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Mallard Slough Trail Information
This trail takes you through fantastic bay habitat, an oasis for millions of migratory birds and endangered species. It also boasts views of the surrounding mountains.
Watch for:
Waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and raptors can all be found in this area. The best times for birding are during the spring and fall migrations.
Trail Temporarily Closed Until Further Notice
Hiking Details for the Mallard Slough Trail
Distances: 3.3 miles round trip
Elevation change: N/A
Hiking time: 2 hours
Trail surface: Gravel
Best Season: All year
Managing agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Parking lot location: Click here for directions
Overview: Part of the Alviso area, located within the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, the Mallard Slough Trail is a nice loop from the Environmental Education Center which takes you through the bay’s marsh habitat, where you can see a variety of wildlife, including the endangered California clapper rail and the salt marsh harvest mouse.
Mallard Slough Trail Photo Gallery
More About the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
The Alviso Marina County Park is part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge – 30,000-acre refuge for millions of migratory birds and endangered species. Created in 1972, the refuge was an attempt by the San Francisco Bay community to protect the local ecosystem from changes that had been occurring ever since the gold rush in 1849 brought a population boom and major growth and development to the area surrounding the bay. Much of the wetlands have been converted over time to support development which has continued to this day, and now nearly 85% of the bay’s original marshes and shorelines have been altered.
In Alviso, you can find a variety of the Bay’s habitats including salt marshes, salt ponds, uplands, and a freshwater tidal slough, with numerous trails to get out into the wetlands and explore.