Baylands Preserve

Bounded by Mountain View and East Palo Alto, the 1,940-acre Baylands Preserve is the largest tract of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay. Fifteen miles of multi-use trails provide access to a unique mixture of tidal and fresh water habitats.

All but a handful of trails here are absolutely flat. The Hilltop Trails climb very gently, and the other level trails at Baylands are appropriate for walking, jogging, and wheelchair travel. Excellent birdwatching.

Many consider this area to be one of the best bird watching areas on the west coast. The preserve has a substantial resident population of birds as well as being a major migratory stopover on the Pacific Flyway.

Things To Do include walking, running or biking on 15-miles of trails, bird watching, wind surfing, and boating (non-motorized such as canoes, kayaks or small, hand-launched boats and sailboards). The City of Palo Alto also offers a variety of nature walks and programs on ecology and natural history.

Directions: From Los Gatos take US 101 North, exit Embarcadero. Drive east on Embarcadero about 0.8 mile, then turn left at the T intersection. Drive about 0.3 mile, to the second parking lot on the left, near the Duck Pond.