Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
About The Park
The journey is as scenic as the destination at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, a 2,315-acre parkland right next to densely populated Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo. Trails lead through breezy meadows with wildflowers in season, through aromatic eucalyptus woods, or along bluffs and beaches on San Pablo Bay.
There are beautiful views of Mt. Tamalpais, the Marin shoreline, and San Pablo Bay with its sailboat and shipping traffic.
History
Point Pinole opened to the public in 1973 after a long process of acquiring the property from Bethlehem Steel. Bethlehem had acquired the land in the early 1960s from Atlas Powder Co., one of several firms that had manufactured gunpowder and dynamite there for almost 100 years. Back to top
Park Features
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline features over 100 species of bird due to a myriad of habitats within its 2,315 acres. Bird life can be found on sandy shores, marshland, eucalyptus groves, meadows, and in a fresh water pond while meandering along the park's twelve miles of trails. To see a list of common species in the park, download the Point Pinole bird list.
The eucalyptus woodlands, originally planted as a buffer against potential explosions, now shelter wildlife instead, such as deer, hawks, owls, Monarch butterfies, and many other species. Shorebirds wade at the beaches, and the salt marshes are home to song sparrows and harvest mice. Back to top
Park Activities
Visitors can birdwatch, hike, ride their bicycles or horses, or take the park's shuttle bus for a mile and a half to reach Point Pinole's 1,250-foot fishing pier. There is a small fee to ride on the shuttle bus (see Shuttle Ride Fee under Park Info).
Although a State fishing license is required to fish along the 5.5-mile shoreline, none is needed to fish from the pier. Sturgeon is the big quarry there; striped bass, bay rays, leopard sharks, perch, kingfish, and flounders are among the other catches of the day.
Learn about San Francisco Bay Trail connections. Back to top
Park Accessibility
There are wheelchair accessible restrooms and a paved shuttle trail in the park.
Trail Accessibility Reports
- Bayview Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
- Point Pinole Road: Download PDF format | Download Word format
To Reach The Park
From I-80 in Richmond, exit at the Richmond Parkway. From the Richmond Parkway, turn right onto Giant Highway and proceed to the park entrance.
Public Transit
Call 511 (TDD/TTY: 1-800-448-9790) or visit www.transit.511.org to confirm transit information. Back to top
Trail Map
Movie Clips
- Movie Clip 1: Point Pinole History (duration: 1 min 1 sec)
- Movie Clip 2: Point Pinole "Saved by Dynamite" (duration: 1 min 19 sec)
- Movie Clip 3: Point Pinole Park Features (duration: 34 sec)
You can also save movies to your computer in QuickTime format. If you don't have QuickTime, you may download QuickTime here.
- Download Movie Clip 1 (2.7 MB QuickTime Movie): Point Pinole History
- Download Movie Clip 2 (6.5 MB QuickTime Movie): Point Pinole "Saved by Dynamite"
- Download Movie Clip 3 (3 MB QuickTime Movie): Point Pinole Park Features
Park Info
- Address
- 5551 Giant Highway
Richmond, CA 94806 - Download Brochure
- Local Weather
Movie Clips- Maps
- View Trail Map
- Download PDF Map
- Yahoo Map
- Park Hours
- Open between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted or permitted
- Park Events
- Click here for upcoming events
- Parking Fee
- Fees are collected when the Kiosk is attended on weekends and major holidays from April through October.
Car/Trailer: $3
Buses: $25/per bus. - Dog Fee
- $2 per dog are collected when the Kiosk is attended on weekends and major holidays from April through October. Guide/service dogs free
- Shuttle Ride Service
- Shuttle van service is available Daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.
- Shuttle Ride Fee (Round Trip)
- $1 age 12 and older; 50 cents age 6-11; children under 6, seniors 62+ or disabled ride free
- Camping Reservations
- No reservable campgrounds
- Picnic Reservations
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
- Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757