Field Trips Directions

Select initial letter of destination name

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Albany Waterfront

Exit the 580 freeway at the Albany exit (Buchanan St) and turn west toward the racetrack. Go to the end of the road where there is a parking area. We will meet here to bird nearby areas.

Antioch Marina

This is the location for the Delphinus Delta Cruise departure. Take Highway 80 East to Highway 4 at Hercules. Go East on Highway 4 to L Street/Contra Loma exit in Antioch. (There are signs on the freeway directing you to exit for the marina.) Turn left on "L" at bottom of off ramp, drive straight to marina parking lot. Be there by 8:30 AM!
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Arrowhead Marsh

30 minutes from Albany. Take Hwy 880 toward the Oakland Airport. Exit at Hegenberger Road. Turn right onto Hegenberger and continue 0.7 mile across a small bridge to Pardee Drive and turn right. Continue to Swan Way and turn left. Shortly thereafter turn right into the East Bay Regional Shoreline. Continue to the parking lot at the end of the road.
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Bear Creek Staging Area -- Briones Reservoir Park near Happy Valley Road and Bear Valley Road intersection

30 min from Albany $
From Albany:
Take the 24 Freeway east through the Caldecott Tunnel and get off at the Orinda Exit. At the base of the off ramp, turn left onto Camino Pablo. Drive for 1.6 miles to Bear Creek Rd. (light). Turn right; Drive along Bear Creek Rd for about 4 miles (passing the intersection for Happy Valley Road). Entrance to the EBMUD parking area is on the left just after Happy Valley Road.

Note: Wildcat Canyon Dr (past Tilden) becomes Bear Creek Rd after crossing Camino Pablo at the bottom of the hill. This may be a better route for some.
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Berkeley Meadow

10 minutes from Albany
Take University Avenue in Berkeley west over the freeway, and turn left on Frontage Road. Park in the area behind the SeaBreeze Market. Walk across University Avenue to the EastShore State Park entrance.
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Bodega Bay

2 hrs. from Albany.
The AAA Sonoma/Napa Counties map is recommended.
Simple Instructions: exit the 101 Freeway in Petaluma on Washington Street and follow signs west to Bodega Bay. Details: Take the 101 north to Petaluma. Get off at Washington and head SW. Washington becomes Bodega Ave. which becomes Petaluma-Valley Ford Rd. which eventually merges into Hwy 1. Take Hwy 1 all the way to Bodega Bay.

Stop I: Doran Park $
Highway 1 reaches the coast at Doran Regional Park. Enter the park. We will assemble at the second parking lot (large, paved) encountered on the left side, next to the restrooms. Be sure to look at the lagoon on your right as you approach the kiosk.

Stop II
Return to Hwy 1 and go north. Be alert for the sharp left turn (downhill) to Bodega bay. We will caravan through the town of Bodega Bay and go to the other side of the harbor on Westshore Rd. We might extemporize from there if we see pockets of shorebirds or waterfowl. Eventually we shall go to the end of the road and park. The parking lot overlooks a little beach, the harbor entrance channel and breakwater, and is next to a pond.
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Briones Overlook

30 min from Albany $
From Albany:
Take the 24 Freeway east through the Caldecott Tunnel and get off at the Orinda Exit. At the base of the off ramp, turn left onto Camino Pablo. Drive for 1.6 miles to Bear Creek Rd. (light). Turn right; Drive along Bear Creek Rd for about 1 mile watching for a parking area on your left. Park at the Briones Overlook Staging Area.

Note: Wildcat Canyon Dr (past Tilden) becomes Bear Creek Rd after crossing Camino Pablo at the bottom of the hill. This may be a better route for some.
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Briones Regional Park

30 min from Albany $
From Albany:
Take the 24 Freeway east through the Caldecott Tunnel and get off at the Orinda Exit. At the base of the off ramp, turn left onto Camino Pablo. Drive for 1.6 miles to Bear Creek Rd. (light). Turn right; Drive along Bear Creek Rd for about 5 miles (passing Briones Reservoir on your left). Entrance to the regional park is on the right. Once in the park, turn left past the kiosk and park.

Note: Wildcat Canyon Dr (past Tilden) becomes Bear Creek Rd after crossing Camino Pablo at the bottom of the hill. This may be a better route for some.
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Charleston Slough  Map  

75 minutes from Albany
Take Hwy 880 South towards Fremont to Hwy 84 West. Follow 84 to exit 21 toward the Dumbarton Bridge. Cross the Bridge and turn left onto Willow Road.  Continue 1 mile to Hwy 101 S and go 4.1 miles to exit 400B.  Turn onto San Antonio Road N, and continue as the road bends to the right (the road becomes Terminal Blvd).  Park nose in on the left side.  Meet at the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve trailhead near the bend in the road.  The meeting point is in the lower right of the map, near toilets.
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Colusa NWR Website     

1.5 hours from Cosumnes
Go north from Cosumnes on Franklin Blvd.  Turn left onto Twin Cities Road toward Hwy 5, and turn right (north) onto Hwy 5. Follow 5 for 76 miles. Exit 569 for Hahn road and immediately turn left onto Lone Star Road.  After 10 miles turn right onto Hwy 20.  In 2 miles the refuge is on the right.  Meet in the parking area

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Cosumnes River Preserve  Website   

1.5 hours from Albany
Take Frwy 80 East to Hwy 4 East. Follow 4 to Hwy 160 East. Turn right (east) onto Hwy 12 and enter the Frwy 5 going north. Exit on Twin Cities Road and go east to Franklin Boulevard. Turn south (right) on Franklin and park in the parking lot just past the visitor's center.

2 hours from Sacramento NWLR
Take Frwy 5 South through Sacramento, and exit at Twin Cities Road. Go east to Franklin Boulevard. Turn south (right) on Franklin and park in the parking lot just past the visitor's center.

15 minutes from Staten Island <br> Take Walnut Grove Road East toward I-5.  Continue past I-5 and turn left onto Thornton Road.  There are fast food places on the corner here.  Continue north on Thornton Road, over the Mokelumne River to the Cosumnes River Preserve on the right.
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Coyote Hills Regional Park Website

45 min from Albany. $
Take the 880 Frwy south to the 84. Head west on the 84 in the direction of the Dumbarton Bridge. Get off at the Paseo Padre exit. At the base of the off ramp turn right (north) onto Paseo Padre and drive 1.1 miles to Patterson Ranch Rd. which is the entrance to the regional park. Turn left, drive into the park, and stop at the parking area noted in trip instructions - the Quarry lot (first) or Visitor's Center (the farthest parking lot).
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Eastshore State Park (ESSP)

Albany / Berkeley Shoreline
Our meeting point is the Seabreeze Market at the corner of the Hwy 580 frontage road and University Avenue.

Coming from the north on Hwy 580, exit at Gilman.  Get into the right exit lane, and at the stop sign bear slightly right onto the frontage road.  Continue south on the frontage road to University Avenue (stop sign).  Cross University and turn right into the SeaBreeze Market parking area.
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Elkhorn Slough
Website

2 hours from Albany. $
From the Bay Area, take Hwy 880 south toward San Jose. South of Milpitas, take Hwy 101 South toward Gilroy. Two miles past the 156 East exit, turn right onto San Juan Road.  Go 2.3 miles and turn left onto Tarpey Road, which becomes Hall Road.  Go 4.3 miles, through Las Lomas, and turn left onto Elkhorn Road.  Go 5 miles to the reserve, and turn right into the gate.

You can also reach the reserve from Hwy 1, exiting at the Moss Beach Power Plant and going east on Dolan Road to Elkhorn Road.  Turn left on Elkhorn and continue to the reserve, where you turn left into the parking lot.
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Garin Regional Park

45 minutes from Albany. $
From the Bay Area, take Hwy 880 south toward San Jose. In Hayward, take the Tennyson Road exit and go EAST on West Tennyson Road. After 2 miles, turn right on Mission Blvd and continue 0.8 mile to Garin Road. Continue 0.9 mile to Garin Regional Park, and meet in the first parking lot to your left after passing the kiosk. Top

Grant Avenue (end of), San Lorenzo

30 min from Albany
Take the 880 Freeway south through Oakland. Get off at the 238 Frwy Off ramp, then immediately take the Washington St exit. At the base of the off ramp you will find yourself on Beatrice St. Turn left, then right on Washington. Head south on Washington, past Lewelling Blvd, then turn Right on Grant Ave. Take Grant nearly to the end where you will find a small East Bay Regional Parks parking lot on the right next to a restaurant.
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Gray Lodge (Butte Co)

