Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge – Experience the Bay Area’s Wildlife

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a 30,000-acre site where you can spend time in nature admiring the birds and wildlife species who call this site home. While this area is known for being home to companies like Google and Facebook, this site provides the perfect escape from technology to hike and spend time in nature. If you are looking to visit this beautiful site, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about your visit.

Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge ​- What to Expect

Parking – The site has two main areas, which both have visitor parking lots. Depending on which trail or part of the site you are planning to visit, you’ll either want to park near the Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center in Fremont or the Environmental Education Center in Alviso.

Hikes – There are plenty of different trails to choose from on the site, and there are different lengths and difficulties available to suit everyone. The two main areas for hiking are around the Environmental Education Center or otherwise near the Visitor Center.

Park Hours – The trails are open every day from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is open Wednesday to Friday from 11 am – 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm.

Admissions – There is no charge for admission or parking on the site. 

Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge History 

Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1974. It was the United States’ first urban National Wildlife Refuge. Its primary aim is to preserve the wildlife habitat of the area, looking after its birds and endangered species. The site has an Environmental Education Center and aims to provide locals with recreation and study opportunities within nature. Don Edwards is one of just six wildlife refuges in the San Francisco Bay Area. The refuge was renamed in 1995 to recognize Congressman Don Edwards, who worked to protect Bay Area’s wetlands. The site is 30,000 acres in size, and hosts over 280 different species of birds throughout the year.

Getting To Don Edwards

If you are heading to the Visitor Center and Refuge Headquarters, from Highway 84, you’ll need to exit at Thornton Avenue. After about 0.8 miles of traveling south, you’ll see the refuge’s entrance on the right-hand side, and you simply follow the signs to the parking lot. The other area that’s great for hiking is the Environmental Education Center. To get here, take I-880 or Highway 101, and exit onto Highway 237 towards Alviso, where the site is located. Turn north onto Zanker Road, and you’ll see the entrance on the right-hand side at Grand Blvd.

Parking at Don Edwards 

Parking is free at Don Edwards, and it’s simply a case of choosing which part of the refuge you would like to visit to start your trails and hiking. Either head to the Visitor Center, where there’s a good size parking lot, or the Environmental Education Center. You can also park outside where this is a lot as well. From there, you’ll just need to take a short path to join the trails.

Activities at Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge

Don Edwards offers a wide variety of activities and can make for an exciting day out in nature. Outside of hiking and wildlife spotting, you can also enjoy boating, which is permitted on the bay and its tributaries. You can kayak and canoe which are preferred, as motors can scare the wildlife.

Don Edwards also has many educational programs that are all free. There are field trips and summer camps offered each year. It’s a great opportunity for children to get a chance to learn more about the wildlife here. You can fish by boat in the bay and its tributaries and expect to catch white sturgeon, rays, leopard sharks, and many other species of fish. You can also go waterfowl hunting in the tidal areas and salt ponds between October and January each year, but you’ll need to check the California Waterfowl Regulations for more details.

Hiking 

My favorite thing about Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge is its 30 miles of hiking trails. There’s such a great variety of hiking opportunities, and each time you visit, you can explore a new area of the site. The trails are open every day of the week from sunrise to sunset. To begin your exploration, you’ll need to head to the Visitor Center or the Environmental Education Center. The trails here vary from short under 1-mile walks, to a longer 9-mile hike.

Popular Trails

1. Newark Slough Trail – From the visitor center, you can take this popular loop trail. It features beautiful flowers and is a 5-mile round trip. It offers various activities on the way round and is perfect for all fitness levels. You’ll walk near the salt flats on your way around, and from this trail, you’ll be able to appreciate the site’s wildlife and birds.
2. Alviso Slough Trail – This is the longest trail on the site, coming in at around 9 miles. You’ll need to park at the Environmental Education Center for this trail which creates a long loop alongside Alviso Slough and Coyote Creek. This trail connects to Alviso Marina County Park.
3. Mallard Slough Trail – Also accessed from the Environmental Education Center, this trail offers a pleasant 3.3-mile walk. It’s an easy, flat hike that’s suitable for all experience levels.

Birding and Wildlife 

Don Edwards is home to 280 species of birds throughout the year. Some of these birds call the site home, while others are just here for a brief stopover. Depending on the time of your visit, expect to see white pelicans, hawks, eagles, ospreys and many more birds. There are also hundreds of shorebirds and waterfowl on the site during the spring and fall migration. Many visitors come here just to admire the amazing wildlife in the area.

Picnicking & Biking

You can find picnic tables throughout the site. You can check the maps for the exact locations. For a great afternoon out, bring your own food and drink. You can also bike on most of the trails throughout the park. Before taking your bike on the trail, you should double-check the map to ensure it is permitted. There are also organized bike rides. Check the schedule to join a group of fellow bikers for a tour around the site.

Are pets allowed at Don Edwards?

You can bring dogs on a 6-foot leash on certain trails from the visitor center. These trails include The Tidelands Trail, Quarry Trail, Marshlands Road, and the Harrier Spur Trail. Though on the other trails and parts of the refuge land, you won’t be able to bring your dog as they are prohibited.

Tips for visiting Don Edwards Wildlife Preserve

• This is a fantastic site to take kids to. Download the Jr. Refuge Ranger Activity Book before your visit, which they can use to participate in fun activities and learn more about the area.
• You are not allowed to swim, camp, or have a barbecue in any part of the refuge.
• Bring a camera and a pair of binoculars with you, to make the most of your visit.
• Bring hats, sunscreen, and plenty of water with you, as it can become very hot on the trails.

The Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge is one of my favorite sites for a day out, and with so many different trails and activities on offer, you could spend a whole day here. Children and teens will love this site, as there’s so much to explore and there are plenty of engaging activities for them to participate in. It’s a site I keep coming back to over and over again, and I can’t wait to return soon to discover more of the trails on offer here.