Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in south San Francisco Bay, California. One of the largest urban refuges in the United States, it is an island of wildlife habitat in a burgeoning metropolitan area of 7 million people. The refuge consists primarily of tidal marsh, salt ponds, mud flats, and seasonal wetlands acting as a keystone to the preservation of the biological and physical integrity of San Francisco Bay.

To refuge headquarters and visitor center (Fremont): From Highway 84 (at the east end of the Dumbarton Bridge), exit at Thornton Avenue. Travel south on Thornton for half a mile to the refuge entrance.

Turn right at the refuge entrance sign and follow Marshlands Road to the stop sign. Turn left into the parking lot. To environmental education center (Alviso-San Jose): From Interstate 880 or Highway 101, exit on Highway 237 toward Alviso.

Turn north on Zanker Road. Continue on Zanker, which turns into Los Esteros after a road bend, to the environmental education center entrance (a sharp right turn at Grand Boulevard), approximately 2.1 miles from Highway 237.