1 hour from Sacramento NWLR
From the Hwy 5 Frontage Road (Hwy 99W) north of the Sacramento NWLR, take Riz Road East toward Butte City. This road becomes Route 162 just before Butte City. Continue East, passing Y (or Afton Blvd) to Z Road, and turn right (south). Continue across Afton Rd on Z, where the road will bend right. Take the first left you can, which may be a dirt road, continuing south until you intersect Gridley Road / Colusa Hwy. Turn Left and continue east to Pennington Road. Turn right (south) to the refuge entrance. We need to sign in and get a parking permit before proceeding to parking lot 14.
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Grizzly Island (Rush Ranch)

1 hour from Albany
Take Interstate 80 east to Solano County and exit CA 12 east. Drive 4 miles and turn right on Grizzly Island Road. Drive 2.5 miles south on Grizzly Island Road, then turn into the preserve. Meet in the small dirt parking area.
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Hammon Grove County Park (Yuba Co)

2 hours from Albany; 20 minutes from Marysville
This park is located on Hwy 20 east of Marysville. From Albany, take 80 east toward Sacramento. Continue towards Reno when the road splits into 80 and 80 Business. Shortly after the split, take 5 north and after 3 miles, exit on Hwy 99/70 north. Follow 70 north until it intersects Hwy 20 in Marysville. Take Hwy 20 east. The turnoff into the park is well signed, on the right about 0.8 mile past the Brown's Valley turnoff.
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Hawk Hill, Marin Headlands

Map
1 hour from Albany, with time to park and walk to hilltop
Carpooling recommended due to limited parking!! Take 580 west to Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. At the west end of the bridge, take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd exit on the right (which swings you up and left towards Larkspur), follow Sir Francis Drake to 101 south (left hand lane) and head for San Francisco. After going through the Waldo Tunnel, take the last Sausalito exit to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (the signs read Golden Gate National Recreation Area/Sausalito). Stay to the left. Turn left at the stop sign then right up the hill onto Conzelman Road. Stay on Conzelman Road for 1.8 miles. You will see a sign for Hawk Hill. Walk to the top.
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Hayward Regional Shoreline

30 min. from Albany
Take the 880 Freeway (Nimitz) south to the 92. Go west on the 92 toward the San Mateo Bridge. Take the last off ramp before the bridge, called Clawiter. At the base of the off ramp, cross Clawiter then bear left onto Breakwater. Go to the end of Breakwater; park next to the visitor's center.
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Kennedy Grove
map

30 min. from Albany
Take the 24 Freeway to the Orinda Exit.  Turn north on Camino Pablo, which becomes San Pablo Dam Road.  Proceed north on San Pablo Dam Road, past the San Pablo Dam Recreation Area entrance, for about one mile to the Kennedy Grove entrance.
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Lake Merced

45 minutes from Albany
Take the 580 /80 Freeway over the Bay Bridge to San Francisco.  Merge onto US-101 S.  After 2 miles, take exit 431 toward Daly City, and merge onto I-280 S.  After 3.8 miles, take exit 49 for John Daly Blvd toward Junipero Serra Blvd.  Turn right onto John Daly Blvd, and after 1.4 miles, turn right onto CA-35 N (Skyline Blvd).  Go 2.4 miles and turn right onto Lake Merced Blvd and watch for a right turn into the Sunset Circle parking area.
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Lake Merritt

20 minutes from Albany
Take the 580 Freeway south to to Grand Avenue in Oakland.  Go towards the lake on Grand, and turn left onto Perkins and seek parking there to avoid a parking fee, or continue on to the Children's Fairyland (fee on weekends) and park on Bellevue. Meet at the bird cages near the Rotary Nature Center on Lake Merritt.
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Las Gallinas Sewage Ponds Marin County Website

45 min. from Albany
Take Hwy 580 north to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Go over the bridge and continue north on Hwy 101 to the Lucas Valley / Smith Ranch Road exit. Turn right onto Smith Ranch Road and continue to the county park at the end of the road. Turn left at the small sign for the sewage ponds just before entering the park, and follow the road to the parking lot at the very end, on the left.
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Little Panoche Detention Reservoir

30 min. from Los Baņos
Take Hwy 165 south 9 miles to Hwy 5. Go south 2 exits (12 miles) on 5 to Shields / Little Panoche Road. Exit right onto Little Panoche Road going west. Go about 4 miles and turn left into the reservoir parking lot. Careful! It's a busy road.

Los Banos State Wildlife Refuge

20 min. from Los Baņos
Meet at the visitors center of the Los Baņos State Wildlife Refuge. From Los Baņos take the 165 (Mercy Springs Rd) north 3 mi. to Henry Miller Rd. Turn right and proceed about 1 mile to the entrance to the Refuge. The visitor's center is next to the parking lot. We frequently find American Bitterns while hiking in the Los Baņos Refuge.

2 hr 20 minutes from Albany
From Albany take the 580 freeway east towards Hayward, and continue on 580E for 66 miles. The highway merges into Interstate 5. Continue on I5 south for 42 miles and exit onto CA-152E toward Los Baņos. Turn left onto South Mercey Springs Road / CA-165 and then right onto Henry Miller Road. The refuge is on your left in less than a mile. Please fill up your tank as you approach CA-165!
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Martin Luther King Shoreline

30 minutes from Albany
The trip begins at Edgewater Dr. off Hegenberger on the way to the Oakland Airport. Travel south on the 880 to Hegenberger Rd. (towards the airport); take the first right turn, which is Edgewater, all the way to the end. Park at the East Bay Regional Parks parking lot on the left. We usually walk from here to Arrowhead Marsh.
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Marysville - Irrigation District 10

40 minutes from Gray Lodge
From Gray Lodge, exit left onto Pennington Road.  Continue to the end and turn right on Colusa Highway.  Continue on Colusa Highway east 4.3 miles,  where it becomes Sycamore Street.  Continue another 0.6 miles to  W. Biggs / Gridley Road and turn left, then right onto Spruce Street; continue 1 mile to Hwy 99.  Turn right, go 0.3 mile and then left at East Gridley Road for 7 miles.  Turn Right on Hwy 70 and continue 7 miles to Ramirez Road, where we begin our tour of the Irrigation District.  We will turn left onto Ramirez, right onto Matthews Lane, right onto Woodruff Lane (which has a right/left kink) and then back to Hwy 70.  This is an excellent place for swans when the fields are flooded.
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Merced NWLR
Website

30 minutes from Los Banos
From Los Banos, go east on Pacheco Blvd to Mercey Springs Road.  Turn left on Mercey Springs Road and continue about 3 miles to Henry Miller Road.  Turn Right on Henry Miller and continue about 7 miles to Turner Island Road (stop sign).  Turn left on Turner Island and after about 5.25 miles turn right onto Sand Slough Road.  This road curves left and becomes Nickel Road.  After about 1 mile, the road makes a sharp right and becomes Sandy Mush Road.  Continue for about 3.5 miles to the refuge entrance on the right.

30 minutes from San Luis Refuge

From the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, go south on Wolfson Road to CA-165 and continue south to Henry Miller Road.  Turn left (E) onto Henry Miller and continue as above.
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Miller-Knox Regional Park
Website

20 minutes from Albany
From west I-580 in Richmond take the Canal Boulevard/Garrard Street exit. Turn left onto Canal going under the freeway, right onto West Cutting at the corner near the Chevron Station, and left onto South Garrard at the three-way stop. Proceed through the Ferry Point Tunnel onto Dornan Drive. Pass Keller Beach on the right. The main parking lot is on the right across from the Richmond Ramblers building. The closest street address is 818 Dornan Drive, Richmond 94801.
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Mitchell Canyon, Mount Diablo

45 minutes from Albany $
Follow Hwy 24 east to Walnut Creek, then take Ygnacio Valley Road east to Clayton Road (approx. 7.7 miles). Turn right on Clayton Road (go approx. 1 mile) and right on Mitchell Canyon Road. Continue 1.6 miles and park in the staging area.

