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Boating / Kayaking / Sailing

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Boat Inspections

Click on the links below for information on watercraft launch and rental, watercraft inspection, lessons and equipment rental, and the Lake Chabot and Lake Del Valle tour watercraft. (Note that there are also bay watercraft launch sites in San Leandro, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Martinez and Antioch that are not operated by the Park District.)

See also:

Boating Field Trips (Kayak and Canoe)

The Outdoor Recreation Department provides affordable boating field trips for schools and community organizations. Our knowledgeable and engaging Recreation staff provide the boats, safety equipment, and instruction; meet your group at the lake or shoreline, and provide a safe and organized trip.
More information and Apply for a Boating Field Trip.

Canoeing and Kayaking Programs

Join us for one of our regularly scheduled public canoeing or kayaking trips in a group setting, where our engaging Outdoor Recreation staff will guide you on a fun paddle exploring our Regional Parks’ waterways and lakes. We offer a variety of programs; all include paddle and safety instruction, and gear. Some programs also feature a naturalist.
Register for one of our public Canoeing or Kayaking programs.

Mandatory Watercraft Inspections

To provide temporary protective measures against invasive Zebra and Quagga mussel infestation, the East Bay Regional Park District is asking all watercraft owners to assist in the prevention of the spread of mussels into East Bay reservoirs and lakes. If you are launching your own watercraft (boat, sailboat, kayak or canoe, or inflatable craft) at Contra Loma, Del Valle, Lake Chabot, Quarry Lakes, or Shadow Cliffs, be prepared for mandatory watercraft inspection. Wet watercraft, or watercraft with wet motors or gears, will not be allowed to launch. For information on mandatory watercraft inspection, see our Invasive Mussel Program page.

Big Break Regional Shoreline - Oakley

Big Break Regional Shoreline is a part of the great 1150-square-mile Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

  • Vehicle Entry Fee: No fee.
  • Watercraft Launch: Kayakers and canoeists can access the waters of Big Break from the on-site beach launch, a ¼ mile walk from the parking lot.
  • Watercraft Launch Fee: No fee.
  • Watercraft Rental: No rentals.

All watercraft need to have wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) available for each passenger.

Contra Loma Regional Park - Antioch

Contra Loma Regional Park includes an 80-acre reservoir open throughout the year for boating and sailing.

  • Vehicle Entry Fee: $5 per vehicle; $4 trailered vehicle; $25 per bus.
  • Boat Launch: Visitors may launch boats of up to 17 feet. Electric motors only; no gasoline-powered engines are allowed on the reservoir because it is an emergency backup water supply for the Contra Costa Water District. Persons using float tubes must have life jackets with them.
  • Boat Launch Fee: $5 per day trailered boat (electric motors only); $3 per day car top or inflatable; $2 per day windsurf board, windsurfers must take a shower and wear a wetsuit.
  • Watercraft Inspections: $4 cartop, $7 trailered. More Information.

All watercraft need to have wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) available for each passenger. For more information, call 1-888-327-2757 option 3, extension 4518.
See also our Fishing page.

Crown Memorial State Beach - Alameda

Crown Memorial State Beach is a 2.5-mile beach. From the shore, you can see across the Bay to San Francisco.

  • Vehicle Entry Fee: $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended; $4 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus.
  • Boat Launch: There is no boat launch facility. Only sailboards, kayaks, and car-top inflatables are permitted at Crown Beach.
  • Boat Rental: Kayaks and sailboards are available for rental.
  • Lessons and Equipment Rental: Boardsports School offers kiteboarding, windsurfing lessons and windsurf equipment rentals to visitors. For information, visit their website at BoardSportsSchool.com or email the Boardsports School at info@boardsportsschool.com.

All watercraft need to have wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device available for each passenger.

Del Valle Regional Park - Livermore

The lake at Del Valle Regional Park is 5-mile in length and it is an ideal place for various water sports. 

