Hayward Regional Shoreline (EBRPD)

AG - B; **** 5 mile ; Transit? Rainy Weather Yes         TRAIL ACCESS MAP      PARK INFO

This unpromising location bordered by airports, office parks and industry is a candidate for the best wetland birdwatching park I know. I found the south end nice because mudflats and shallow ponds border the levee-top trail, and since I have difficulty with binoculars, it was a treat to see waterfowl as close as 15 feet away, and have the chance to observe their behavior. On other visits, starting from the north end, we found San Lorenzo Creek and two ponds not named on the map teeming with birds.

On our midwinter visit to the south end, we started at the Interpretive Center, just north of the San Mateo Bridge (Hwy 92), and went only as far as the main entrance at Winton Avenue, about 2.5 miles. The best birdwatching was in the first mile, which also had the best trail surfacing, fine, well-graded pea gravel. Noise from Highway 92 and the nearby Hayward air terminal was very noticeable, but did not interfere with our enjoyment of the calls of the birds. These included a very wide variety of wading birds and ducks, as well as several kinds of sparrow.

The trail gets to the Bay after about a mile, and becomes a little rougher, with spots that might get muddy in wet weather. From here on, it is shored up by concrete chunks, and at places planted with iceplant, but much quieter. During our visit at low tide, the birds along the Bay shore were scavenging well away from the trail across acres of mudflats. For a closer view, we would have done better to be there when the tide was just starting to ebb.

Near the main entrance at West Winton Avenue, land fill creates a small brush and grass-grown hill , over which several trails wander. We explored a few, and found them rough, a little steep, and muddy. On the return trip, we took the inland fork of the trail, which is very slightly shorter, otherwise similar.

On an early fall visit, we started from Grant Avenue, by far the easiest entrance to reach from the north. In this area, planes descending to the Oakland airport pass overhead every few minutes. The first 0.17 mile of the level asphalt trail runs between cyclone fences, with waste disposal operations on both sides. Climbing slightly, it turns towards the Bay, paralleling San Lorenzo Creek, which was crowded with ducks on one early fall, high tide visit, but almost deserted when we were there at low tide in spring, until we got to the bridge for the Bay trail, where we were surrounded by a cloud of cliff swallows. Some were busily gathering mud at the unnamed pond by the sewage treatment plant there where there always seem to be many varieties of shorebird, and we once saw American Avocets engaged in dabbling for food, something we had never heard of.

There's a vault toilet at this point, where the trail becomes loose fine gravel, smooth but not as hard as one could wish, and continues along the Bay's edge, skirting a pickleweed marsh and, after 1.5 miles, past Oro Marsh, reaches "Frank's Tract," another pond unnamed on the map, but well known to birdwatchers as important habitat for shorebirds because the shallow nonvegetated water provides a place for them to rest at high tide. More birds to watch!

Another 1.3 pleasant miles brings you to West Winton Avenue; continue south about 3 miles to reach the Visitor Center at Highway 92.

Details: No fee is charged. The Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center is accessible, but open only 10 to 5 on weekends. I saw two van-accessible parking spots there, and I'm told there's an accessible portable toilet past a gate to the northeast, which we didn't notice. This trailhead, near the San Mateo Bridge, is reached via Breakwater Avenue, the frontage road north of Highway 92. AC Transit bus lines go to Clawiter and Breakwater, about 1 mile away. The smoothest stretch of trail at this end is the first mile or so from this entrance, but only one bench is available in the 2.5 miles to West Winton Ave, and there's not much to sit on out there. Pet dogs are not allowed in thispart of the park due to habitat restoration concerns.

The main entrance from Winton Avenue (take that exit from Hwy 880) is said to have neither designated parking nor accessible toilets. AC Transit bus 86 stops at West Winton and Cabot, 0.7 mile from this entrancePet dogs are not permitted on the trails that go south from here.

The Grant Ave trailhead is easier to reach by car if you are coming from the north: take the Hwy 880 Lewelling exit; turn left on Washington; right on Grant Avenue, and west 1.3 mile almost to its end. The entrance is on the right, well signed but easy to miss since it doesn't look a bit parklike. The small parking lot's disabled space markings are almost undetectable, but it's unlikely to be crowded, and we've always found it easy to position our van so no one can block its ramp. There is an accessible portable toilet about 0.4 mile out, where the trail turns south, and this north stretch of trail is well provided with benches. Bicycles and offleash pet dogs are permitted here. Last visit April 2010