Parking fee; carpooling highly encouraged. Gate opens at 8, so if you're a little early and the gate isn't open, don't fret! Get out of your car and do some birding!
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Moss Landing State Beach
map

20 minutes from Elkhorn Slough
From the Elkhorn Slough parking lot, exit and turn right onto Elkhorn Road. Follow this road to Dolan Road, and turn right toward the ocean. At the power plant and Highway 1, turn right (carefully!!) onto Hwy 1, and very shortly turn left at the brown park sign for Moss Landing State Beach (at Jetty Road). There may be a fee, but usually there is not. Park at the last parking lot. Top

Napa River Cruise

45 minutes from Albany $
Follow Hwy I-80 17 miles east toward Sacramento/Vallejo. Exit on I-780 toward Benicia/Martinez and keep left at the fork toward Vallejo. Merge onto I-780W and continue to Curtola Pkwy go about 1.5 mile to Mare Island Way. Continue 0.9 mile to Harbor Way, turn left and continue to the Napa Marina, where you can park. The boat Delphinus will be in the Harbor.
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Oak Grove Park

1-3/4 hours from Albany $
From Berkeley/Albany:
Take the 80 Frwy north to the 4; turn right (east) on the 4 . Stay on the 4 through Pittsburg and Antioch. Beyond Antioch, turn left on the 160 . You will cross the Sacramento River on a very high bridge. Follow the 160 NE to the 12. Turn right (east) on the 12. Continue on 12 to Hwy 5, and go south one exit on 5. Exit on Eight Mile Road and go east to Oak Grove Regional Park.

Those approaching from points farther south should consult a map as the 580 - 205 - 5 combination might work better for you.
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Oakland Middle Harbor Shoreline Park

20 minutes from Albany $
From Berkeley/Albany:
Take the 580 Frwy south toward Oakland.  Take the 880 exit on the left toward Downtown Oakland.  Keep right following signs toward West Grand Avenue and 7th Street.  Turn right onto 7th street and follow it toward the harbor.  Continue onto Middle Harbor Road, watching for signs for the park on your right.  Pull into the parking lot.

From Lake Merritt, take Grand Avenue west toward the harbor.  Go under the freeway and continue to Maritime Street.  Turn Left, and continue to 7th Street.  Turn right.  Continue to Middle Harbor Road, and the park is on your right.
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Paicines and Panoche Valley

2 hours from Albany
We meet at Paicines, Ca. Take Hwy 101 south to Gilroy. About two miles south of Gilroy, take Hwy 25 south to Hollister. In Hollister, check your fuel. This is the last fueling stop till Los Baņos and its a good idea to have a full tank. Proceed south on the 25 to Paicines. Meet at the intersection of Hwy 25 and J1. We'll probably assemble across the street from a general store (that has fresh coffee). Note that there is a small reservoir down the road which we might visit briefly if ducks etc. are present. Otherwise we'll head east on the J1 to Panoche Valley. The first many miles of the J1 are Panoche Valley Rd. Eventually we'll turn left on Little Panoche Rd., but we'll be on the J1 the whole time (possible side excursions notwithstanding) until we get to Interstate 5.

Most of us will be spending the night in Los Baņos. At days end we will go north on I5 to Mercy Springs Rd. (165) which will take you in to Los Baņos.
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Palo Alto Baylands

1 hour from Albany. Take Hwy 880 South past the Oakland Airport, and continue south to CA 84 S. Go over the Dumbarton Bridge, and turn left onto Willow Road. Enter Hwy 101 S, and take the second exit, Embarcadero Road East toward the Bay. Turn left at the "T" and continue past the duck pond on Harbor Road until you reach the parking lot near the Baylands Nature Center.
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Point Isabel

10 min from Albany. Take Hwy 580 North to the Central Avenue turnoff in El Cerrito.  Turn west toward the Bay, then almost immediately right onto Rydin Road.  Go to the end, where there is an EBRPD parking lot.  Meet at the lot.  If there is no parking available, there is a second lot reached by returning to Central Avenue, driving west toward Costco, going around the right bend in the road to the lot.  Park and walk across the park to the first lot.
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Pt. Lobos State Park
Website

