Secluded swimming around the Bay Area

Leila Figueroa, Photographer|March 19, 2021

  • A skyline of San Francisco can be seen from the Albany Bulb in the city of Albany. The peninsula has a variety of dog-friendly trails and beaches, decorated with sculptures made of garbage, to represent the landfill that once occupied the park from 1939 up until the 90’s. (Leila Figueroa / Xpress Magazine)

  • This mini beach is a North Bay gem, offering a perfect view of the Carquinez bridge and is a close proximity to a wide variety of take-out or food delivery options for picnics. It can be accessed at Alvarez Ninth St. Park in the City of Benicia. (Leila Figueroa / Xpress Magazine)

  • Once an operating shipyard and ferry terminal, this waterfront has transformed from a busy workers’ hub to a place for people to relax and enjoy. Located in the City of Benicia, which was California’s state capitol from 1853 to 1854. (Leila Figueroa / Xpress Magazine)

  • This secluded beach is the reward of a roughly four mile round trip hike that can be accessed from Muir Beach in the Tamalpais Valley. The coastal hike is primarily cliffside territory and reaches 192 feet in max elevation. (Leila Figueroa / Xpress Magazine)

  • Following the abandoned railroad tracks through the California redwoods lead down a path that the South Pacific Coast Railroad traveled from the May of 1869 to the mid 1900’s. The tracks that once led from Santa Cruz to Alameda, now leads the path to the Garden of Eden, a natural swimming hole created by the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz County. (Leila Figueroa / Xpress Magazine)

  • Across the street from Samuel P. Taylor State Park, The Inkwells are hiding beneath the bridge in the City of Lagunitas, where waterfalls flow into the freshwater pools. The 17-year-old bridge has pipes that carry Marin’s drinking water supply from Kent Lake and the Nicasio Reservoir to the Marin Municipal Water District. (Leila Figueroa / Xpress Magazine)

  • The largest lake in Napa County offers a variety of hiking trails as well as kayak and paddle board rentals to use on the nearly 16-mile-long lake. Created in 1957 due to the completion of the Monticello Dam, the lake was not intended for recreational purposes until the National Parks Service got involved in 1959. (Leila Figueroa / Xpress Magazine)

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With spring break around the corner and summer in the near-enough future, here are a few places that are a little more secluded than local beaches and typical touristic destinations waterfronts like Baker Beach, Ocean Beach, and Thornton beach near the SF State Campus. These lakes, swimming holes and secret beaches are lesser known than other go-to landmark beaches, making these places more suitable for the second summer of social distancing.

This list has options for people of all levels of ambitiousness, ranging from a stroll in the park, to a steep uphill hike. There are also opportunities for a half-day hike or a weekend camping trip. Most of these places are close enough to a campground, where people can set up and hang out for a few days. Lake Berryessa, The Garden of Eden and The Inkwells are all in state parks that have campgrounds with fire pits and coin-operated showers.

Whether it’s a relaxing weekend at a campground or a challenging hike, everyone should get away from the continuous screen time and take at least a few days off to enjoy the diversity of Bay Area environments.