Although small in size, the Alviso Marina County Park is a picturesque location. It feels very rural and wild, far from the din of the city. The salt ponds that make up the majority of the walking trails are slowly being restored to wetland habitat. Back in the early 1900s the salt ponds were established as evaporation ponds to harvest salt. The two early companies, Alviso Salt and Arden Salt were eventually bought by Leslie Salt! To see the salt ponds now in spring compared to late fall when the water is low is a sight to see. The salt crystals formations create images of swirling landscapes and "icy" seas.
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| Salt pond A12 on March 21, 2020 |
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| Salt pond A12 on October 19, 2019 |
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| Salt Pond A12 on October 19, 2019 |
The Alviso Marina County Park is approximately one mile west, as the bird flies, from the Environmental Education Center at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. You can take trails on the levees to walk between the two parks. The vast majority of the walking trails belong to the Wildlife Refuge. The Alviso Marina County Park is the gateway to the walks on the levees of the salt ponds. Watercraft can be launched at the marina into the Alviso Slough then eventually out to the San Francisco Bay. It's currently free to park and free to launch. The park has boardwalks to take you from the parking lot out to the salt ponds, walking above and among the Narrow-leaved cattail plants.
The county park also have these cool, yellow gateways or doors that symbolize this location for me. I don't know if there is any deeper meaning or if the metal gates are locked after sunset when the park closes but love the look!
Right after you exit the gate farthest north, you reach the Alviso Slough Trail. If you head left you'll seamlessly enter the Don Edwards SF Bay Wildlife Refuge.
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| The dirt trails are wide and flat. Very exposed though so better for a cool day than a sweltering one :) |
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| There was a small patch of ice plant along the path. |
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| Clouds and hillside reflected in the salt pond |
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Levee between A12 and A11.
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| Walking on the levee between Ponds A12 and A13. Looking back toward the San Francisco Bay beyond the salt ponds. I didn't capture it here but the Dumbarton Bridge can be spotted to the right. |
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| Several American Avocets spotted. Beyond this small body of water is the track for the Union Pacific Railroad. I've seen the Altamont Corridor Express on the tracks traveling between the Robert J. Cabral Station in Stockton, CA and the Diridon Station in downtown San Jose. |
Here are some close up shots to better identify them. Tell me if you tried them! And if so, how did you prepare them?
COVID-19 Considerations:
- Trail width. Trails on the levees are wide. Easy to keep the required distance. The trails are kind of rough and uneven especially walking on the levee between A12 and A13 probably kind of a rough go for strollers or road bikes. You can ride bikes on the levees just not on the boardwalks.
- People count. I don't know if it being Saturday had anything to do with it but the parking lot was actually closed because it was full! It's not a large lot but there is plenty of street parking nearby. I couldn't tell you how many people I saw but there were at least 30 on the trail.
- Restrooms. I should have checked to verify for this post but according to the Santa Clara County Park's page, the restrooms are open! No need to worry about that inconvenience here.
- Maps. Either download the map to your phone or print out a map beforehand. Also very bad of me but I didn't check for a map since I've been here so many times before. Sorry! I'll try to update this the next time I go.
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