Don Edwards S. F. Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Pacific Southwest Region

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Enjoying the Refuge

Refuge Headquarters in Fremont
Trail Hours : Nov 1 - Mar 31 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  Apr 1 - Oct 31 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Visitor Center Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
     
Environmental Education Center in Alviso
Trail Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Center Hours: Saturdays & Sundays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Visitor Center and EEC are closed on all federal holidays

 

Bullet   Visitor Center
Bullet   Environmental Education
Bullet   Interpretive Programs
Bullet   Trails
Bullet   Fishing and Hunting
Bullet   Boating
Bullet   Accessibillity
People at Observation Deck

Visitor Center
Your first stop should be the visitor center, located near the Dumbarton Bridge toll plaza in Fremont. The center is perched on a hillside above miles of salt marsh, tidal sloughs, mudflats, and salt ponds. Inside you will find wildlife exhibits, an observation deck, an auditorium, and a bookstore. Proceeds from the sale of books, posters and other educational items in the bookstore benefit the Refuge's educational programs. Outside, a self-guided trail will introduce you to the San Francisco Bay environment and local wildlife. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am until 5pm. It is closed on all national holidays. Please call 510-745-8695 for further information.

Environmental Education CenterEnvironmental Education Center
The Environmental Education Center at the southern end of San Francisco Bay is surrounded by uplands, marshes, salt ponds, and a freshwater tidal slough. The building, designed for education, contains two classrooms, an auditorium, and an enclosed observation tower. Trails and a new boardwalk through the seasonal wetland habitat make it easy to see and explore the natural
wonders of the South Bay. The Environmental Education Center is open by reservation to school field trip groups Monday - Friday. It is generally open from 10am until 5pm on the weekends. Please call about weekend interpretive programs!! It is closed on all national holidays. Please call 408-262-5513 in advance to verify hours. The trails are open 7 days a week from Sunrise - Sunset. If the gates are locked please park and walk in to enjoy the trails.

Interpretive Programs
Refuge naturalists and volunteers offer a wide variety of guided programs and walks, and other activities. A collection of films and videos is also available for viewing in the auditorium. Call 510-792-0222 for program information, or pick up a schedule of events at the Visitor Center.

Trails
The Refuge is crisscrossed by miles of hiking trails. Our most popular trails include Tidelands Trail and Newark Slough Trail at the Visitor Center; New Chicago Marsh and Alviso Slough Trail at the Environmental Education Center. The Visitor Center trails connect to trails in Coyote Hills Regional Park. Trails are periodically closed due to levee maintenance. Check at the Visitor Center and Environmental Education Center for the latest trail information. All motor vehicles are prohibited on Refuge trails, to protect ecologically sensitive areas.

Fishing
A public fishing pier is located at the end of Marshlands Road at the refuge headquarters in Fremont and is open year-round. Birds, particularly the threatened western snowy plover, occassionally nest along Marshlands Road from April 1 - August 31. If birds are found nesting along this road, Marashlands Road will close to protect them. A free shuttle service is offered on weekends during these months. Call the Refuge for closure information. Fish commonly caught are rays, leopards sharks, white sturgeon, striped bass, and shiner surfperch. Check the California State Fishing Regulations for restrictions. Fishing is also available at Coyote Creek Lagoon in Fremont and the Faber-Laumeister Unit in East Palo Alto. Click here for driving directions.

HunterHunting
The Refuge offers sites for waterfowl hunting mid-October to mid-January. Check the California Waterfowl Regulations each season for opening and closing dates. All hunting areas are boat-access only, except for Ravenswood. Additional information is available in the Visitor Center.

Special Use Permit for Hunting South Bay Ponds
Hunting and Fishing Brochure (pdf) 8,744 KB

Boating
Boating is permitted only on the Bay and its tributaries, but not in salt evaporation ponds. Canoes and kayaks are recommended, since motor noise scares away wildlife. Jet skis are prohibited. Many sloughs are empty of water at low tide. Please be aware of the tide schedule before you embark. If your boat becomes stuck in the mud, wait for the next high tide to float it free. Public launching ramps are located at Redwood City and near the Refuge Visitor Center in Fremont.

Accessibility
It is the policy of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge to accommodate individuals with disabilities. If you have any questions concerning the refuge's programs, or if you need any accommodation to enable you to participate in the refuge's programs, please contact a public use staff person at the Visitor Center at 510-745-8695 or at the Environmental Education Center at 408-262-5513.


For more information contact:
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay
National Wildlife Refuge
9500 Thornton Ave
Newark, CA 94560
Administrative Offices Phone: 510-792-0222
Visitor Contact Station Phone
: 510-745-8695
or e-mail us at San Francisco Bay NWR Complex

Last updated: March 3, 2009