New wave of park openings topped by Level Reyes trails

The rules allow access to leisure activities within the framework of the guidelines prescribed by the respective health officer of the individual districts in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

One of the most significant changes came at Mount Diablo State Park, where a contingent of vehicles was ordered for the first time as part of the reopening.

The majority of the Bay Area locations that will remain closed are in the state-administered Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including parking areas in San Francisco, Alcatraz Island, and staging areas in the Marin Headlands. Other significant closings remain at all state park campsites and major recreational lakes, including the entire Los Vaqueros watershed, as well as boating and fishing at the San Pablo, Lafayette, and Del Valle Reservoirs.

Here’s the latest on what’s open and closed in the Bay Area:

Outdoors by Tom Stienstra

San Francisco

The GGNRA opened parking lots at both Baker Beach and China Beach.

The Oceanic Society, which emphasizes social distancing, will take its first whale watching tour of the season from Marina Green Harbor on Saturday.

Party boat trips started from Fisherman’s Wharf with trips out into the bay for halibut, striped bass, and rockfish, and to the Golden Gate for salmon. On Tuesday, Capt. Erik Anfinson of the Bass Tub took 12 anglers out into the bay and reported that they caught seven halibut (and released four), five striped bass (and two released), 22 cod (and 15 released), 86 rockfish (and 17 released ), plus six vermilions and a seaweed greenling.

Marin

After Point Reyes National Seashore closed in late March, it opened most of the main rest stops to access the park’s 71,000 acres: Bear Valley, Sky Trail, Limantour Beach, Drakes Estero, Drakes Beach, Abbotts Lagoon, Pierce Ranch, and Five Brooks. The kayak launch site for Drake’s Estero, which is in close proximity to Sir Francis Drake, has also opened. Major areas that are still closed include Point Reyes Lighthouse, Chimney Rock Headlands, Palomarin Trailhead, Mount Vision, and South Beach, and all visitor centers.

The Marin Municipal Water District opened its water catchment areas to parking. These include the staging areas and trailheads along Bolinas-Fairfax Road to Cataract Falls, Carson Falls and Lagunitas Creek on Kent Pump Road. Access to the trails has also been reopened by Sky Oaks for Lakes Lagunitas and Bon Tempe, as well as North Nicasio, Soulajule and Stafford counties.

Marin County Parks has reopened Agate Beach in Bolinas, Whitehouse Pool on Lower Lagunitas Creek, Chicken Ranch Beach on the southwest end of Tomales Bay, Miller Boat Launch on the northeast end of Tomales Bay, and Paradise Beach in Tiburon.

Fishing with party boats was also resumed from Sausalito.

South peninsula

At Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay, the boat ramp opened and party boat fishing finally started. The Huli Cat ventured on her first excursion Tuesday with eight anglers on board, said Captain Tom Mattusch, who reported she was caught with 80 dungeness crabs (10 per person limits) and 75 rockfish (five out of 10 fish limits for everyone on board ) had returned).

Half Moon Bay State Beach has reopened with limited parking and access to beaches and the 6-mile Coastside Trail. This contributed to beach openings last weekend, including Montara State Beach (in the Martini Creek parking lot), Mavericks Beach at Pillar Point, Francis, Venice, and Poplar Beaches in Half Moon Bay and south of Half Moon Bay the beaches at Cowell Ranch in San Gregorio, Pescadero and Bean Hollow. All offer limited parking and no on-street parking when available spaces are full, state park officials said.

In the remote regions of South Bay, the Big Basin Redwoods near Boulder Creek and Henry W. Coe State Parks reopened. In Henry Coe, ready-to-use parking areas have been opened at both the headquarters east of Morgan Hill and the Hunting Hollow car park east of Gilroy.

East bay

At Mount Diablo State Park, the reopening with a contingent of vehicle access is a major turning point for the hundreds of road cyclists who ride to the summit every day.

In the East Bay Regional Park District, both Alameda and Contra Costa County’s sheriffs ordered a 8:00 p.m. curfew this week “until further notice” in all parks. Access is available at approximately 50 parks and major catchment areas, including the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, Bort Meadow for Anthony Chabot, Garin, Las Trampas, Mission Peak, Morgan Territory, Sunol, and Round Valley.

East Bay Parks also introduced new rules this week that require dogs to be kept on a leash at all times.

Tom Stienstra is the outdoor writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom