Bay Area Hikes: Mallard Slough Trail in Alviso

If you're looking for wetland trails in the South Bay, try Mallard Slough Trail in Alviso. It's easy, family-friendly and rich in avian life. ...
Bay Area Hikes: Mallard Slough Trail
Bay Area Hikes: Mallard Slough Trail
Mallard Slough Trail

It was on a late November day that we decided to walk around Mallard Slough Trail in the South Bay. Even with November drawing to a close, the weather was pleasant and the skies were blue. And the waters of San Francisco Bay’s wetland echoed the color of the atmosphere.

The last time we were by these marshes, it was a grey day. The water was dull and so was the sky but we still enjoyed a lovely walk through Bair Island watching its avian life and listening to the distant rumble of Bay Area’s traffic.

Bay Area wetland avian life

Mallard Slough as its name might suggest is Mallard Duck territory. It’s true that we saw a few Pelicans and a few other birds and squirrels and all but it was the ducks that were everywhere. When we entered the trail and started off on the route to the left, for a while it was all quiet. The water was blue like I mentioned earlier, the surroundings were green and we spotted a few white egrets enjoying the calm and peaceful area.

As we looped around the slough, however, more and more ducks came into view and by the time we were done with the walk, we must have seen hundreds and hundreds of mallard ducks enjoying the water of the slough. They clearly owned the place!

Bay Area Hikes: Mallard Slough Trail

Bay Area Hikes: Mallard Slough Trail
Duck territory!

Mallard Slough

Mallard Slough is a part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge near Alviso, CA. The area protects the plant and animal life of San Francisco Bay’s wetland.

Mallard Slough Trail is a 3.3-mile loop around the slough and beside ponds, some blue with water that glistened under the afternoon sun, some more marshy. Then there’s the avifauna, some wetland vegetation, and the wide-open sky. 

The trail is flat and easy. We had a pleasant fall day walk but it might not be so pleasant on a warm summer day. I bet it would seem longer than 3.3 miles if it were a hot day.

Bay Area wetland avian life

You might also want to visit–
Bay Area Trails
Wildlife Refuges

Mallard Slough Trail

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Dee (Divya): Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. | πŸ“Έ Loves tripping.πŸ›£ Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 | 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!πŸ₯‚πŸ˜‰
16 Comments on this post.
  • somewhereinireland
    14 June 2022 at 3:49 pm
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    Beautiful area and photos, thanks for sharing.

    • dNambiar
      14 June 2022 at 8:05 pm
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      It is beautiful thanks to the conservation efforts under the wildlife refuge program.
      Thank you for coming to see the area. πŸ™‚

  • tomthebackroadstraveller
    14 June 2022 at 4:19 pm
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    …the trail looks wonderful!

    • dNambiar
      14 June 2022 at 8:06 pm
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      It offers some lovely sights. πŸ™‚

  • Pat
    14 June 2022 at 6:39 pm
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    Beautiful seaside birds and trail

    • dNambiar
      14 June 2022 at 8:06 pm
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      It’s pretty rich in birdlife. πŸ™‚

  • magiceye
    14 June 2022 at 9:53 pm
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    Lovely captures!

    • dNambiar
      15 June 2022 at 6:42 pm
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      Thank you so much, Magic eye. πŸ™‚

  • Mami Made It
    15 June 2022 at 1:21 am
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    Beautiful area and great pictures! There can never be enough wildlife refuges and national parks.

    • dNambiar
      15 June 2022 at 6:44 pm
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      I guess you’re right. There can never be enough wildlife refuges and national parks. And I cant get enough of them, especially the National Parks. <3
      Thank you for coming this way. πŸ™‚

  • Sharon Wagner
    16 June 2022 at 6:55 am
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    What a lovely area full of water birds. Above and below!

    • dNambiar
      16 June 2022 at 7:34 pm
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      It sure is a lovely area. It’s calm and peaceful, too. πŸ™‚

  • A ShutterBug Explores
    17 June 2022 at 6:33 am
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    wow! lovely shore photos ~ wonderful feathered friends ~ Xo

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    • dNambiar
      17 June 2022 at 12:18 pm
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      πŸ™‚
      Thank you, Carol.
      Here’s wishing you the best, too. Have a lovely weekend. πŸ™‚

  • Soma @ InkTorrents.com
    17 June 2022 at 8:05 pm
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    This is amazing. I have been looking for a marshland to visit and this is just perfect. Thanks so much for sharing, Dee!

    -Soma

    • dNambiar
      20 June 2022 at 7:10 pm
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      Hey Soma,
      This one is a very quiet and lovely area. Just make sure you’re not there on a hot day. You could also visit Bair Island near Redwood City. πŸ™‚
      You’ll love these places, I’m sure.

      Thank YOU. πŸ™‚

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