Alviso Marina County Park – Take A Hike Around SF Bay’s Salt Ponds

Alviso Marina County Park is a lovely 20-acre park at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay. It’s a serene experience when you take a stroll around Alviso County Park. Sounds of tranquil waves and wildlife surround Alviso’s trails. The park is well known in pictures for the boardwalk with the barn frames. 

Alviso Marina County Park –  What to Expect

• Parking – Paved lot with free parking 
• There is no park admission
• Boat launch ramp for launching your own boats (Free) 
• Park Hours: Open every day 8 AM to sunset
• Miles of dirt trails for hiking and biking with no elevation gain
• No shade and smell of marshlands
• Dogs are allowed only in the picnic areas but not on the trails

Alviso Marina County Park History

Alviso Marina was a port and an important transportation hub for the San Francisco Bay during the 1800s. It was a key port for transportation between San Jose and San Francisco by water during that time. Alviso was a city up until 1968 when it became apart of the city of San Jose. Alviso was also home to businesses such as canning. Many businesses and industries have moved out of the area since the 1970s. There have been multiple floods in the area as well. A large part of the wetlands has been converted to a wildlife refuge (Don Edwards).  

There are remnants of old abandoned buildings as you drive through the neighborhood. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alviso,_San_Jose

Getting To Alviso

Alviso Marina County Park is located at the very tip of San Francisco Bay. When exiting on N. 1st street from CA 237, head north to the end of 1st. Street. Next, make a right on El Dorado Street and a left on Catherine St. Finally, it will lead you to the entrance of Alviso Marina. You’ll come across a set of railroad tracks and multiple warehouses on the way to the park.

Parking at Alviso Marina Park

Don’t worry about finding parking at Alviso Marina Park. The two lots will have you covered if one fills up. The main lot has approximately 50 spaces marked. Additional parking is found further in from the entrance by the boat launch ramp. There are 30 spaces at the boat launch ramp. The gates at the main entrance close promptly at sundown.

Activities

Picnic and BBQ’s

Picnic tables and BBQ grills are among the amenities that help make Alviso Park a great place to spend the whole day. There are multiple picnic tables available near the parking lots for group gatherings. Most picnic benches are first come, first serve.

Hiking and Bicycling Trails

Alviso Park has miles of trails that are shared between hikers and bicyclists. These trails are wide enough that bikers and hikers can enjoy the trail in peace.

Making a loop around the salt ponds of Alviso Marina Park will add 8 miles to your fitness tracker. The makeup of the loop trail consists of a wooden boardwalk to start and crushed gravel throughout.

A road bike might have difficulty navigating the bumps in the terrain, but I’ve seen people do it. 

Alviso Park Trail Loop:

Birding

Alviso Marina Park is a wildlife refuge for a multitude of species of migratory birds. The salt marsh ponds provide a natural habitat for birds, including seagulls, ducks, pelicans, and herons. It’s incredible to walk during sunset and watch all the birds flock around you in their natural habitat.

Boating Activities

Alviso Marina Park has multiple boat launch ramps with a dedicated parking lot. The boat ramps provide access to the salt marshes and ponds in the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge. The salt marshes have routes that open up to the San Francisco Bay. The boat launch is free to use, and parking is free as well.

Local Tips for Visiting Aviso Park

• Wear appropriate footwear or sneakers. The majority of the trails consist of dirt and crushed gravel. Your sneakers will be covered with dust or mud during the rainy months.
• Running and jogging around Alviso may be tough because of the rocky and uneven terrain during specific segments.
• There is no shade and the park is wide open by bodies of water. It can be extremely hot during the day. Bring a hat and don’t forget the sunscreen.
• Mosquitos are abundant during the sunset hours.
• Alviso Marina Park is also close to the Newby landfill. It can be quite odorous depending on the wind direction.
• If you drive, be sure to leave the parking area by sunset. There is a park volunteer who will issue parking warnings on each vehicle promptly at sunset.