How long around is lake merritt

At the southern end of the lake, plans are in the works to link the trail to the San Francisco Bay Trail. That trail network will eventually span more than miles, circling the bay and linking more than 40 cities. The connection between the Lake Merritt Trail and the Bay Trail would travel under Interstate and involve the construction of a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the Embarcadero. At the north end of the trail, parking is available at Lakeside Park Perkins Street for a small fee.

Street parking is available at the foot of the Cleveland Cascade approximately Lakeshore Avenue , and along many of the residential streets near the lake. Public restrooms are available at Pine Knoll Park at the intersection of Lakeshore and Hanover avenues on the southeastern side of the lake. Log in Register. Search trails Close. Register Now. Lake Merritt Trail Facts.

States: California. Trail surfaces: Concrete. Quick Links:. Submit Photo. Submit Review. Kickin' back by the lake. View Classic Gallery Submit Photo.

Originally, this was an arm of San Francisco Bay where indigenous Ohlone tribespeople who fished and gathered. The lake is also on the National Register of Historic Places, and the necklace of lights that encircles it at night was first lit in the s.

If you plan on making most of the stops in this itinerary, save at least a half day for this walk and aim to finish up around sunset.

How do I get there? Street parking is time-limited and usually metered. For more Transportation details see Oakland and Around in the yellow bar. Start your walking tour off Grand Ave. Walk south through the park toward the lakeshore past the enclosed Gardens at Lake Merritt free admission, open 9 a.

Downhill and right on the water, the Lake Merritt Boating Center open daily, except weekends only Nov. Excellent bird-watching opportunities await outside the center as you continue alongside the lake east to the romantic pergola and colonnade , where you should stop to drink in some of the best views anywhere around the lake. On Lakeshore Ave. The quieter eastern shore of Lake Merritt has no tourist attractions, so this is where many locals who live in the neighborhood come to hang out and picnic.

The Barrows males have kidney-shaped eye patches and small oval wing markings that distinguish them from the common goldeneye. The females are very similar. They often congregate in mixed groups near the twelfth street bridge at the Lake outlet. Here one has a chance to examine the difference between the two species as well as differences in males, females and juveniles.

All leave by the end of March for their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. With legs positioned under the middle of their body, these ducks are good walkers and are out of the water much of the time. Because of this leg placement they "dabble" rather than dive, tipping heads down, tails up. They can be found anywhere on the lake and are present year round, nesting on the islands. Photo by Dianne Fristrom Ruddy Ducks Several "fleets" of these cute little ducks can be found in the protected arm of the Lake and in the vicinity of the islands.

The males in breeding plumage shown have a bright blue bill. During mating display, the tail stands straight up. They are good divers, with legs placed well back on the body. These birds are concentrated in the protected arm of the large with large flocks taking advantage of the handouts of grain from the nature center.

Both Greater and Lesser Scaups are present but are very difficult to distinguish from each other. They eat almost anything that moves, fish, frogs, small mammals.

They happily accept handouts of fish from the nature center as well as foraging for themselves. Look for them at the nature center or near the channel to the bay when the tide is coming in. Photo by Dianne Fristrom Snowy Egret Commonly seen around the edges of the lake at low tide, stirring the water with its bright yellow feet to lure small fish and crustaceans into striking range.

Fluffy nuptial plumage in March and April is part of its dramatic mating display. Like the great egret they nest and roost in trees on the islands and at times it seems as if the trees are blooming snowy egrets. In addition to the great and snowy egrets at least one cattle egret identified by a pinkish splotch on its forehead has been spotted on the big island. Photo by Dianne Fristrom Geese Canada Goose Part of a large year round breeding colony, these elegant birds hang out on the grassy areas surrounding the lake and on the islands.

The fluffy chicks are a welcome sight in spring. Photo by Dianne Fristrom Grebes Grebes Four or five species of grebes are winter visitors to the lake. The largest and most striking is the Western Grebe now divided into Western and Clark's grebe with its elegant black and white neck. The smaller Horned and Eared Grebes have shorter necks than the Western Grebe and greyish rather than black plumage on neck and back.

The Eared Grebe has a distinctive bump on the top of its head. All of the grebes are strong swimmers and divers and can be found anywhere on the lake usually in ones and twos. None seem to have much interest in the handouts at the nature center. The Pied-billed Grebes can often be found near the fresh water inlet on the north arm of the lake. Eared Grebe Photo by Dianne Fristrom Pied-billed Grebe The least distinctive but most common grebe on the lake is the Pied-billed Grebe; smaller and shorter-necked than its cousins and a drab brown color it can be recognized by the dark mark in the center of its stocky bill.

Photo by Dianne Fristrom Gulls Ring-billed Gull This is one of the few gulls that are easy for the novice to identify.