view looking back along the levee trail.


The dirt trail ends where it joins the paved trail. Ahead on the right across Belmont Slough are the towers of Oracle Corporation.


Oracle Corporation's World Headquarters campus sits on a peninsula at the end of Belmont Slough, where it splits into 2 arms.


The new Redwood Shores Library, a branch of the Redwood City Public Library System, sits right on the Bay Trail at 399 Marine Parkway. The library opened in 2009.


This is a view looking back along the Bay Trail at the Redwood Shores Library. The library has a cafe, nature exhibits,


The Bay Trail route splits at Oracle. One leg follows Marine Parkway. The other runs on publicly-accessible private property around Oracle Corporation. The paved path runs between Oracle Parkway and Belmont Slough. There are parcourse stations, benches, trees, picnic tables, and restrooms on this leg.


The trail branches off to a large tree-lined lawn at the end of the peninsula.


This is the large lawn area at the end of the peninsula is called Marine View Park.


This is a view from the end of the peninsula. The Foster City Bay Trail is on the left. The Bay Trail along Bridge Parkway is on the right.


The trail curves and follows the west arm of Belmont Slough.


Near the end of the west arm of Belmont Slough is the Oracle Bridge, which leads to Oracle facilities on the Foster City side of the slough.


This is the Oracle Bridge leading to Foster City. It is open to the public and provides the shortest and easiest way to reach the Foster City Bay Trail. Other routes require taking surface streets.