white and black birds at rest in the water

Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Area

Shorebirds at Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Area (Michelle Yau)

Overview

Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area is a birders paradise. At this 55-acre bayfront preserve, located adjacent to Mountain View’s Shoreline Park, visitors can view a wide variety of waterfowl and shorebirds, including black-necked stilts, mallards, snowy and great egrets, great blue herons, cormorants, and pintails.

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Hiking: All Trails
Hiking: All Trails
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Bicycling: All Trails
Bicycling: All Trails
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Equestrian: Not Permitted
Equestrian: Not Permitted
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Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
Dogs on Leash: Not Permitted
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Easy Access: All Trails
Easy Access: All Trails
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Some parking
Parking: Designated Areas
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Camping: No Camping
Camping: No Camping
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Restrooms: Not Available
Restrooms: Not Available
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Kid Friendly
Kid Friendly

Preserve Highlights & Features

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sandpipers in flight above the water
Sandpipers (Shai Dickman)

Local Wildlife

Visitors can view a wide variety of waterfowl and shorebirds at this preserve, including black-necked stilts, mallards, snowy and great egrets, great blue herons, cormorants, and pintails.

Marshland vegetation provides protected habitat for the endangered Ridgway’s rail and salt marsh harvest mouse.

Stories from the Preserves

Nature

Here are some of the plants and animals that other visitors have observed at this preserve and recorded in iNaturalist. Protected species may be excluded and some species may not yet have been observed. Help improve iNaturalist by adding your observations to the Midpen Biodiversity Index project

Join our e-mail list to stay up-to-date on this preserve and other Midpen news! 

 

Know Before You Go

Preserve regulations help provide a safe, enjoyable visit while protecting sensitive areas and wildlife. 

Share the Trail 

  • Use designated trails to avoid damage to natural resources and prevent injury. 

  • Avoid blocking the trail. Step aside to allow others to pass .  

  • Whether you’re walking or biking, always yield to equestrians. 

  • Leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. Most preserves do not have trash cans. Littering is prohibited. 

  • Abuses of trail etiquette should be brought to the attention of a ranger or call the Midpen main office at 650-691-1200. 

Activities & Events

History

Construction of the salt-evaporation ponds to the north removed the marsh from tidal action. There is no indication that the property was used for salt production, but it may have been used for hunting and grazing. The District used a matching grant to acquire this property from Peninsula Regional Open Space Trust, which received it as a gift from Leslie Salt.