Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Elite '08

39

186

Albie F.

San Diego, CA

A pleasant place to hike, eat outdoors at one of the designated tables, watch for wildlife, take a jog, or drive to the nearby Dumbarton Pier right underneath the bridge.   I spent three hours there with my parents and managed to do the LaRiviere Marsh Trail, Tidelands Trail, and Newark Slough Trail with the last two trails being the most popular and the ones closest to the visitor center.

Be aware that the visitor center is not opened on Mondays if you'd like to check it out, and this is an excellent outdoor get away in the Fremont/Newark area.  I was very lucky when I went because I saw an egret sneak up on a poor sculpin and mr. egret had supper for the day.

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7

38

Laura P.

Newark, CA

I have many fond memories of visiting the Wildlife Refuge from my childhood.  One in particular includes dissecting owl pellets there on a field trip.  Don't ask me why that stands out in my memory, but it does.

My favorite path is the one with the bridges (the Tidelands, I think it's called?).  I like the little house where the duck hunters used to stay, complete with old furniture and fake plastic ducks inside.  At least, I hope they're fake plastic ducks because they've been in the same spot for at least twenty years.  I was disappointed the last time I went there to find that they had gotten rid of the little duck hunter hideout that used to be right near the bay.  I guess it was probably more important to build the levee they put in its place, but we're talking about childhood memories here, people!

My other favorite path is the one that goes over the toll booths for the Dumbarton bridge and into Coyote Hills.  Super pretty views on a nice day!  Bring a jacket, though, it's always windy that close to the bay regardless of the time of year.

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27

255

Bobby D.

Fremont, CA

Always a Nice Experience.

This place is great, although not particularly shaded.  However I find this place to be my jogging ground of choice.  The ups and downs of the hills are moderate enough and the entire loop around the hill is 1 mile.  You can also extend out farther via the 2 bridges.  

This is also Bird watchers paradise.  Although Im definitely not a bird watcher, its home to many species of birds.  

On Clear days you can see the San Mateo Bridge and even San Francisco and Moffett Field.  During the week it is hardly busy and I love it.  Come on the weekend and its a bit more crowded then I want, but don't let that stop you.  You can also walk to coyote hills from this location, as you can cross the pedestrian path via the toll bridge and it is about a 20 minute walk (or 10 minute jog) to get to Coyote Hills.  

Not a bad place at all.

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21

216

J. D.

Newark, CA

When I was younger I used to come here with friends and watch The Lorax in their small theater room. I don't know if one of the employees had a stick up their butt or they just thought we were a bunch of stoner punks but they quit playing the movie for us.You are taking your life in your own hands if you ride to the pier during nesting season. Those little birds are feisty.I do like riding my bike out this way though because it is really close to my house.

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4

31

kevin c.

Alameda, CA

One of the best places for serious birding in the Bay Area. Bring binoculars and a camera. You get a few eco-zones for the price of one- tidal marsh adjacent to the bay, chaparral hillock and inland marsh. Egrets, ducks, geese, great blue herons, marsh hawks, avocets, various rails & sandpipers, terns, red tailed hawks, and I once had the grisly opportunity to watch a white-tailed kite tear apart a rodent of some sort. (This is nature- the real world, people.) Wait- did I say 3 for the price of one? I mean the price of none- this refuge is free to visit and park at. Oh- and be there in the evening to watch the grey foxes come out and about. Hiking is mostly flat apart from the one hill which isn't steep or difficult to walk up. (Paved on one side, well packed earth on the other.) Evening sunsets are superb from the hill. The only downside is the noise from the Dumbarton Bridge approach. (I would discount the 2 star review on this page- as if that happens every day, and as if the park had anything to do with the incident.)

This is on the other side of 84 and the also-great Coyote Hills park- which is great itself for mild mountain bike riding.

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Elite '08

68

237

Aivy C.

Hayward, CA

XXX! LIVE NUDES! SEX SHOWS! GREAT VIEWS!

Okay, maybe that sounds more like a sleazy strip joint and not the most accurate way I could have reviewed the National Wildlife Refuge, but that is precisely what I saw the last time I went on a nature hike here with one of my friends: a shameless couple getting it on standing up on the wooden deck pathway through the marshland.

At least now I know that the next time I take a walk through here, I have more to watch out for on the ground than duck shit.

The "Great Views" part is definitely true, though, if you have the patience to climb a steep hill that actually isn't meant for hiking but that we climbed anyway for the sake of making the most of our nature day without running into more horny people.

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8

90

Ryan S.

NY

If you ever wondered what Fremont might look like covered in snow, the salt marshes might be the closest thing.

Plenty of activites organized by this place over summer. There a couple of trails, but mostly the only thing to come for is the marsh.

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