  • Vehicle Entry Fee: $6 per vehicle. $4 per trailered vehicle, including all trailered boats. Buses: $25 per bus.
  • Boat Launch: Visitors may launch any size boat at the public boat launch ramp. JET SKIS are NOT permitted.
  • Watercraft Inspections:
    $7 Trailered boat
    $4 Cartop, float tube, inflatable boat, paddle board
    More Info: Mandatory Watercraft Inspections.
  • Boating Regulations:
    • Capsized boat charge--$50
    • Motorboats of any size are permitted. JET SKIS are NOT permitted.
    • Speed limit is 10 miles per hour on the entire lake.
    • All watercraft must be off lake 1 hour before gates are closed (note: closing times vary throughout the year).
    • Boats, operators, and passengers must meet and observe all applicable Coast Guard, State, and Federal safety requirements (including having approved life vests for each boat occupant, operable fire extinguisher on board, and observing alcohol restrictions, which are the same as with automobiles).
    • All watercraft must be registered.
  • Boat Launch Fee:
    $5 per day per trailered boat
    $3 per day car-top or inflatable
    $2 per day windsurf board and paddle boards.
  • Boat Rental:
    • Rocky Mountain Recreation Company offers rentals such as motorboats, pontoon boats, canoes, rowboats, and paddle boats. Please visit their website at RockyMountainRec.com or call (925) 449-5201 for rate and rental information.
    • Outback Adventures offers kayak, paddleboard, and windsurf board rentals. For rates and rental information visit OutbackAdventures.com or call one of their retail stores:

      Fremont: (510) 440-8888 or Larkspur: (415) 461-2222

  • Lessons: Outback Adventures offers kayaking, paddleboarding, and windsurfing classes. For rates, information, and a schedule of classes visit OutbackAdventures.com or call (415) 461-2222.
  • Tour Boat: Join our interpretive student aides on a boat tour to the dam. They will answer your questions about the lake, the wildlife, and the activities available for you in the park. Bring a jacket, sunscreen, and binoculars if you have them. Purchase tickets at the west-side concession beginning at 11:00 a.m. Boat tours are weekends only, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • See also our Fishing page.

All watercraft need to have wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) available for each passenger.

Lake Chabot Regional Park - Castro Valley 

The 315-acre lake at Lake Chabot Regional Park offers a number of activities including fishing, boat rental, a marina and restaurant, and boat tours of the lake.

  • Vehicle Entry Fee: $5 per vehicle, $4 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus.
  • Boat Launch: There is no boat launch facility. Private watercraft may not be launched except for car-top canoes, kayaks, and scull craft 20 feet or less. Inflatables with 3 or more chambers are allowed. Float tubes may be used at Lake Chabot. Persons using float tubes must wear waders or other wet-suit material to prevent body contact with the water in the reservoir.
  • Boat Launch Fee: $2 car-top canoes, kayaks, and scull craft only, 20 feet or less.
  • Watercraft Inspection: $4 cartop. More Information.
  • Boat Rental: Visit The California Parks Company website for rate and rental information or call (510) 247-2526. Rental boats include rowboats, canoes, pedal boats, kayaks, and boats with electric trolling motors. Guided lake tours are also offered. See fees below.
  • Lake Tour: Guided lake kayak tours are also offered by The California Parks Company, visit their website or call (510) 247-2526 for information.
  • See also our Fishing page.

All watercraft need to have wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) available for each passenger.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline - San Leandro Bay, near Oakland Airport

The 741-acre Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline is leased from the Port of Oakland, protecting the remainder of a once-extensive marshland at San Leandro Bay.

  • Vehicle Entry Fee: No fee.
  • Boat Launch: The boat launch is located on the west side of the park off Doolittle Drive. Watercraft may launch at the designated boat launch, but are not permitted within 100 feet of Arrowhead Marsh, New Marsh, and Damon Marsh. A no-wake zone is designated by the marshes to protect the shorebirds. Follow buoys to the deeper water. Personal watercraft (jet skis) and hydrofoils are restricted from November 1 through March 31 due to shorebird migration and nesting season.
  • Boat Launch Fee: No fee.
  • Boat Rental: No rentals.
  • See also our Fishing page.

All watercraft need to have wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) available for each passenger.

Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area - Fremont

Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area is a beautiful water-oriented recreation area, which offers more intensive recreation such as picnicking, boating, swimming, and fishing, but also has room for hiking and wildlife viewing.

