Alviso Marina County Park
Alviso Marina County Park guide map
Welcome to Alviso Marina County Park, a 20.6-acre bayside park and the gateway to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Located along Alviso slough, it is bordered by the refuge's vibrant salt ponds and marshes. While small in size, it is the primary launch point for vessels into San Francisco Bay. The park's pathways, boardwalks, and trails surround the wildlife refuge. The regional trails, including the San Francisco Bay Trail and the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail, offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the diverse wildlife that call these ponds home.
Important visitor alert: Dogs, drones, and walking near the pond's edge are strictly prohibited. Please stay on designated trails and avoid areas near the salt ponds to protect migratory birds, endangered species, and other wildlife. This area is part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Thank you for cooperating to protect Alviso's wetlands for wildlife and future generations. Learn more about the pink salt pond.
View Park Entrance
Park office: (408) 262-6980
Hours and fees
For up-to-date trail closures, please call the trail hotline at (408) 355-2200 and press 3.
The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset, and the trails open at sunrise. No fees are required at the entrance or for launching.
Fishermen and hunters must purchase an annual gate key to access the launch ramp outside regular park hours. To do so, complete the Alviso Marina County Park after hours gate access form and submit it with the current payment to the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation administration office. Prices are subject to change.
Access fee information here: Park fees
Learn about our park
Join Park staff on an interpretive boat ride through Alviso Slough to learn how the South San Francisco Bay’s shoreline has changed over time. Click here to register for a spot on the free Alviso boat tour! If you are an educator for grades 6+ and want to bring your class out on the slough, please check out the education programs page here and scroll down to Exploring Our Changing Bay.
Hiking, biking, and bird watching are favorite activities in the park and refuge, and picnicking and strolling along the manicured pathways can be enjoyed within County Park. Dogs are allowed in the County Park's pathways and picnic areas but not on the trails, levees, and boardwalks. While bikes are allowed on all pathways and trails in the park, please walk your bikes on the boardwalks.
The boat launch ramp provides one of the few clear routes in the San José area through the salt marshes of Alviso slough to the open waters of the San Francisco Bay. It provides access for both motorized and non-motorized boats and includes concrete launch ramps and two floating docks. Alviso Marina County Park is a San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail Network designated site. For more information about these regional trails, please visit the San Francisco Bay Trail or San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail websites.
Navigational charts can be obtained through NOAA or a local retailer (Ref. No. 18AHA18651). When using the bay's waters, please respect the sensitive nature of this unique ecosystem.
Dogs, drones, and walking near the pond's edge are strictly prohibited to protect endangered species and other wildlife.
Pond A12, known for its pink color, is part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This area is home to migratory and resident birds, including threatened and endangered birds like the Western Snowy Plover. Please protect Alviso's wetlands for wildlife and future generations.
For more information, visit the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge website. For inquiries about the Environmental Education Center, field trips, trails, and interpretive programs, call (408) 262-5513.
In compliance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ('ADA'), the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its programs, services, or activities. The Department will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disability have an equal opportunity to enjoy our programs, services, facilities, and activities. If you need assistance with an ADA request, please contact our ADA Coordinator at [email protected].
Alviso Marina County Park is officially designated as part of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail and has ADA compliant parking, restrooms, picnic areas, and trails with access to the beautiful salt marshes on the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay.
For more information about the features of Alviso Marina County Park, including detail of all ADA amenities, see the Alviso County Park Marina site plan prepared in cooperation with the Coastal Conservancy, Association of Bay Area Governments and the San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail, and our Alviso County Park Map.
