Bedwell Bayfront Park

Bedwell Bayfront Park is a strange and wonderful place. From the parking lot you see a set of rounded grassy hills that look natural until you learn what is under them. Climb one and the whole South Bay opens up: salt ponds in rust and green, the Dumbarton Bridge and the East Bay hills. The wind comes straight off the water. Kites, egrets and runners share the slopes.

The park is Menlo Park's largest at 160 acres. It sits at the end of Marsh Road on the bay side of Highway 101 and the city notes that it is surrounded on three sides by the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This guide covers its history, trails, wildlife and practical details. For the city itself, see our Menlo Park guide.

From marsh to dump to park

The land has been remade at least three times. It began as tidal marsh at the edge of the bay. Later, like much of the South Bay shore, it was diked off and turned into a salt evaporation pond. Then came garbage.

From the late 1950s through 1984, the former salt pond served as a landfill. After it closed, the waste was capped and the mounds became the hills you see now. The park was designed from the start for what planners call passive recreation: walking, picnics, nature watching and open meadows rather than sports fields or buildings.

According to a 2017 InMenlo report, the park is named for Michael Bedwell, Menlo Park's city manager from 1964 to 1990. He pushed for a park offering nature walks, picnicking, day hiking and meadow sports.

The landfill is still working

A closed landfill never really stops. Buried waste breaks down and gives off methane. At Bedwell, that gas is captured and piped to the north end of the park, where it is turned into electricity. Liquid that seeps through the waste, called leachate, is pumped to a treatment plant to protect groundwater and the bay. The same InMenlo report described it as one of the first landfills to capture methane and use it as renewable energy. You may see wellheads and pipes along the trails. Leave them alone.

The master plan

In November 2017 the City Council adopted a master plan with a 25-year vision for the park. Public outreach kept passive recreation as the guiding idea, with a focus on access to nature, scenic views and closeness to the bay. One early project will rebuild the entrance with a new pedestrian plaza and an accessible curb ramp, linking new sidewalks on Haven Avenue and Marsh Road to the park trails. It will also rebuild the Bay Trail path along Bayfront Expressway. The city expects design to finish in 2026 and construction to start in 2027.

Trails and what to expect

The city describes an extensive trail system, mostly unpaved, with some steep interior trails that cross the hills to several viewpoints. Some trails are suitable for wheelchairs. The main routes:

• The perimeter loop runs about 2.3 miles around the edge of the park and is relatively flat. It is part of the San Francisco Bay Trail. Most people walk it in 45 minutes to an hour.
• The hill trails climb short, steep grades to the high points. The views are the reward. The ground can be slick after rain.
• The entrance road is paved and used by cyclists heading in and out.

Travel is limited to designated trails. That rule protects both the landfill cap and the wildlife. Bikes are allowed only on paved trails and roads. For a longer run, the loop pairs with the Bay Trail toward East Palo Alto. Our running routes guide has more flat options near Palo Alto.

A poem in stone

Look for a series of rock sculptures set along a path in the park. The city describes the work as a Native American poem made of rock sculptures. It is one of the few pieces of art in the park and worth finding on a first visit.

Birds and wildlife

Because the park is wrapped by the national wildlife refuge, it is one of the better places on the Midpeninsula to watch bay birds without wading into a marsh. The city lists bird and wildlife watching among the park's main activities and asks visitors to leave plants and animals undisturbed. Expect the usual South Bay shoreline birds:

• Water birds: ducks, grebes and pelicans use the open water and sloughs, especially in fall and winter.
• Waders: great egrets, snowy egrets and great blue herons hunt the shallow edges.
• Shorebirds: flocks work the mudflats when the tide drops.
• Raptors: the open grassland on the hills draws hawks and other hunters looking for small mammals.

Bring binoculars and check a tide table. A falling or rising tide moves birds around and usually gives the best viewing. Our birdwatching guide covers seasons and other hotspots, including the Palo Alto Baylands.

Connecting to the Bay Trail

The perimeter loop is a segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail, a planned network of about 500 miles around San Francisco and San Pablo bays that links 47 cities in nine counties. From Bedwell you can ride or walk south along Bayfront Expressway toward East Palo Alto, then continue past Cooley Landing and the Ravenswood marshes to the Palo Alto Baylands. Our Bay Trail guide maps the segments near Palo Alto.

Visitors without a bike can compare bike rentals in the area and make a full day of the shoreline.

Hours, rules and facilities

The gates open daily at 7 a.m. Closing times, as published by the city:

If you get locked in, the city says to call the Menlo Park police non-emergency line. Check the city's park page for any changes.

Facilities

• Restrooms near the first large paved parking lot.
• Parking along the entrance road and in two paved lots near the back of the park.
• Benches, a drinking fountain and a bottle-filling station.
• Grass areas, some shade and unpaved walking paths.

Rules

• Dogs must be leashed and under control at all times. See our dog parks guide for off-leash options.
• No fires, smoking, alcohol or weapons.
• No drones and no amplified sound.
• Groups of 150 or more need a special events permit from the police department.

Getting there from Palo Alto

1. By car: Take Highway 101 north to the Marsh Road exit and head toward the bay. The park entrance is at the end of Marsh Road where it meets Bayfront Expressway. The drive takes about 10 to 15 minutes outside rush hour.
2. By bike: Ride the Bay Trail north from the Palo Alto Baylands through East Palo Alto. It is flat and mostly separated from traffic. Allow under an hour each way at an easy pace.
3. By transit: No bus goes into the park. Walking in from the nearest stops on Marsh Road or Bayfront Expressway takes a while, so most visitors drive or ride.

How it compares with Byxbee Park

Palo Alto has its own landfill park, Byxbee Park at the Baylands. The two are worth comparing. Both are grassy hills over capped waste with bay views. Bedwell is larger, with water on three sides and more room to wander. Byxbee is known for its land art and is closer to Palo Alto. On a clear winter day, both are fine places to watch the light change on the water.

Frequently asked questions