East Bay Regional Parks District: Embrace Life!

Coyote Hills Regional Park
Coyote Hills Regional Park

Coyote Hills Regional Park

About The Park

Coyote Hills Regional Park was dedicated to public use in 1967. Comprised of nearly 978 acres of marshland and rolling grassland covered hills, this busy park is located along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, northwest of the cities of Fremont and Newark. The most popular visitor activities by far are bicycling, walking, bird watching, jogging, nature exploration, and picnicking. Well used every season of the year, spring, summer, and fall tend to be the most popular. But the park's winter beauty is wonderful to behold. Back to top

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History

The East Bay area's original inhabitants were the ancestors of the Ohlone Indians, hunters and gatherers whose skills enabled them to live well off the land's natural bounty. In those days, tule elk roamed the land, condors soared overhead, and sea otters and fish were abundant in the Bay. At Coyote Hills Regional Park, some of this rich wetland is preserved, along with 2,000-year old Tuibun Ohlone Indian shellmound sites with fascinating archaeological resources.

The park's rich and varied history also includes Mission and settler ranching and farming activities, salt production, a duck hunting club, a dairy, rock quarrying, a military NIKE missile site, and a biosonar research facility. Now a Regional Park, this area is preserved for recreation, and educational and nature experiences for all to enjoy. Back to top

Park Features

Visitor Center

Coyote Hills Visitor Center contains educational displays and exhibits as well as the Possum's Pocket Nature Store. The exhibits portray the Ohlone way of life, and include a tule reed boat constructed by park staff and volunteers using Native American methods. Other exhibits cover the park’s natural history and wildlife. The visitor center is open Tuesdays through Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Back to top

Native American Archaeological Sites

Programs at the main shellmound site allow visitors to see a reconstructed tule house, shade shelter, pit house, and sweat lodge. Frequent school group programs are offered at the site and several public programs are scheduled as well. Public access to the site is by reservation only. Call the visitor center at (510) 795-9385 for information. Back to top

Nectar Garden

A bird and butterfly nectar garden is located adjacent to the visitor center. Currently the garden is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Several naturalist-led educational programs are offered in the garden during the year. Contact the interpretive staff at (510) 795-9385 for additional information. Back to top

Picnic Areas

The park offers two first-come-first-served picnic areas. One located at the visitor center, the other at the Quarry Staging Area. Both have picnic tables, barbeque braziers, water, and shade. A reservable group picnic area is also available at Hoot Hollow. Back to top

Group Camps

One reservable group camping site is available at Dairy Glen. Picnic tables, braziers, a campfire ring, water and shade are available. Chemical toilets are also provided. Back to top

Wildlife Refuge

The waters to the west and south of Coyote Hills are part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Shoreline, No Name, Apay Way and Alameda Creek trails provide access to the Refuge for hikers and bicycle riders. Apay Way leads to the Refuge Visitor Center via a bridge over the top of the Highway 84/Dumbarton Bridge toll booths. Back to top

Alameda Creek Trail

This 12-mile trail stretches from the Bay east to the mouth of Niles Canyon, and borders Coyote Hills on the park's north side. It is actually two parallel trails, with an equestrian trail on the northern levee and a bicycle trail on the southern levee, connecting with the Coyote Hills' Bay View bike trail. Hikers are welcome on both trails. Motor vehicles are not permitted on the trails--citations will be issued to violators. Back to top

Other attractions at Coyote Hills include the Marsh Boardwalk, and 3.5-mile Bay View Trail, a paved loop trail for hiking and bicycle riding. There are scenic views of the South Bay from the park's hilltops. Back to top

Park Activities

Naturalist Programs

The park's naturalist staff conducts a variety of programs for both organized groups and the public. Programs are offered on a variety of subjects including, Native American history and culture, birds and butterflies, marsh and grassland ecology, and general nature exploration. Public programs, usually on weekends, are publicized in the Park District's monthly newsletter, Regional In Nature, which is available in the visitor center and posted on park bulletin boards. Weekday programs are available for schools and organized groups by reservation. Call (510) 795-9385 for further information.

For detailed description of the Coyote Hills Naturalist Programs, click here. Back to top

Nature Study

In addition to taking part in the naturalist programs publicized on park bulletin boards and in the Park District's monthly newsletter, you may want to strike out on your own. Bringing along a magnifying glass, camera, a pair of binoculars, and maybe a sketch book will help to enhance your experience. Remember to wear sturdy walking shoes and bring liquids and a snack. Information about what to see and where to go is available in the visitor center. Back to top

Picnicking

Numerous picnic tables are located at the visitor center and at the Quarry Staging Area on a first-come-first-served basis. Cooking fires are limited to the metal braziers provided at each site. The Hoot Hollow picnic area, located above and behind the visitor center, is a reservable group picnic site. Telephone 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757 (press option 2, then 1) for further information. Back to top

