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🦆 Bayland & Marsh
1,940 acres
Baylands Nature Preserve
Palo Alto
Dog Friendly
🦆 Baylands
📸 Scenic
👨👩👧👦 Family
🦌 Wildlife
Palo Alto's 1,940-acre baylands — the largest tract of undisturbed marshland on the bay, with miles of birding trails and boardwalks.
The Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto protects roughly 1,940 acres of tidal and freshwater marsh — one of the largest tracts of undisturbed marshland remaining on San Francisco Bay. Flat trails, levees, and a boardwalk wind through habitat that draws an extraordinary diversity of shorebirds and waterfowl. The Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center, duck pond, and bay views make it a premier birding and walking destination.
🌟 Why Locals Love It
World-class birding, big bay skies, and flat easy trails — it's the Peninsula's great outdoor classroom.
What to Expect
Level levee trails and boardwalks through marsh, with constant birdlife and wide bay views.
Activities
hiking
biking
birdwatching
wildlife viewing
photography
running
environmental education
💡 Good to Know Before You Go
Exposed and breezy. Free parking. Boardwalk and interpretive center add family appeal.
📍 Local Tip
Bring binoculars at high tide when birds concentrate near the levees.
Best Time to Visit
Fall through spring for migratory birds.
⚠️ Rules & Restrictions
Dogs leashed; restricted in sensitive habitat zones.
Practical Info
City of Palo Alto
2775 Embarcadero Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Dawn to dusk; interpretive center hours vary
Free parking lots.
Amenities
Restrooms
Parking
Free Parking
Trails
bike_path
Interpretive Signs
Viewpoint
Benches
ADA Accessible
Visitor Center
Verified Official Source
View Official Page →