McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, Wildlife refuge and state park along San Francisco Bay, California, US.
McLaughlin Eastshore State Park is a wildlife refuge and California state park running along the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay, spanning parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The land covers tidal flats, salt marshes, and coastal grasslands that sit just beside urban areas along the East Bay corridor.
The land along this stretch of bay was once used for industrial purposes and partly as a landfill before community advocates pushed to protect the shoreline. It was officially recognized as a state park in 2002 and named after Sylvia McLaughlin, a co-founder of Save The Bay.
Along the shoreline trail, visitors often spot shorebirds, herons, and ducks at close range, as the animals have grown used to foot traffic. The salt marshes draw different species than the open grassland areas further from the water.
The park has several entry points along the bay shore, and the main access areas offer paved, wheelchair-accessible paths and restrooms. Weekends tend to draw more visitors, so arriving in the morning gives a more relaxed experience along the trails.
Much of the open land in the park sits on top of a former landfill, and the low mounds visible from the trail are actually compacted layers of old waste covered with soil. Below the surface, a network of pipes still draws off methane gas produced by decomposing material underground.
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