Bay Area Toddler
Free guide to baby & toddler activities around the SF Bay Area

Ravenswood Preserve Bay Trail

Walk

Why it works for toddlers

A flat, mostly paved levee walk and boardwalk over restored marsh, full of herons and egrets. No restrooms and no shade, so keep it short on hot days.

Our words, from the official sources below.

Official page ↗Directions ↗⚑ Report a problem

At a glance

🕘 Hours
A half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset (the Bay Trail section between University Ave and Bay Rd is open to through traffic 5 a.m.–10 p.m.). source · checked Sep 27, 2026 · Correct this
💵 Cost
Free Midpen preserves are free; no fee is listed. source · Correct this
👶 Ages
0 mo–6 yr (our estimate) Flat, mostly paved levee trail and boardwalk: stroller and scooter territory.
📍 Where to go
Walk in from University Avenue, 500 feet north of Purdue Ave (no parking there), or drive to the end of Bay Road past gate RW01. A separate northern section off the Dumbarton Bridge frontage road has a 0.7-mile easy-access trail. Map point: University Ave pedestrian trailhead (map link on the Midpen page)

Parent logistics

🅿 Parking
Partly Ravenswood lot at the end of Bay Rd (12 spaces + 1 ADA; the road turns to dirt) or Cooley Landing (28 + 2 ADA). No parking at the University Ave trailhead. Confirmed · Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) · checked Sep 27, 2026 · Correct this
👶 Stroller
Yes Midpen says the trail and observation decks are accessible to visitors with wheelchairs or strollers. Confirmed · Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) · checked Sep 27, 2026 · Correct this
🚻 Bathrooms
No Restrooms: not available (Midpen). Confirmed · Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) · checked Sep 27, 2026 · Correct this
🚼 Changing table
Not applicable No restrooms. Correct this
🌳 Shade
Unknown Open marsh levee; shade isn't described. Know this? Correct this
🍎 Food
Partly No picnic facilities in the preserve; the neighbouring Cooley Landing Education Center (City of East Palo Alto) has picnic tables. Confirmed · Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) · checked Sep 27, 2026 · Correct this
⏰ Crowds
Unknown Know this? Correct this
😴 Nap fit
Short outing an out-and-back of 30–90 minutes with bird-spotting stops. Our estimate · checked Sep 27, 2026 · Correct this

The walk

📏 Distance
2.1 miles
🛤 Surface
Mixed source · Correct this
↩ Turnaround
Out-and-back on the levee; the overlook platforms at each end and along the boardwalk make natural turnaround points.
📈 Elevation gain
ft
⛰ Steep sections
Unknown Grades aren't published (the trail runs on top of a levee). Know this? Correct this
🚫 Non-stroller segment
No Midpen says the trail and observation decks are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers (the majority of the trail is paved). Confirmed · Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) · checked Sep 27, 2026 · Correct this
🚰 Drinking water
Unknown Know this? Correct this

Last verified Sep 27, 2026 against the official sources. ✓ = confirmed by a source · ? = unknown (not the same as "no") · community notes are marked unverified. Spot something out of date? Use "Correct this" next to any detail.