  • Vehicle Entry Fee: $5 per vehicle. $4 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25 per bus.
  • Boat Launch: Visitors may launch boats. Electric motors only; no gasoline-powered engines are permitted.
  • Boat Launch Fee: $5 per day trailered boat; $3 per day car-top or inflatable; $2 per day windsurf board/stand-up paddleboard.
  • Watercraft Inspection: $4 cartop, $7 trailered. More Information.
  • See also our Fishing page.

All watercraft need to have wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) available for each passenger.

Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area - Pleasanton

The 265-acre Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area includes an 80-acre lake for swimming, boating and fishing, boat launch, boat rental, and fishing docks.

  • Vehicle Entry Fee: $6 per vehicle. $5 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus.
  • Trailered Boat Launch is CLOSED: No trailered watercraft due to low water levels.
    Visitors may launch boats of up to 17 feet. Electric motors only; no gasoline-powered engines are permitted. Personal watercraft are not permitted.
  • Car top, Kayaks, and float tubes will be accepted.
  • Boat Launch Fees: $5 per day trailered boat; $3 per day car-top or inflatable; $2 per day windsurf board/stand-up paddleboard.
  • Boat Rental: Valid driver license is required. For operating hours, rates, and rental information call (925) 426-0197 or see RockyMountainRec.com.
  • See also our Fishing page.

All watercraft need to have wearable Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) available for each passenger.

Tidewater Boating Center - Oakland

The Tidewater Boating Center, located off Tidewater Avenue in Oakland, sits on the shore of the Oakland Estuary in San Leandro Bay at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline. This shoreline complex has an ADA accessible dock that is the first official San Francisco Bay Water Trail site in the Park District. Also available are turf sites for picnicking and shoreline access for fishing. The 12,300-square-foot complex consists of a boathouse, training area, boat storage facility, Recreation Department offices, and a security residence. The Oakland Strokes, a non-profit junior rowing organization for middle and high schools, operates the main boathouse and indoor training area and provides outreach to neighborhood youths in the sport of competitive rowing. Other organizations will be leased space to provide on-the-water experiences with boating and water safety, sea kayaking, canoeing, and other water-related recreational programs. Park District recreation programs will take advantage of the estuary access and the Bay Trail connection at the park, and include biking, nature study, kayaking, and canoeing programs.

Watercraft Permitted by Park

Quagga and Zebra mussel inspections are required. Asterisks * indicate permissible watercraft.

WATERCRAFT CONTRA
LOMA		 CROWN
BEACH		 DEL VALLE LAKE
CHABOT		 MLK
SHORELINE		 QUARRY
LAKES		 SHADOW CLIFFS
Canoe/Kayak * * * * * * *
Inflatable * * * * (3 or
more chambers)		 * * *
Float tube * * * * * No mussel
inspection
required.
No towing by
motor
vessel in water.		 * Horseshoe
and
Rainbow
lakes only		 *
Arroyo and
Main lake
Stand-Up
Paddle Board		 * Must meet
shower
requirements,
wear
wetsuit, and
life jacket		 * *
* * Horseshoe
lake only		 *
Sailboard * * *
* * *
Sailboat * 17-foot limit
*
* * * 17-foot limit
Row Boat * 17-foot limit
* *
must be
carried in;
17-foot limit		 * * * 17-foot limit
Electric Boat * 17-foot limit
*
* * * 17-foot limit
Motor Boat

*
*

Patio Boat

*
*

Watercraft for Rent by Park

Asterisks * indicate permissible watercraft.

WATERCRAFT CONTRA
LOMA		 CROWN
BEACH		 DEL
VALLE		 LAKE
CHABOT		 SHADOW
CLIFFS
Canoe/Kayak
Kayak * * Kayak
Sailboard
* *

Sailboat

Hobie Cat

Paddleboat

* * *
Row Boat

* * *
Electric Boat

* * *
Motor Boat

*

Patio Boat

* *
Duffy Boat



*
Cachuma




Tour Boat

* may charter * may charter

Water, Boating and Sun Safety Information

Water Safety Links

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