2 1/2 hrs from Albany. $
From Monterey, drive South on Hwy 1, past Carmel. The entrance to the State Park is on your right. Entering the park can be a slow process. It is important to come 30 minutes ahead of the 8 AM park opening to get a jump on the line. Parking inside the park is quite problematic. As there is ample parking on Hwy 1 outside the park, we will need to consolidate into as few a number of vehicles as possible before we enter the park. The birding is actually quite good right at the entrance. Acorn Woodpeckers, Purple Finches and Pygmy Nuthatches.
Once inside the park we will go the Bird Rock parking area, which is the southernmost in the park. Second stop will be Whaler's Cove. Trip will finish about noon. There are picnic tables in the cove area for those who wish to picnic.
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Pt. Pinole Regional Park

40 minutes from Albany
From Hwy 580 in Richmond, exit at Richmond Parkway / Castro Street. Go North 5 miles on Richmond Parkway and exit at Giant Highway. Turn Right. The park entrance is ahead on the left, past the RR Tracks. Note that there is a shuttle to the pier, and some trips will use this shuttle, which generally leaves on the half-hour. So don't be late!

Pt. Reyes National Seashore (Abbott's Lagoon)

1 hr 45 min from Albany
Cross the North Bay on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Go North on Hwy 101 to Lucas Valley Road. Travel West on Lucas Valley Road (about 10 miles) until it ends at Nicasio Valley Rd. Turn right, go through the quaint little town of Nicasio, then continue on past the reservoir to Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Rd. Turn left. In about three miles you will come to an intersection which indicates Pt. Reyes Station to your right. Go right toward Pt. Reyes Station, then left on Hwy 1 through town, and turn right on Sir Francis Drake toward the town of Inverness. Follow Sir Francis Drake through Inverness, and bear right at the "Y" onto Pierce Point Road, continuing until you eventually come to the Abbott's Lagoon parking lot on the left.

Pt. Reyes National Seashore (Drake's Beach)

1 hr 30 min from Albany
Cross the North Bay on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Go North on Hwy 101 to Lucas Valley Drive. Travel West on Lucas Valley Drive (about 10 miles) till it ends at Nicasio Valley Rd. Turn right, go through the quaint little town of Nicasio, then continue on past the reservoir to Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Rd. Turn left. In about three miles you will come to an intersection which indicates Pt. Reyes Station to your right. Go right toward Pt. Reyes Station, then left on Hwy 1 through town, and turn right on Sir Francis Drake toward the town of Inverness. Follow Sir Francis Drake through Inverness, and continue past Pierce Point Road until you eventually come to Drake's Beach Road on the left. Follow the road to the end at a parking lot. There are some large trees on the right as you enter the parking lot. Park near here and scan the trees for resident Great Horned Owls while waiting for the group to assemble (there are rest rooms in the building, and sometimes Barn Owls in the trees near the buildings.

Pt. Reyes National Seashore
(Five Brooks)

1 hr 15 min from Albany
The following instructions use Lucas Valley Drive to Cross Marin to the coast. You may opt for Sir Francis Drake instead. We prefer Lucas Valley because there are fewer towns, intersections and stops.

Cross the North Bay on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Go North on Hwy 101 to Lucas Valley Drive. Travel West on Lucas Valley Drive (about 10 miles) till it ends at Nicasio Valley Rd. Turn right, go through the quaint little town of Nicasio, then continue on past the reservoir to Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Rd. Turn left. In about three miles you will come to an intersection which indicates Pt. Reyes Station to your right; Keep going straight. You will be on Platform Bridge Rd.. When you come to Sir Francis Drake Rd. turn right and go to Olema. Just past Olema you'll come to Hwy 1. Turn left. Stay on Hwy 1 for about four miles till you get to Five Brooks (note the Brown National Seashore sign). Turn right onto a gravel road. Drive to the parking lot at the end.

The Pt. Reyes area has an abundance of places to hike and go birding. The vagaries of wind and weather necessitate that we be flexible after our initial stop at five brooks.

The following are all possible stops:

From Five Brooks, turn left on Hwy 1 and go just past the town of Olema. Turn left on Bear Valley Rd. then turn left to the National Seashore Visitor's Center. Parking area is large and we'll need to make an effort to stay together. The big trees around the visitor's center make for good birding.

