Big Break Regional Shoreline
About The Park
Big Break Regional Shoreline is a part of the great 1,680-square-mile San Francisco/San Joaquin Delta estuary in Northern California. The water flowing past Big Break through the Sacramento and San Joaquin–the State’s two greatest rivers–drains half of California and creates the largest estuarine environment on the Pacific coast. This area is also referred to as the “Inland Coast.”
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Big Break was once an upland farm, now submerged. It is a small bay or estuary at the edge of the San Joaquin River, and lies in the zone where salty seawater meets snowmelt and runoff from the Sierra Nevada mountains. The mixing of salty and fresh water produces an “edge effect” for increased habitat and species diversity. It makes Big Break a fine home or stopover spot for a wide variety of species, particularly birds and fish.
Big Break is home to 70 species of birds and several species of mammals. Twenty-seven special-status wildlife species have the potential to occur within the parkland; six special-status wildlife species are known to occur. Nesting is confirmed or suspected for black rails, northern harriers, white-tailed kites, and yellow-breasted chats. Many wading birds, including great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, green herons and white-faced ibis, forage in the tidal sloughs and freshwater marshes. These areas also provide habitat for Western pond turtles, a California Species of Special Concern. Big Break is suitable breeding habitat for turtles, and females can lay their eggs in the sandy banks and well-drained upland soils. The tidal sloughs, freshwater marsh, and riparian areas also provide valuable habitat for beavers, muskrats, and river otters, which forage and potentially den at Big Break.
History
The area’s first inhabitants were Native American tribes who are assumed to have lived in the Bay Area for the last 10,000 years. Spanish explorers arrived in 1772, and French trappers arrived in 1832, attracted to the same abundant wildlife that had sustained the Native Americans. They collected beaver pelts for the European tophat trade. Anglo mountain men such as Jedediah Smith explored the area, and the Chinese built farming levees in the Delta after laying the first railroad tracks through the Sierra Nevada. Portuguese, Italians, Dutch, and other nationalities were also drawn to the area. Seagoing ships navigated the rivers transporting supplies, primarily importing tallow and exporting furs.
The entire Delta was dramatically transformed by the California Gold Rush, which accelerated the settlement of the Delta and the substantial land reclamation that changed the Delta area’s environment. Unsuccessful Forty-Niners returned to the Delta from the Motherlode to farm the rich soils. Because of the annual flooding, they erected crude levees and drained the nutrient-rich soil. In the 1870s, the clamshell dredge enabled farmers to erect more stable levees.
By 1930, Delta reclamation was almost complete, with some 57 manmade islands encompassing over 550,000 acres. To this day, agriculture is the primary land use, particularly the production of drygrains, and asparagus and other specialty crops. The name “Big Break” comes from a 1928 break in the levee that separated an asparagus farm from the San Joaquin River and Dutch Slough.
An exploration of Big Break Regional Shoreline on KQED's QUEST.
(Video, maps and other resources)
Park Activities
Many park users come to Big Break simply to enjoy cool marine breezes in the summer. Birdwatchers are drawn by the constant birdsong from the marshes, and everyone comes to enjoy the solitude and escape from the nearby urban landscape.
Fishing/Boating
Bass fishing is currently the most popular recreational activity at Big Break. The 100-foot fishing pier is very popular with local anglers. A California fishing license is required to fish from the pier or shoreline, but an EBRPD fishing access permit is not required. While shore fishing offers less success, boaters offshore catch primarily largemouth bass and striped bass, with some white catfish, bluegill, sunfish, and sturgeon also caught.
General boating also takes place at Big Break estuary due to its accessibility to the rivers and sloughs of the Inland Coast.
Hiking
The Big Break Regional Trail, which runs along the southern edge of Big Break through the Ironhouse Sanitary District, provides access for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians to the southeastern edge of the estuary. The trail connects to the northern end of the Marsh Creek Regional Trail, providing access to Brentwood and Oakley. The Marsh Creek Regional Trail connects to the Delta de Anza Regional Trail via West Cypress Road, providing access to Oakley, Brentwood, Antioch, Pittsburg, and Bay Point.
Delta Discovery Experience
This facility is in the planning phase and will be located in the area of the park accessible from Big Break Road. When complete, it will offer picnic and meadow areas, a shaded amphitheater, boat and kayak launch facilities, an interactive map of the Delta, and covered, outdoor use areas for interpretive and educational exhibits and programs highlighting the Delta, its ecosystems, and wildlife.
Park Accessibility
The Big Break Regional Trail is paved and relatively flat. Wheelchair accessible drinking fountains and a wheelchair-friendly restroom are located adjacent to the trail. Click here for public transit information.
To Reach The Park
From Highway 4 in Oakley, go north on Big Break Road. Take the first right just past Vintage Parkway and follow the road to the Big Break Pier. You can also enter the park by walking in on Marsh Creek Regional Trail, just adjacent to Marsh Creek off E. Cypress Road in Oakley, east of its intersection with Main St./Highway 4.
Public Transportation
Tri Delta Transit #300 provides service to Vintage Parkway and Big Break Road on weekdays. Call to confirm route: Tri Delta Transit–(925) 754-4040 or see www.trideltatransit.com.
Trail Map
Click the map image below to see an enlarged version.
When the enlarged version of the map opens click on the 'Full Expand' icon in the lower right hand corner of the map to see the 'Actual Size' map.
When the 'Actual Size' map is viewable, you can 'Click-Hold and Drag' the mouse button (left on a PC) to reposition the map, as desired.
'Single-Click' on the 'Enlarged' or 'Actual Size' map to return to the park page.
Park Info
- Address
- Main staging area:
Big Break Road north of Vintage Parkway - Oakley, CA 94561
- Download Brochure
- Mailing Address
- 470 Walnut Meadows Drive Oakley, CA 94561
- Phone Number
- 925-625-5479
- Maps
- View Trail Map
- Download PDF Map
- Google Map
- Park Hours
- Open between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted or permitted.
Parking lot closes at 7 p.m. and opens at 7 a.m.
- Park Events
- None scheduled
- Parking Fee
- No fee
- Dog Fee
- No fee.
No dogs in marsh areas. - Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757