Coyote Hills Regional Park

• About The Park
• History
• Park Features 
• Visitor Center
• Park Activities
• Park Accessibility
• To Reach The Park
• Trail Map
• Interpretive Panel
  

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.

Submit Your Photos to the EBRPD Photo Pool

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.

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 Coyote Hills Visitor Center is open 10am to 4pm, Wednesday through Sunday.

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) 544-3220 for information. 

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) 544-3220 for additional information. 

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. 

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. 

One reservable group camping site is available at Dairy Glen. This 50-person group camp, named after the dairy farmers of the 1800s, has recently been completely upgraded and renovated thanks to funding from the Regional Parks Foundation. The group camp now includes three shade structures, additional picnic tables, a drinking foundation, fire pit, hand washing station and vault toilets. Upgrades created greater accessibility so the campsite is now fully ADA compliant including a new hardened path that makes it easier for guests using wheelchairs and mobility devices to access the shade structures and other components of the camp. 

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. 

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.

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.

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) 544-3220 for further information.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Park 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

• Bay View Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
• Chochenyo Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
• Chochenyo Loop Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format

Click here for public transit information.

 

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.

Transit & Trails: Coyote Hills Regional Park (transit, biking, and walking directions) 

Trail Map

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Interpretive Panel

 

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

Weather Forecast

Panorama

Maps

View Trail Map

Download PDF Map

Yahoo Map

Transit & Trails

Park/Gate Hours - 2011

Jan. 1 - March.12
8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
March 13 - April 16
8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
April 17 - Sept. 17
8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sept. 18 - Oct. 22
8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 - Dec. 31
8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

 

Visitor Center:
Wed. - Sun. 10am - 4pm
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

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

Grazing Information

Grazing in the Parks

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

- EBParksOnline (Link)

- Program Guides (PDFs)
- Naturalist-led Program Descriptions (PDF)

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

Al trails are open.  Certain trails such as Lizard Rock and the gravel portion of Bayview near the Dairy Glen Group Camp are closed to all vehicle use to prevent rutting. Bicycles of course are OK but we ask that bicyclists refrain from heavy use of our dirt trails for a day or two after a heavy rain cycle so as to reduce rutting.

Grazing Update

At this time it looks like we are looking at the return of the sheep herd in early March. Please remember, we open graze here.

Marsh Update

The entire marsh system has a fair amount of water in it as a result of the earlier work performed on the ACFC channel and levee. That work has been completed and the tide flex valves are once again releasing water from the marsh at low tide.  The marsh is the primary flood control basin for the communities that are to the east and south east of the park.

Wildlife Update

The Loon’s call announces a winters day.  Morning frost turning to ice, crunching under your shoes as you walk.  The sun slowly rises over the eastern hills but it will stay cold for a while yet.  A perfect morning to see Pintail, Black Brant, Grebe, Shoveler, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Teal, Bufflehead,  Canvasback and Ruddy ducks.  There are still a fair number of White Pelicans and Herons about.  Look quick and you’ll see a Common Snipe or a Rail flash by. We have seen Green and Virginia Rails here as well as Clapper Rail.  That’s just the fresh water marshes.   In the western ponds you’ll see Avocet, Stilt, Long-billed Curlew, Willet, Godwit, Yellowlegs, Plovers and Terns.   Along the hill sides and amongst the oaks you’ll find mixed gangs of young Finches and Chickadees. Pine Siskin and Wrens are moving through the cattails.  Groups of Meadowlarks raise and fall as they travel back and forth over the open grass fields.  Over head the turkey vultures glide, Cooper hawks dive, Harriers hover, Kestrels sit on the telephone lines while Red Tails swoop down from their roosts on the old telephone poles. In the early morning and as evening falls you can hear and see Great Horned, Barn and Burrowing Owls. That is the time too to glimpse a fox, possum, raccoon or muskrat.  In the distance throughout the day you can spot deer and you may see our dominant six point buck.

Now we wait and watch and we’ll know when spring has sprung with the temporal arrival of the Western tanager. Until that day, dress warm, wear water tight shoes and enjoy this winter.