Leave the National Seashore Visitor's Center and turn left onto Bear Valley Rd. About a mile down Bear Valley Rd. find Limantour Rd. Turn Left. We might finish the day at end of Limantour Rd at Limantour Beach.
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Princeton-by-the-Sea
(Pillar Point)

1.5 hours from Albany
Take the 880 Frwy south to the 92 then head west over the San Mateo Bridge. Do not leave the 92 until you have reached Hwy 1 at the Pacific Ocean. Turn right onto Hwy 1 and drive about 3.8 miles till your arrive at Capistrano Rd. Turn left at the light, then left again into the parking lot. Park in area "C." If you are late, look for us along the waterfront near the boat launching area, or at the end of the pier past the restrooms.

Those living in El Cerrito or points north may want to consult a map and look at the Bay Bridge-101-280-92-1 option.

We will caravan to our second stop, the end of West Point Ave.
Pack a lunch or enjoy the seafood offerings of Princeton. After lunch activities depend on the stamina of the leader and the birdlife. We may go to Pescadero Marsh or slightly south before heading home.
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Rush Creek Trail,
Marin County Open Space

50 min from Albany
Cross the Bay on the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Head North on Hwy 101 and drive nearly the length of Marin County. Get off the highway at the Atherton/San Marin Exit.
At the end of the off ramp turn right, then almost immediately turn left (there will be a park & ride parking lot on your left). The road will drop down to a frontage road on the way to the Marin Airport. There is an extensive marsh to your right. However, don't go too far! The Marin County Open Space trailhead is on your right very soon after you get on this frontage road. If you are early you can go up the road a ways and scope water birds.
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Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

2 hr. 15 min from Albany $
Take the 80 Frwy east to the 505 cutoff before Sacramento. Go north on 505 to the Frwy 5. Enter the freeway going north, and continue about 45 miles through Williams to Exit 595. Exit here, turn right and then turn left on the frontage road (99W) and go north 1.6 miles to the refuge entrance. Turn right and continue to the parking area.

San Leandro Reservoir;
Valle Vista Staging Area

30 min. from Albany
Take the 24 Frwy through the Caldecott tunnel and get off at the Orinda Exit. At the base of the off ramp, turn right onto Moraga Way. Travel 4.8 miles to Canyon Rd, then turn right. Travel about 1.2 miles on Canyon Rd to the Valle Vista Staging Area on your left. There is a large gravel parking lot.  This area requires an EBMUD permit.
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San Luis NWLR

20 min. from Los Banos
From Los Banos, travel east on Pacheco Blvd to Mercey Springs Road and turn left.  Continue on this road (also called Hwy 165) for 6.5 miles to Wolfsen Road.  Turn right on Wolfsen Road.  Follow Wolfsen Road about 2 miles and meet at the visitor center parking lot.

2.5 hours From the East Bay.  Take I-580 East toward Hayward and Stockton.  Merge onto I-5 South and go to exit 407 (total about 100 miles).  Turn right onto CA-33 and left onto Henry Miller Ave.  (Note there is a left / right jog onto Ingomar Grade to stay on Henry Miller).  Continue to CA-165, turn left (N) onto CA-165 and right onto Wolfsen Road.  Continue to the visitor center parking lot.


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Schollenberger Park

1 hour from Albany
Take 101 North across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Continue north to Hwy 116 (Lakeville Highway) East. Exit here and continue on 116 E for about 1 mile. Turn right on McDowell Blvd (South), go 0.3 mile and turn right at Cader Lane into the park and the parking area. Meet on the berm adjacent to the parking lot.
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Sibley Volcano
Regional Park

30 minutes from Albany
The address of this park is 6800 Skyline Blvd. just beyond where Grizzly Peak meets Skyline Blvd in the Oakland Hills. Drive south on Grizzly Peak till it ends; Turn left onto Skyline. The park entrance is a short distance down Skyline on the left.
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Spenceville Wildlife Area - Waldo Bridge (Yuba Co)

40 minutes from Marysville
From Hwy 20 and 70 in Marysville, proceed east on Hwy 20 about 20 miles, then turn right (south) on Smartville Rd at the "Beale Air Force Base" sign. After about 1 mile, take the left branch of the Y, again following the Air Force Base sign. After 4.5 miles, turn left on Waldo Road, a dirt road, and continue to the Iron Bridge, about 1.8 miles. Park after crossing the bridge.
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Staten Island

