Radio Beach is a small natural beach near the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza. Its name comes from the radio transmitter towers nearby. Some maps label it Toll Plaza Beach.
It is the closest thing in Oakland to a natural beach. 1 Although the sand has collected naturally, the land behind it didn't exist until the area near the Key System Mole was filled.
The area includes the remnants of Seal Island and Club Island, two small islands. Club Island was where the radio towers stand, and once had duck blinds. 2 The islands don't appear on most maps.
The beach used to be reachable by a pedestrian tunnel, but Cal Trans closed it c.2023. 3
1939 Shell map excer
Links and References
- Radio Beach on Oakland Geology
- Islands In The Bay Oakland Tribune April 29, 1962
- I visited Oakland’s secret beach. It was trashed. by Liam O'Donoghue SFGate June 10, 2023
- Radio Beach on Waterfront Action
