Byxbee Park & Emily Renzel Wetlands

Location

Byxbee Park & Emily Renzel Wetlands are located between Embarcadero and San Antonio Roads in the baylands of Mountain View and Palo Alto. There are several trailheads along the trail, but I recommend beginning at the North or South end of this area.

From the San Antonio Road exit off Hwy 101, turn East. Follow San Antonio Road until it ends, then turn right. Parking and trailhead are on the left, immediately.
From the Embarcadero Road exit off Hwy 101, turn East. Follow Enbarcadero Road until it ends, then turn right. Parking and trailhead are on the left in about a block.

You can also begin the hike from Stevens Creek Trail (see www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/StevensCreekTrail/StevensCreekTrail.html) or Shoreline Park (see www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/Shoreline/Shoreline.html), to increase the distance.

Attractions:

This trail is part of the Bay Trail and links directly to the Bay Trail South, as it passes through Shoreline Park and up to Stevens Creek. Link it up for a long trek!
Bicycles are allowed.
Dogs are allowed on leash (but not in Shoreline Park).
Wildlife include tons of birds, including ducks, herons, egrets, sandpipers, falcons, and pheasant. Also find an abundance of squirrels and lizards, as well as the rare skunk and rabbit.
Watch small airplanes and helicopters fly low, as they approach the airfield at the end of Embarcadero.
There are an abundance of benches and viewing platforms along the paths.
Enjoy grassy hills, wetlands / estuary (Mayfield Slough), Matadero Creek, and bay.
There are bathrooms at the San Antonio Road trailhead and Byxbee Park.
Byxbee is known as Art Park for the meandering white, crushed-oyster trails around rows of poles on the park's hill, in addition to several other art installments.
There is a Nature Center at the North side of Byxbee Park with a wooden walkway that overlooks the wetlands.

Limitations:

The traffic on Hwy 101 can generate a lot of noise.
Some of the trail and adjacent waterways are being renovated, meaning there are some small detours and rough spots (that I assume will be fixed soon).
Stay on the trail to avoid ticks and poison oak!

Season:

Year round, about 8 am to sunset

Fees:

None.

Maps & More Information:

Maps are posted at trailheads, and there are trail markers at significant intersections, with mileage.
City of Palo Alto's Website for Baylands: http://www.city.palo-alto.ca.us/community-services/bay-parkinfo.html
Palo Alto Airport's Map of the Area: http://www.paloaltoairport.org/baylands.pdf#search='wetlands%20byxbee%20park%20palo%20alto'

Handicapped Access:

The Greenway is flat and almost entirely paved. In some places where the path intersects the road, the curve is not graded for wheelchair access. Additionally, some navigation through parking lots or on sidewalks is needed where the Greenway is fragmented, making it less than ideal for handicapped use.

Recommended routes:

Hilly Art Trails Icon Legend
Begin from the main Byxbee parking area and restroom. Climb the crushed oyster shell/packed dirt path up the hill. There is seating atop the hill for enjoying the views, watching birds (some nest up here), and taking a break. The path easily rises and falls atop the hill; follow it along the length of the hill, towards the bay, then head down one of the sides of the hill. You can return towards the parking lot, or head down the other side. A wide access road can be taken back, or you can return the way you came. This is especially recommended for toddlers who want to walk on their own. Distance varies from about 1 mile to several.
San Antonio - Bayshore - Emily Renzel - Embarcadero Loop
Begin at the San Antonio trailhead, along the two-lane paved trail. When the trail splits near the edge of the pond (Coast Casey Forebay) by Shoreline Lake, follow it sharply to the left, as it heads Northwest. It will turn right at Bayshore Road, running parallel to the road. Continue along this path until you reach Matadero Creek, and follow the gravel road that runs along the creek's North side. Continue along this road, avoiding ruts when possible (the area was under rehabilitation / construction when I visited; hopefully the road will be repaired when this project is finished).

Enjoy the abundance of birds and aquatic insects in this area. There are several benches and viewing platforms if you would like to watch them and take a break. Continue, following signs to the Byxbee Parking Lot; you will turn left near the small dam to reach it. There are several narrow, white oyster-shell paths leading to the parking lot, over a small hill, if you prefer to take one of these, rather than the road.

At the parking lot for Byxbee Park, head North along the white gravel path (East side of road) or paved Bike Lane (West side of road) until the intersection with Embarcadero Road. Turn left onto Embarcadero Road and follow its wide sidewalk for several blocks until it intersects Faber Place. Turn left on Faber Place and hike along the two-lane paved path until it merges with the two-lane paved path running along Bayshore Road. Continue South on Bayshore Road, past the Matadero Creek trailhead, finishing the hike by backtracking from Matadero Creek until San Antonio Road's trailhead. Total distance is about 6.1 miles.
San Antonio - Bay Trail - Byxbee - Emily Renzel - Bayshore Loop:
Begin at the San Antonio Trailhead, along the two-lane paved trail. Follow the trail as far East as you can, eventually turning left (North) towards Byxbee Park (trail junction is marked). Follow this gravel / dirt path along the bay and wetlands until you come to the small dam at Byxbee Park. At the dam, turn left (West) and then turn Southwest (to pass on the left side of the hill) down the wide gravel road towards Emily Retzel Wetlands. Enjoy the abundant bird life here, following the road until its junction at Bayshore Road with the trailhead at Matadero Creek. Turn left (South) along the paved two-lane trail that runs parallel to Bayshore Road. Follow this trail until the sign for Shoreline Park, where it continues along Bayshore or turns left. Turn left (East), following it into grasslands, along Adobe Creek. When the trail reaches the small building at the edge of the little lake (Coast Casey Forebay) adjacent to Shoreline Lake, turn right to San Antonio Road parking. About 5.6 miles total.
Bxybee to Shoreline Gravel:
From Byxbee Park's parking lot, hike East to the dam. Walk across the dam, taking the Eastmost path. Continue along this gravel / dirt path as it passes by the bay, grasslands, and marshes. It will end at the East side of the Shoreline Lakes. Walk West along the North edge of the smallest lake (Coast Casey Forebay), if you would like to visit the trailhead and use the bathroom. Return the way you came. Total distance (round trip) is about 5 miles.
Byxbee to Shoreline Paved:
From Byxbee Park's parking lot, take the paved bike path that runs parallel to and on the West side of the road. Hike North on this path and turn left (West) onto Embarcadero, reaching its wide sidewalk after a few feet along the wide bike lane. Follow Embarcadero several blocks until the intersection with Faber Place. Turn left (South) onto Faber Place, following the sidewalk and eventually the two-lane paved path. The path will eventually merge with the two-lane path running alongside Bayshore Road, and continue South. Turn left at the sign for Shoreline Park / Adobe Creek. Follow the paved path along the Adobe Creek and through grassland until the small building adjacent to the small, North Shoreline Lake (Coast Casey Forebay). Turn a sharp right (West) and walk to the San Antonio Road parking lot. Return the way you came. Total distance (round trip) is about 5.7 miles .