Trails

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is an excellent place to visit whether you are looking to take a leisurely walk, engage in some birding, or finding a new challenging trail. Whether you go on a short walk or hike a longer trail, there are over 30 miles of trails for you to explore. 

Dogs on a 6-foot leash are permitted only on the the Tidelands Trail, Harrier Spur Trail, Quarry Trail, and Marshlands Road near the Visitor Center in Fremont. Dogs are prohibited on all other trails and lands throughout the refuge

Trail Closure Alert:

Mallard Slough Trail is closed due to construction as well as sections of Alviso Slough Trail at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Alviso California.  

South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project (Phase I) between the Alviso Slough/Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek is underway. The project, once completed, will protect north San José, including the community of Alviso and the Regional Wastewater Facility, from a 100-year coastal storm and rising seas. 

Construction hours are 7 a.m. to 5:30p.m., Monday through Friday, and on weekends as necessary, excluding holidays. Construction is scheduled to finish in June 2025.


 

Alviso Slough Trail

Trail Length (mi)
10.74
View Trail

Bair Island Trail

Trail Length (mi)
1.80
View Trail

Butterfly Garden Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.18
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Coyote Creek Lagoon Trail

Trail Length (mi)
2.18
View Trail

Faber-Laumeister Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.41
View Trail

Harrier Spur Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.13
View Trail

LaRiviere Marsh Trail

Wildlife and historic salt pond structures viewing.
Trail leads through tidal salt marsh, restored from
a commercial salt crystallizer bed. This trail is
probably the best place on the refuge to view the
endangered Ridgway’s rail as it comes out at low
tide to feed in the muddy slough channels.

Dogs are Not permitted on this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
0.80
Trail Difficulty
Difficulty Meter / introductory
Easy
Route Type
Loop
View Trail

Mallard Slough Trail

Trail Length (mi)
3.72
View Trail

Moffett Bay Trail

Trail Length (mi)
3.37
View Trail

New Chicago Marsh Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.39
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Newark Slough Trail

Trail Length (mi)
5.11
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Pumphouse Marsh Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.15
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South Shoreline Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.70
View Trail

Stevens Creek East Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.85
View Trail

Warm Springs Trail

Trail Length (mi)
0.64
View Trail