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.
This trail makes for excellent bike rides as it connects with Mallard Slough Trail making possible a 12.3 mile loop. By the time the trail meets Coyote Creek, human development is far behind. During the winter, 10,000 ducks use the managed ponds. A 0.5 mile Mallard Slough Trail spur to view the refuge's ghost town Drawbridge is also possible.
Trail Surface: Flat, compacted dirt levee. Trail turns to mud after rain.
Dogs are Not permitted on this trail.
Trail Surface: Flat, compacted dirt levee. Trail turns to mud after rain.
Dogs are Not permitted on this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
10.74
Trail Difficulty
Hard
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
Trail Surface: A level, wooden bridge connects to a flat trail with a compacted surface.
This trail is best to view salt marsh restoration over time. Salt marsh habitat attract endangered Ridgway's rails and salt marsh harvest mice. Mudflats attract shorebirds and native plants attract pollinators and songbirds. Enjoy an informative kiosk and interpretive panels at the observation platform.
Dogs are Not permitted on this trail.
1.7 miles one way (longer section).
0.3 miles one way (shorter section).
Restrooms and water are in the parking lot 400 feet from the trailhead.
This trail is best to view salt marsh restoration over time. Salt marsh habitat attract endangered Ridgway's rails and salt marsh harvest mice. Mudflats attract shorebirds and native plants attract pollinators and songbirds. Enjoy an informative kiosk and interpretive panels at the observation platform.
Dogs are Not permitted on this trail.
1.7 miles one way (longer section).
0.3 miles one way (shorter section).
Restrooms and water are in the parking lot 400 feet from the trailhead.
Trail Length (mi)
1.80
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
Come escape the urban congestion on the Coyote Creek Lagoon Trail. Hidden behind a business park in Fremont, this trail is often missed. There are two trailheads, north parking lot, and a south lot. The trail is 2.5 miles one way of compacted gravel levee. Wheel chair accessible only from the south parking lot/trailhead. This is a great trail to stretch your legs and get a slice of nature with tons of species of birds that can be seen in the lagoon or the creek.
Dog are Not permitted on this trail.
Dog are Not permitted on this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
2.18
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
This short trail leads you out to the bay's edge with wonderful views looking east. The endangered Ridgway's rail makes its home in the salt marsh and shorebirds feed on the mudflats with the outgoing tide.
Bank Fishing is allowed at the end of the trail.
Trail Surface: Uneven, but flat compacted dirt levee.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trial.
Bank Fishing is allowed at the end of the trail.
Trail Surface: Uneven, but flat compacted dirt levee.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trial.
Trail Length (mi)
0.41
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
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 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
Easy
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
Great place to see white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, ducks in the winter, shorebirds in the spring and fall, and Caspian terns in the spring and summer. This trail passes through a variety of wildlife habitats and hundreds of birds loafing on islands. The trail also provides views of the refuge's ghost town, Drawbridge.
Trail surface: Flat, compacted dirt levee. The trail turns to mud after rain.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
Trail surface: Flat, compacted dirt levee. The trail turns to mud after rain.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
3.72
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
This trail connects the Bay Trail from the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Treatment Plant to Mountain View via a walking and biking trail. This trail allows you to see waterfowl in the winter. The trail is 2.25 miles once way and is flat, compacted gravel levee.
Additional Uses: From Carl Rd. Trailhead: Waterfowl hunting in designated areas within the managed ponds is permitted mid-October to late January. check signs and the Hunting section on the webpage.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
Additional Uses: From Carl Rd. Trailhead: Waterfowl hunting in designated areas within the managed ponds is permitted mid-October to late January. check signs and the Hunting section on the webpage.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
3.37
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
Trail Surface: Wooden boardwalk is wheelchair accessible. The section of the trail that overlaps with Mallard Slough Trail is compacted dirt levee. This section will get muddy when wet.
The trail takes you over a salt marsh that attracts egrets, herons, shorebirds, and more. Great for wildlife viewing.
The trail connects to Mallard Slough Trail. Easily connects to Marsh View Trail. Marsh View Trail provides an alternative access to the Environmental Education Center, and New Chicago Marsh and Mallard Slough Trails.
The trailhead is accessible from the parking lot of the Environmental Education Center in Alviso.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
The trail takes you over a salt marsh that attracts egrets, herons, shorebirds, and more. Great for wildlife viewing.
The trail connects to Mallard Slough Trail. Easily connects to Marsh View Trail. Marsh View Trail provides an alternative access to the Environmental Education Center, and New Chicago Marsh and Mallard Slough Trails.
The trailhead is accessible from the parking lot of the Environmental Education Center in Alviso.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
0.39
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Route Type
Loop
Suitability
Kid friendly
Wheelchair friendly
This trail traverses several habitat types in the refuge: tidal marsh, tidal slough, and salt ponds. This is a great trail to get far out on the refuge. The tidal marsh is home to endangered Ridgeway's rails and salt marsh harvest mice-two species only found in the San Francisco Bay.
Northern shovelers, shorebirds, and grebes fill the pond in the winter while Forster's terns and American avocets use the pond in the summer. There are excellent views of the dominant salt marsh vegetation such as pickleweed, Pacific cordgrass, and gumplant which has yellow flowers late into the summer.
To access the trail park at the main parking lot at 1 Marshlands Rd. Fremont CA 94555 and go to the flagpole. Walk the Tidelands trail and cross the wooden footbridge over the Newark Slough to the Newark Slough Trail.
Restrooms and water are located nearby at the Visitor Center/Gift shop.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
Northern shovelers, shorebirds, and grebes fill the pond in the winter while Forster's terns and American avocets use the pond in the summer. There are excellent views of the dominant salt marsh vegetation such as pickleweed, Pacific cordgrass, and gumplant which has yellow flowers late into the summer.
To access the trail park at the main parking lot at 1 Marshlands Rd. Fremont CA 94555 and go to the flagpole. Walk the Tidelands trail and cross the wooden footbridge over the Newark Slough to the Newark Slough Trail.
Restrooms and water are located nearby at the Visitor Center/Gift shop.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
5.11
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
This trail cuts across Newark salt ponds from the Shoreline Trail to Apay Trail in Coyote Hills Regional Park. You can access this trail either from the Refuge or from Coyote Hills. All trails are part of the Bay Trail system. The trail is mostly flat, compacted dirt levee and gets extremely muddy after rain. The trail is 1.41 miles.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
See Shoreline trail for more info and access to this trail.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trail.
See Shoreline trail for more info and access to this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
1.41
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
Near Google and Shoreline Amphitheatre, enjoy a short walk alongside Stevens Creek with views of waterfowl in the winter, and hundreds of shorebirds at low tide. This trail connects to the Bay Trail system via Moffett Bay Trail, Stevens Creek trail, and Shoreline at Mountain View.
Additional Uses: Trail is used by waterfowl hunters to access hunting blinds within the salt ponds mid-October to late January. Check signs and the refuge website for exact dates.
Trail Surface: Flat, compacted gravel road. Can get muddy after rain.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trial.
Additional Uses: Trail is used by waterfowl hunters to access hunting blinds within the salt ponds mid-October to late January. Check signs and the refuge website for exact dates.
Trail Surface: Flat, compacted gravel road. Can get muddy after rain.
Dogs are Not allowed on this trial.
Trail Length (mi)
0.85
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities