The Mare Island San Pablo Bay Walking Trail is located on the western side of Mare Island with exquisite panoramic vistas of San Pablo Bay, Mt. Diablo, the Carquinez Strait, the East Bay hills, Mt. Tamalpais and the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. It also offers a totally unique perspective on the Mare Island Naval Shipyard simply not ever seen but by a few, including long-time shipyard workers.

Features and Difficulty: The up to 4-mile roundtrilp trail is an easy walk on all flat terrain, with a shorter loop trail around the newly contained landfill. On that loop is a seasonal wetland chock full of waterfowl and shorebirds. The rare treat is the number of raptors in the sky above. The trail has 12 interpretive panels and benches along the way.

Endangered neighbors: The most special part of the trail is that the route follows the edge of the Bay where the federally listed endangered species, the salt marsh harvest mouse makes its home in the Reserve, so the trail is off-limits at all times to dogs, on or off a leash and it is also not open to bicycles. You are invited to be a good steward of the wildlife habitat and the trail by encouraging others to honor this use condition.

Directions: To reach the trailhead, turn west onto Dump Road which is an extension to the west of A St. at the intersection of Azuar Dr. and continue along the gravel road to a parking lot on the left. Don’t let chainlink fences intimidate you. There is beauty aplenty in spite of the fences.

Facilities: There are no restroom facilities, so come prepared! Be ready to pack your garbage out, too.

Simple pleasures await.

For more information: call 707-249-9633

For emergencies on the trail: call 911