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Disabilities-Accessible Trails and Parks on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South BayFourth Edition, November 1998; updated May 2000Compiled by Ben Pease for the Trail Center Accessible Trails in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department Coyote-Hellyer County Park Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) in Santa Clara County 330 Distel Circle, Suite 100 Los Altos, CA 94022 Voice: (650) 691-1200 (weekdays) Fax: (650) 691-0485 E-mail: mrosd@openspace.org Preserves with accessible trails and facilities are described in MROSD's A Guide to Accessible Open Space brochure: Rancho San Antonio Open Space PreserveDon Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Santa Clara and Alameda Counties) P.O. Box 524 Newark, CA 94560 Voice: (510) 792-0222 23,000 acres of marshland, salt ponds, and mudflats on South San Francisco Bay are a major stop for migratory birds. A short Nature Trail and the Visitor Center at east end of Dumbarton Bridge in Newark are accessible to wheelchairs, as is the Environmental Education Center in Alviso: (408) 262-5513. A total of 3 miles of gravel levee roads are accessible to wheelchairs, depending on the season - inquire at refuge for locations and conditions (rain makes the outer levee roads VERY muddy). The bike path across the Dumbarton Bridge is conceivably accessible for the adventurous view seeker. On the east side of the Bay, you might also investigate adjacent Coyote Hills Regional Park, which has some paved bike paths along the Bay and a boardwalk through a tule marsh, and the connecting Alamada Creek Trail, a 12-mile paved bike path through Fremont, both managed by East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). Call (510) 531-9300 for information. On the west side of the bay, look for Mountain View's Shoreline Park and Palo Alto Baylands. Selected City Parks Mountain View's Shoreline Park has paved and gravel paths on reclaimed landfill near San Francisco Bay. Picnicking, birdwatching, views. The Stevens Creek Trail is an accessible bicycle path extending from the baylands south to within a few blocks of downtown Mountain View. Although often dominated by adjacent Highway 85, the trail is enjoyable with many views of the creek as it transitions from freshwater to salt marsh. Whisman Park, off Middlefield Road, is one access point. Mostly flat, with short grades where passing over or under freeways. Palo Alto Baylands has a visitor center, paved levee trails and a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk across the marsh to the water's edge. Birdwatching, views. Within the City of San Jose, Guadalupe River Park and Gardens, which runs through the downtown area, is a work-in-progress; look for creekside access trails near the San Jose Arena and the Children's Discovery Museum. While work proceeds on the box culvert and stream widening between these two endpoints, some of the grade-separated trails dead-end for now. Good transit access via light rail and CalTrain. Almaden Lake Park, just across Blossom Hill Road from the Almaden light rail terminal, includes a several-mile bike path alongside Alamitos and Calero Creeks. Some, but perhaps not all, of this trail is accessible to wheelchairs. The lake is a popular swimming hole. There are probably another half dozen good accessible parks in San Jose we haven't touched on. See the City of San Jose's parks brochure for more information. Other Lands Stanford University campus includes a significant amount of relatively level open space just minutes from Palo Alto. The central area of campus is likely to have some wheelchair-accessible paths. Oak and eucalyptus woodlands, arboretum, Rodin Sculpture Garden, and historic sandstone architecture are attractions.  Copyright © Trail Center. All rights reserved. Please contact the Web Manager for corrections or comments. |