Coyote Hills Regional Park

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

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.

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. 

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) 795-9385 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

Click the map image below to see an enlarged version.

Back to top

'Full Expand' icon >

When the 'Actual Size' map is viewable, you can 'Click-Hold and Drag' the mouse button (left on a PC) to reposition the map, as desired.

'Single-Click' on the 'Enlarged' or 'Actual Size' map to return to the park page.

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

Maps

View Trail Map

Download PDF Map

Yahoo Map

Transit & Trails

Park Hours

April-Oct.: 8 am to 8 pm

Oct.-April: 8 am to 6 pm

Unless otherwise posted.

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

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

All trails are open. Please remember we are mandatory on-leash park and dogs must be leashed at all times. Dogs and horses are not allowed on the marsh trails. The Coyote Hills trail system intersects with Don Edwards S.F. Bay National Wildlife Refuge trails, and that agency does not allow dogs on Shoreline, Pelican, and No Name trails. You may enter their facility via Apay Way trail at the south end of Coyote Hills. Those areas that they do allow dogs are mandatory on-leash as well.
We ask that all bicyclists keep a sharp eye out for basking gopher, King snakes and alligator lizards on the trails as we have lost a few to date due to being struck by bikes.

Grazing Update

Grazing is finished for the year and the sheep herd will return in the late winter of 2011.

Marsh Update

The North and D.U.S.T. marshes are full of water. The Main Marsh has a good amount but the western edges are beginning to dry. The South Marsh is well past the halfway point as it begins to dry out. Please bear in mind that a dry marsh bed is still a viable habitat for many creatures, so we ask that everyone remain on the trails and refrain from walking on the dry beds.

Wildlife Update

Nesting season is largely over for most of our feathered neighbors, and mixed gangs of young birds can be seen around the Visitor Center or amongst the oaks along the eastern slope of the hills. They are largely made up of young titmouse, vireo, kinglets, and bushtits. Redwing blackbirds are moving through the southern edge of the North Marsh and mockingbirds continue to defend their territories along Tuibun and Chochenyo trails. Marsh hawks glide along the hillsides and marshes as the cooper and sharp-shinned hawks work the willow runs. Anna, Allen and rufus hummingbirds can be seen around the nectar garden.
Grey fox and red-tail hawks both celebrate the abundance of our ground squirrels. We have seen an increase in Alligator lizards and a number of snakes. There are no rattlesnakes at Coyote Hills, and those snakes that live here will not harm you. Just step around them and let them be. They live here and you are just visiting. Cottontail, Audubon, and jackrabbits move about in the early hours of the day, and raccoons and skunks come out in the early evening. You’ll hear the great horned owls call before they start their evening hunt.
Monarch butterflies are about and a good number of anis swallowtails can be seen along the hilltops. You might get lucky and see a hummingbird moth. Enjoy your summer!