Map 7 — Alviso to Newark
San Jose
A historic waterfront town at the bay’s southernmost extremity, Alviso is part of the city of San Jose. The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department has restored the former marina to wetlands, in addition to improving trails and constructing a boat launch at Alviso Slough.
Alviso Marina County Park features a 9-mile dry season loop trail extending around the former marina. The trail offers views of wetlands, brackish and freshwater marshes, as well as salt ponds undergoing restoration as part of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.
Visit the Environmental Education Center off of Grand Boulevard to view interpretive displays about the wetland wildlife and enjoy a walk or ride along a 4.5-mile loop trail encircling a restored salt pond.
Milpitas
A path along Highway 237 provides access to the Coyote Creek Trail in Milpitas. This 2-mile trail follows the edge of the creek to Dixon Landing Road where the trail continues north along Fremont Boulevard, and then turns left onto a gravel levee trail that runs along the edge of the refuge wetlands.
Fremont & Newark
Bike lanes and sidewalks on Cushing Parkway, Boyce Road, and Cherry and Thornton streets lead through Fremont into Newark to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.
Newark Slough curves around wetlands and meanders through the refuge’s reclaimed salt ponds until it reaches the bay. The 1.3-mile Tidelands Loop Trail winds through uplands covered with sweet-smelling sagebrush, which offers habitat for sparrows, ground squirrels, cottontail rabbits and gray foxes.
The Newark Slough Trail branches off the Tidelands Loop Trail and reaches closer to the bay, circling around salt ponds for some 5 miles. Marshlands Road takes you to the Dumbarton Bridge pathway. To reach Ardenwood Historic Farm, follow bike lanes on Jarvis Avenue.
Alviso Ponds (San Jose)
Visit the southernmost reaches of the bay to see what a transformation from salt ponds to tidal wetlands has done for shorebird habitats. A 4.5-mile loop trail will take you to one of the most remote sections of the bay. End your tour with some time at the Alivso Environmental Education Center.
Alviso Environmental Education Center (San Jose)
In the heart of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Alviso Environmental Education Center is surrounded by uplands, salt marshes, salt ponds and a freshwater tidal slough. There are classrooms, an auditorium, an enclosed observation tower, and the open pavilion, trails and a boardwalk through the salt marsh habitat make it easy to see and explore natural wonders of the South Bay.