1.5 hours from Albany $
Take Interstate 80 north to CA 4 (Exit 23) and follow east to CA-160.  Exit 30 from CA-4 toward Rio Vista on CA-160.  In 13 miles turn right onto CA-12E toward I-5.  Go 16 miles and turn left onto I-5 N toward Sacramento.  In 8 miles, exit 493 toward Walnut Grove, and follow Walnut Grove road for 4 miles.  Staten Island Road is on the left, at several large grain elevators.  We will meet near the elevators.  There is a pit toilet here, and toilets at the Hwy 12 / 5 intersection.
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Sunol Regional Park

75 min from Albany $
Take the 24 Freeway east through the Caldecott Tunnel and continue to Hwy 680 where you turn south. Continue to the exit for Calaveras Road / Highway 84 just south of the town of Sunol. Turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed to Geary Rd. which leads directly into the park. Continue past the kiosk and park in the first parking area, meeting near the green headquarters building.
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Tilden Regional Park

10 min from Albany
Go East on Marin Ave. in Berkeley, past the traffic circle, then up (very steeply) to Grizzly Peak. Turn left on Grizzly Peak. Travel about 1/2 mile to a right turn on Wildcat Canyon Dr and then immediately left on Canon Drive which is the entrance to the regional park. At the bottom of the hill, bear left, go to then end, then park. We will assemble near the entrance to the ‘Little Farm’ children’s zoo and visitor’s center.
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Vollmer Peak Trail

20 min from Albany
Go East on Marin Ave. in Berkeley, past the traffic circle, then up (very steeply) to Grizzly Peak. Turn right on Grizzly Peak. Travel about 3 miles to a sign for the Steam Trains and turn left on Lomas Cantadas, then immediately left again onto Seaview Drive and go past the parking for the steam trains.  Continue about 200 feet, veering right and slightly uphill to the parking lot for Vollmer Peak, where we'll meet.  It's unpaved with a chemical toilet.  We'll hike up and back on the Seaview Trail.

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West County Landfill

30 min from Albany
From Hwy 580 in Richmond, take the Richmond Parkway / Castro exit. Go north on Richmond Parkway to Parr Avenue. Turn left and follow the road to the end, where there is a Bay Trail parking lot.

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Westgate Landing
County Park

80 min from Albany $
From Berkeley/Albany; Take the 80 Frwy north to the 4; turn right (east) on the 4 . Stay on the 4 through Pittsburg and Antioch. Beyond Antioch, turn left on the 160 . You will cross the Sacramento River on a very high bridge. Follow the 160 NE to the 12. Turn right (east) on the 12. You will drive about 12 miles, through Bouldin Island, passing the city of Terminous. After crossing the bridge over Potato Slough, turn left on Glasscock Rd. (Note the Terminous Market). Drive to Westgate Landing County Park.

Those approaching from points farther south should consult a map as the 24 - 680 - 242 - 4 - 160 combination might work better for you.

Saturday PM: About 100 miles north of the morning birding area is the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge. Take Interstate 5 north to Norman Rd., which is about 15 miles north of the town of Williams. Take the frontage road north to the refuge entrance. Meet at the visitor's center. We will watch the evening flight of snow geese coming in to the refuge. We hope to convene at the visitor's center at around 3 PM.
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Wildcat Creek Park, Alvarado Staging Area

15 min from Albany
From San Pablo Ave. in Richmond, turn right on McBryde Ave. Continue to the top of the hill where the street forks. Take the left fork, which is Park Ave. Almost immediately you will see the large Alvarado Staging Area sign on your left. Enter there and park in the first lot.
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Wildcat Creek trail

30 min from Albany
From Hwy 580 in Richmond, take the Richmond Parkway / Castro exit. Go north on Richmond Parkway to Pittsburg Avenue, and make a U-turn. The parking lot for the park is on the right

Winton Avenue, Hayward

40 min from Albany
Take the 880 Freeway south to the Winton Avenue exit in Hayward. Go west all the way to the end where you will find an East Bay Regional Parks parking lot.
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Yuba Pass

3 hours from Albany
Take the 80 Freeway east to Truckee. At Truckee take highway 49 north toward Sierra City. Yuba Pass is located between the villages of Sierraville on the east and Bassetts on the west, on highway 49. There is a large parking lot at the pass.
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