The San Pablo Bay region offers excellent opportunities for long-distance paddling. Situated between Suisun Bay to the east and San Francisco Bay to the south, San Pablo Bay's navigable sloughs and open waters provide vital habitats for diverse fish and wildlife populations. Paddlers can explore these protected waters, with convenient boat launches available in Vallejo, Port Sonoma, and Hudeman Slough.

The bay is well-suited for a variety of aquatic activities, including boating, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. It is a popular fishing destination, especially near the Richmond Bridge, Point Pinole Pier, and the east side of the bay south of the Mare Island Rock Wall, where anglers can catch striped bass, sturgeon, perch, and shark. Kayak fishing is becoming more mainstream as a cost-effective alternative to large powerboats.

Point Pinole Regional Shoreline offers group camping accessible by boat along its southern shore on San Pablo Bay. The location features water access points, including a small beach at the northeastern tip and broad beaches along a large section of the western shore. The eastern beach launch and campground are positioned 1.2 miles from the parking area, with access to these amenities predominantly from the water.

Other favorite paddling spots include the waters off China Camp State Park and the sloughs around McInnis Park in San Rafael. China Camp State Park, located about four miles east of San Rafael, offers miles of hiking trails that can be crowded with visitors on weekends during the spring and summer months.

Map of San Pablo Reservoir