Sears Point out and back

Fog remnants
The remainder of a lingering fog comes off the water at Sears Point.
User: Austin Explorer - 3/11/2018

Location: San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Rating: 2stars
Difficulty: 2stars  Solitude: 3stars
Miles Hiked: 5.71 Miles  Elapsed Time: 2 hours, 53 minutes

Comments:

For our second visit to San Pablo Bay NWR Coppertone and I headed to the flat and straight Sear Point area to hike along a section of trail that was relatively recently opened to the public.  Termed the "Eliot Trail" on some maps produced by the refuge the path we chose today sat atop a levee that paralleled the railroad tracks that run through the area.  To the north some fields continue to worked but mostly for hay production these days I believe.

To the south are the wetlands that have been recreated on what used to be acres of productive farmland.  Now water, marshes and small dots of dry land sprinkled about provide shelter and feeding grounds for a large number of birds, the wildlife refuge's main customer.  From a hiking standpoint there's nothing here that's particularly gripping.  The trail is very flat and straight.  There are a few views of far off mountains such as Mount Tam and Mount Diablo is the weather permits.  But the reason for the refuge to begin with and the added interest for hiking here are the birds.

We're not birders by nature but we spotted Seagulls, Canada Geese, Egrets, Hawks, Red Wing Blackbirds, Plovers, Ducks, Terns.  The list would be longer if we had enough knowledge to differentiate the ducks and others from each other.  Suffice to say, if you like birding, you'll like hiking here.

Despite there being numerous signs indicating that dogs are not allowed on the unpaved trails in the refuge, about half of the people we encountered had dogs. One dog in particular had gotten quite muddy and wet by launching itself into the shallow muddy flats reconstructed to serve as shore bird habitat, not a doggy playground.  I'm sure the refuge personnel are stretched given current funding issues, but some enforcement of the rules is called for here.



Log Photos
Fog remnants
Trail View
Vineyard
Marin Mountains
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