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emailWildcat Marsh & Landfill Loop Trail
A visit to Wildcat Marsh and the Landfill Loop Trail will give you a close-up look at where our trash goes (the "garbage mountain"), where our gasoline comes from (the Chevron refinery), and maybe where our energy could come from (a field of giant solar collectors). Thanks to the work of tireless Bay Trail advocates, this area is...
A visit to Wildcat Marsh and the Landfill Loop Trail will give you a close-up look at where our trash goes (the "garbage mountain"), where our gasoline comes from (the Chevron refinery), and maybe where our energy could come from (a field of giant solar collectors). Thanks to the work of tireless Bay Trail advocates, this area is open to the public.
Birdwatching is plentiful along the two trails here, Wildcat Marsh Trail and the 2.8-mile Landfill Loop Trail, which angles across Wildcat Marsh, then travels between the riprapped shore of San Pablo Bay and the slopes of "garbage mountain," just north of the marsh. Nearly 60 years' worth of trash here is now sealed and cloaked with topsoil. Though pipes for monitoring containment protrude from the ground, and trees are not permitted as their roots might breach the landfill's seal, grasses and feral garden plants populate the slopes, and you may see lizards, rabbits, and even deer. There are trailside benches and interpretive displays, and fine views across San Pablo Bay.
Birdwatching is plentiful along the two trails here, Wildcat Marsh Trail and the 2.8-mile Landfill Loop Trail, which angles across Wildcat Marsh, then travels between the riprapped shore of San Pablo Bay and the slopes of "garbage mountain," just north of the marsh. Nearly 60 years' worth of trash here is now sealed and cloaked with topsoil. Though pipes for monitoring containment protrude from the ground, and trees are not permitted as their roots might breach the landfill's seal, grasses and feral garden plants populate the slopes, and you may see lizards, rabbits, and even deer. There are trailside benches and interpretive displays, and fine views across San Pablo Bay.
Trail/Pathway Details
Landfill Loop Trail
Trailhead: Foot of Parr Blvd.
Length: 2-4 total miles
Typical Width: 4 ft. & above
Typical Grade: Level
A few short stretches have gentle grades. Just north of the trailhead, the paved path from the parking area may be a little steeper than 1/12.Terrain: Moderately Firm
Most of the surface is well-graded fine gravel, very firm and smooth, except for a stretch along garbage mountain just north of Wildcat Marsh, which has large gravel and uneven terrain.Description
The Loop Trail is little frequented, but not entirely quiet. Loaded dump trucks prowl the mountain; the roar of machinery comes from methane-powered generators and the nearby Chevron refinery, while battlefield sound effects sometimes drift in from a rifle range two miles north. Still, here where the Bay Trail leaves city streets and follows the water's edge, you...view full description
Wildcat Marsh Trail
Trailhead: Southbound Richmond Pkwy., just after Pittsburg Ave. There’s no entry from the northbound lane.
Length: 2-4 total miles
Typical Width: 4 ft. & above
Typical Grade: Level
Two short stretches may exceed a 1:12 slopeTerrain: Moderately Firm
Mostly very smooth gravel, but there are a few rough patchesDescription
The Wildcat Marsh Trail starts about a mile south of the Landfill Loop Trail and leads to its trailhead. The first quarter-mile, alongside Wildcat Creek, has some natural appeal, with views of the willowy marsh and likely sightings of waterbirds. But when the trail turns north it runs for almost a mile between cyclone fences, close to acres...view full description
Accessibility Details
The facilities listed below meet all of our access criteria unless otherwise noted.
Accessible Parking: Yes
Accessible Restroom: Yes
A few tables are by the Wildcat Creek trailhead parking lot and another about .25 miles along the trail, at a raised viewing platform; the slope to reach it may exceed 1:12. Another picnic area is midway around the Landfill Loop Trail. It is about 75 feet off the trail and you must travel across medium-size gravel. None of the tables offer an appealing setting.
Mt. Tamalpais in the distance and Garbage Mountain in the foreground (Dan Hill)
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Additional Information
| Website: | www.wcwd.org/ |
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| Managing Agency: | West County Wastewater District |
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| Address: | 1 Parr Blvd. |
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| Nearest City: | Richmond |
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| Phone: | (510) 262-1660 |
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| Hours: | Landfill Loop: 8:30 am-4 pm. Closed New Years Day, Easter, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Wildcat Marsh: Dawn to dusk. |
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| Fees: | None |
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| Dogs: | Not allowed |
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| Public Transportation: | AC Transit |
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| Useful Links: | San Francisco Bay Trail Project, East Bay Regional Park District |
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Reviewed by Ann Sieck, October 11, 2014
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 This web guide is a project of Access Northern California.  Thanks to our partner the California Coastal Conservancy |
