Love is in the air. You want to do something special with your partner, and you want to give them the joy of bike commuting. For people who don’t bike often, a nice ride on trails with beautiful sights is a great gateway to using a bicycle for everyday transportation! Here are a few romantic bike rides I’ve done in the SF Bay Area that are great places to go on on a date this Valentine’s Day or weekend.

If you live near these rides, they are great rides to take straight from the house! I find it way more rewarding when I can do a ride without having to put the bikes on the car, but a car can always extend your range a bit if you want to do some of these far away rides or avoid the hilly parts.

It looks like it’s gonna be sunny in the San Francisco Bay Area for this Valentines Day 2020. If you’re in another place that’s rainy, check the weather radar to get more up-to-date knowledge on the rain and find that sneaky sunny day! Or just enjoy getting wet with your partner. Don’t forget your rain gear and fenders.

The Romantic Napa Valley Vine Trail

A little jaunt next to the sunflower garden behind Brix in Napa Valley.

Difficulty: Flat – Google Maps Biking Directions

The Napa Valley Vine Trail is a great easy bike trail that goes between the city of Napa and Yountville. Explore some wineries along the bike route with that special someone, or stop for the amazing views and conversation. The bike trail follows the same route as the Napa Valley Wine Train, so if you were thinking about taking the train, take a bike instead! You won’t have your winery conversation interrupted when you take a bike, and you won’t have to worry about the sometimes terrible traffic on Highway 29.

I’d recommend starting in Napa for a round trip, since it’s more downhill on the ride back (even though you’ll barely notice the uphill anyway). Some bike rental companies offer one-way rentals as well if you want a shorter ride.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can detour off the main trail onto small roads that snake between the vines. Zoom in on Google Maps Satellite and show your partner how you like to get off the beaten path and in between the vines. Just watch for the No Trespassing signs, as some of these little roads are private property.

The Bay Trail on the Peninsula at Sunset

Sunset on the Bay Trail. If you look carefully to the right of the picture you can see the San Francisco skyline. Photo taken right under the San Mateo Bridge.

Difficulty: Flat – Google Maps Biking Directions

The Bay Trail is a long term project to make a connected bike path going around the entire bay. Although many sections are still in development, my favorite completed part is between Coyote Point and Redwood Shores going along the edge of Foster City. It’s super flat with expansive, beautiful views all along the bay. You can take a detour along one of Foster City’s manmade rivers/lagoons and dream about living together in that expensive house right on the water.

I took a picture of the Bay Trail paper map I have. There’s an online map as well, it’s just not as pretty.

Cañada Road to the Water Temple

The Water Temple. A tribute to the Bay Area’s water source.

Difficulty: Flat on Cañada Road (but a hill to make it there from the Peninsula) – Google Maps Biking Directions

This trail is more on the road, but the bike lane is big and The Water Temple is an awesome destination. On Sundays, part of Cañada road is closed to car traffic, which gives you even more space and freedom to soak up the mountain views and leisurely ride to the Water Temple.

I recommend reading some of the informational signs around the Water Temple as well. It’s a great reminder as to where the Bay Area gets it’s water…all the way from Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Valley!

Angel Island Perimeter Road Bike Route

Just a normal day on Angel Island with scenic views from all sides.

Difficulty: A bit up and down – Google Maps Biking Directions

Angel Island is a hidden gem looming large in the Bay. People often see it in the distance but think it’s just the edge of Tiburon. It’s actually a State Park with no residents (other than some rangers). The perimeter road around the island has no cars and is a great place for to see amazing views of the bay from all angles. It’s a bit up and down as you wind around the island, but it’s not too difficult. You can’t take the bikes to the top, but you can lock them somewhere and walk to the top for the full 360 views.

You can take ferries to Angel Island from San Francisco and from Tiburon. Make sure you schedule your day, because ferry service is not frequent, so you often have to plan what you’re doing. Usually the last ferry leaves the island around 3 or 4pm. If you want to stay overnight, you can grab a campsite, but these are usually booked months in advance.

The Classic Golden Gate Park Bike Ride

Just one of the hidden Gems in Golden Gate Park right off John F Kennedy Drive! Keep your eyes peeled.

Difficulty: Flat – Google Maps Biking Directions

I didn’t want to finish this post without mentioning the classic San Francisco ride through Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach. If you live anywhere in the city, this is a very accessible bike ride right from your doorstep! Ride down John F Kennedy road and take a detour on some of the small streets or paths to discover the secrets of Golden Gate Park. If you want more riding, the bike ride along Ocean Beach is also fun.

On Sunday, John F Kennedy is closed to car traffic, so it’s even more fun to roll through with much more space and freedom. There’s talk of making this street permanently car free in the future, if that’s something you’re interested in seeing, read on about how you can support better & safer bicycling!

Get Out and Ride!

This post is just scratching the surface of the available rides in the Bay Area. Most of these routes I’ve found by just browsing the bicycling overlay on Google Maps. Once you find a nice long green line, you can search online for some more information or just show up and ride it! Happy Valentine’s Day.

What are some romantic bike rides that you enjoy?

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