Feather Fanfare

Birdwatch at Ravenswood Preserve in the South Bay

Man standing at boardwalk overlooking the wetland at Ravenswood Preserve

Feathery birds swing and swoop on the edge of the San Francisco Bay, surrounded by the Diablo Range and Santa Cruz Mountains. Seeing it all from a levee in Ravenswood Preserve makes a wonderful morning stroll. Combined with neighboring Cooley Landing Park, there are 2.2 miles of trails off Bay Road to explore. They’re mostly flat, with observation decks and benches to soak up the views.

From Cooley Landing Park, head west on a paved trail to Ravenswood Bridge. Cross to the wide asphalt Bay Trail, a great option for strollers and wheelchairs. To the right is a 0.1-mile paved spur to the southern observation deck. To the left, the Bay Trail continues north towards the northern observation deck. (Note: The last 0.5 mile to the northern observation deck is gravel.)

Both decks overlook the edge of the San Francisco Bay, where birds like the endangered Ridgway’s rail, as well as American avocets, ducks, herons, and egrets hunt the mudflats for food. It’s very beautiful and peaceful watching their signature birdie hops, bathing routines, and little chicks in tow. Bring binoculars if you can.

As you stroll along the Bay Trail, tides channel in and out of the yellow-green and soft brown marshland. Just 0.7 mile north of the Ravenswood Bridge is a newly built wooden boardwalk with educational panels and benches. The boardwalk transitions to a paved ADA-accessible trail connecting to University Avenue. 

This 0.6-mile boardwalk and paved trail combo was completed in 2020, a critical missing link in the planned 500-mile San Francisco Bay Trail. Now that it’s built, bicyclists and pedestrians are connected to 80 continuous miles of the Bay Trail that link neighboring communities and parks, including the Dumbarton Bridge.

Directions: Ravenswood Preserve is located in East Palo Alto, just south of the Dumbarton Bridge. Parking is available at Cooley Landing Park, 2100 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. A 0.3-mile paved trail connects Cooley Landing Park to Ravenswood Preserve. Ravenswood Preserve is open a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Cooley Landing Park is open from sunrise to sunset. No dogs.

Story and Photos by Melissa Ozbek, @melissaozbek.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View