Toll Plaza Beach is an awesome East Bay spot for kiteboarding and is well suited for learning. It benefits from shallow water with a solid sandy bottom, easy access and safe downwind egress. Making for a safe beginner-advanced spot. Best when the tide is between 1-6ft. Tips: if when kiting you are caught windless downwind of the beach and in the bird refuge then no worries, simply stand up when possible. You will be very surprised at how shallow the water actually is. Flag out and recover your kite and bar and walk in via the short path to the access road where it turns from the freeway offramp. Beware of submerged rocks on North and South ends of the beach.

A smaller beach at 200 yds. Beware of the power lines near the parking area and rig/launch your kites a ways down the beach to avoid them. Do not kite here alone if you can avoid it.

Best with side onshore winds. This beach is good in the spring and summer months and can be safely used by beginners to practice. Walk or body drag out to the wind line as the wind may tend to be lighter near the shore making water starts from the beach somewhat challenging at times. Use a combination of real time wind readings from Port of Oakland (10mph+), Berkeley(19mph+) and Treasure Island 20mph+ to assure that you will have rideable winds near the shoreline.

Here are some driving directions. From the North head towards San Francisco. From the South or East you need to go to Emeryville first. Go towards Sacramento on the 80 East. Take the Powell street exit and make a Left at the ramp light. Immediately make the first right and get back on 580/80 West. Go towards San Francisco stay towards the right. Take the W Grand Ave/Maritime exit 8A. Immediately slow down as you are going to want to make a right turn before the road starts going up over the over pass. Slow down since you can?t see this until the last second as you approach. If you do miss it you?ll go over overpass and have to circle around back through Emeryville. When you leave TP you have only one option ? turn right at the end of the by road and continue on the West Grand exit overpass that you originally got off at. To hit 580 West Bay Bridge or 580 East (and optionally to 24 or 980) simply make a u-turn at the first light. No need to go to 80, exit and backtrack. To hit 80 East Berkeley, continue straight, follow the signs and turn left and the second light. To hit 880 South, continue straight, follow signs and turn right at the second light also.

Do not leave any valuables in your car, this is urban kiteboarding.

San Francisco, Oakland...tons!