Camping

The Dairy Glen reservable group campsite is available for overnight camping through the Park District's Reservations office. Call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757 (press option 2, then 1) for reservations. All reservations must be made at least 14 days in advance. Back to top

Hiking

Hikes through Coyote Hills afford scenic vistas of San Francisco Bay and surrounding areas of Southern Alameda County. Ramble 'round a marsh or climb to the top of Red Hill to catch the breeze. For detailed information on trail lengths and terrain, see the park map or talk with staff in the visitor center. Other attractions of interest include the Marsh Boardwalk and the 3.5-mile Bayview Trail, a paved loop trail for hiking and bicycle riding. There are wonderful scenic views of San Francisco Bay and the peninsula hills to the west from the park's hilltops. Back to top

Bicycling

Bike riders may take the 3.5-mile paved Bayview Trail within the park. Bayview connects with 12 additional miles of trail along the south levee of the Alameda Creek Trail, and to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Back to top

ADA accessibility iconPark Accessibility

There are two disabled parking sites at the Visitor Center's parking lot. Both of the public restrooms at the Center have an accessible stall. Current drinking fountains are of the older style and work well for some, but not all wheelchair users. Both drinking fountains will be upgraded this summer. There is one wheelchair accessible chemical toilet in the Center's parking lot and one at the Quarry Staging Area. One of the drinking fountains in the Quarry parking lot is scheduled to be upgraded no latter than this fall.

Trail Accessibility Reports

Click here for public transit information. Back to top

To Reach The Park

Coyote Hills is at the west end of Patterson Ranch Road/Commerce Drive in Fremont. From I-880, take Highway 84 west, exit at Paseo Padre Parkway, turn right, and drive north about one mile. Turn left on Patterson Ranch Road. This is the park's entrance road and will take you to the picnic areas and visitor center. Parking fees may apply.

Click here for public transit information or call 511 (TDD/TTY: 1-800-448-9790) to confirm transit information. Back to top

Trail Map

Coyote Hills trail map

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Park Info

Address
8000 Patterson Ranch Road
Fremont, CA 94555
Download Brochure
Phone Number
Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4519
Local Weather
Maps
View Trail Map
Download PDF Map
Yahoo Map
Park Hours
April-October: 8 a.m to 8 p.m.
October-April: 8 a.m to 6 p.m.
Unless otherwise posted.
Park Events
Click here for upcoming events
Parking Fee
$5 per vehicle; $4 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus.
Dog Fee
$2 per dog. Guide/service dogs free. Dogs must be leashed and under control at all times
Camping Reservations
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
Picnic Reservations
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
Naturalist Programs
510-795-9385
Browse programs online
Go to program guide
Download naturalist-led program descriptions
For Educators
Plan a field trip to this park
Emergency Number
911
EBRPD Headquarters
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757
See Also
Alameda Creek Trail

Park Update

Trail Update
All trails are passable but we ask that folks not ride their bicycles on Lizard Rock and Lower Meadow Lark trails after a day of rain. Try to give these areas a break of two to three days to prevent severe rutting and trail erosion. After a particularly heavy storm, it would be a great help to stay off Soaproot Trail for a couple of days so that water can drain off it as well.
Grazing Update
We do not plan on any sheep grazing before winter’s end. The 2009 grazing season will be short this year as it does not look like it will be longer than six weeks.
Marsh Update
Now that winter is upon us we can cross our fingers and hope it proves to be a wet one.  The North Marsh is filling up as is the D.U.S.T. Marsh. The water sources for these marshes are from two-county flood control channels. These are the P-Line from the south east and the K-Line (also called Crandall Creek) from the east. The Main Marsh, which runs alongside the Tuibun Trail, is starting to get some surface runoff from the South Marsh. The extreme western edge of the Main Marsh and much of the South Marsh have as yet no water building up, as these are the “high ground” areas of the overall marsh system.
Bird and Other Wildlife
The grey fox are doing well and we ask again that folks refrain from feeding them as this will only do them harm in the long run. You can watch them as they patrol for ground squirrels. The latest report on monarchs over-wintering is that the numbers are down from the previous years. Large groups of avocets, sandpipers, and snowy plovers can be seen from Apay Way and Bayview trails. Great egrets, great blue herons, and snowy egrets can be seen throughout the day as they move from the salt ponds by the bay, across the hill sides, and down to the freshwater ponds. Common goldeneyes, mallards, canvas backs, and green-winged teals can be seen in the North Marsh and along the D.U.S.T Trail. White pelicans are moving back and forth from the bay side of the park to the D.U.S.T Marsh. A golden eagle has been reported hunting along Red Hill for rabbits, as white -tailed kites hover for voles on the hillsides and marsh edges. Along Tuibun Trail a pair of kestrels has been seen hunting American goldfinch, white-crowned sparrows, and marsh wrens. Western meadowlarks have returned to the open grasslands of Red Hill, and this spring their lovely call will be heard once again.
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