Bay Area Hiker: Bair Island

Bair Island, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San Mateo County

In brief:
3.6 mile out and back on the bay, very close to U.S. 101.

Distance, category, and difficulty:
Trails are perfectly flat and the 3.6 mile out and back hike is easy.

Exposure:
Full sun.

Trail traffic:
Moderate.

Trail surfaces:
Dirt trails.

Hiking time:
1 1/2 hours or less.

Season:
Nice year round, best in winter for birdwatching, summer for plants.

Getting there:

From US 101 in San Mateo County, exit Whipple Road. Drive east on Whipple, and where the road curves sharply right (just past the 101 northbound entrance/exit ramps), continue to the right, now on East Bayshore Road. Follow East Bayshore Road south to a traffic rotary, and bear right onto Bair Island Road. Continue on Bair Island Road, then turn right onto Sea Anchor Drive. Park in the Bair Island spots.

GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude 37°29'52.93"N
Longitude 122°13'24.8"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)

Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, pay phone, restaurants, and stores back on Whipple. No camping.

Trailhead details:
No parking or entrance fees. Four hour parking limit. Paved parking lot with pit toilets and drinking water. There's a map posted on the information signboard. There are designated handicapped parking spots, and trails are well-suited to wheelchairs and strollers (although trails can be muddy). There is no direct public transportation to the park.

Rules:
Open sunrise to sunset. Dogs are not permitted. No fishing or swimming. Bicycles are allowed, but this refuge is primarily used by joggers and walkers.

The Official Story:
Refuge headquarters 510-792-0222.
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge's Bair Island page

Map Choices/More Information:

Bair Island in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.

There are other more scenic, peaceful, and user-friendly shoreline parks and preserves on San Francisco Bay, but Bair Island, like the underdog in a football game, is a place you'll find yourself rooting for. Purchased by Peninsula Open Space Trust and now under the stewardship of the Don Edward San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge, Bair Island is being restored to tidal marsh, and supports wildlife including migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and at least two endangered species, the clapper rail, and salt marsh harvest mouse. Visitors walking here may see a variety of birds and animals -- bring your binoculars.
     The land was historically used to graze cattle and for salt harvesting. Redwood City residents Dedication seal rejected development plans in 1982, and after a long struggle, P.O.S.T. acquired Bair Island in 1999. As the property is restored, vegetation and animal life will become more varied and healthy, so it'll be interesting to watch the transformation of the 3,200 acre preserve.
      Bair Island is comprised of 3 islands separated by sloughs. Only the western island is publicly accessible, and unfortunately, it is directly adjacent to US 101. Access is easy from nearby peninsula towns, making Bair Island a convenient destination for jogging or daily strolls. It takes a bit of selective hearing to ignore the persistent highway traffic noise, as well as the drone of airplanes landing at San Carlos Airport, just to the north of Bair Island.
     Start from the parking lot on Sea Anchor Drive. Cross Bair Island Road and walk on the sidewalk toward the bridge, to the right. Once through the gate and across the bridge, you'll arrive at an information exhibit and junction. Turn left.
     The flat wide trail heads north. US 101 is visible and audible. Pickleweed is common along the trail, and you might also see curly dock, New Zealand spinach, coyote brush, gumplant, and sea lavender. Look for wading birds picking their way through the mudflats, including stilts, godwits, curlews, and avocets. Ducks are also common in deeper water -- I've seen Northern shovelers and Northern pintails. Closer to the trail crowned sparrows and phoebes flit about. On a July hike I saw a vulture sitting a few yards from the highway, snacking at some poor creature thankfully obscured by the surrounding vegetation. The trail turns east and traffic noise is dampened, but never recedes completely. Respect the signs prohibiting exploration of the area off trail (particularly to the left, which abuts the airport). On a November hike I noticed animal prints on the damp trail surface. These small cat-like prints were most likely made by a gray fox. At 1.5 miles you'll reach the end of the trail and an observation platform. Nice views stretch east across the bay to Mount Diablo and the East Bay hills. When ready, retrace your steps back to the information exhibit near the bridge.
     Continue, to the left, toward the second observation platform. Smith Slough, to the right, is deep enough for leopard sharks and rays, keep an eye out! At 3.3 miles this spur ends at an observation platform. When ready, retrace your steps back to the information exhibit, then the trailhead.

Total distance: about 3.6 miles
Last hiked: November 28, 2017
Previous visit: July 20, 2001

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