In brief:
3.4 mile level loop around man-made ponds in Fremont's residential outskirts.

Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 3.4 mile loop hike is very easy. Trails are almost perfectly flat. Total elevation change is 80 feet.

Exposure:
Full sun.

Trail traffic:
Moderate.

Trail surfaces:
Dirt and paved fire roads.

Hiking time:
1 1/2 hours.

Season:
Nice all year. Best bird watching in winter.

Getting there:


From I 880 in Alameda County, exit Decoto Road (exit 21). Drive east on Decoto a little more than 1 mile, then turn south (right) onto Paseo Padre Parkway. Drive about 0.7 mile, then turn left onto Isherwood Way. Almost immediately, just past the bridge over Alameda Creek, turn right into the signed Isherwood Staging Area parking lot. (Note: if you want to park inside Quarry Lakes, continue past the Isherwood Staging Area, about 0.6 mile to the main park entrance on the right. There is a fee to park inside the recreation area.)

GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude 37°34'19.44"N
Longitude 122° 0'45.60"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)

Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, stores, and restaurants a few miles northwest on Decoto Road. No camping.

Trailhead details:
No parking or entrance fees (at this trailhead -- there is a $5 entrance fee if you park inside Quarry Lakes, and a $2 fee for dogs). Paved parking lot with 34 parking spots. There are 2 designated handicapped parking spots, and some of the trails are suitable for wheelchairs. Portable toilet, maps, and drinking water at the edge of the parking lot, with more developed facilities inside Quarry Lakes. Pay phones inside Quarry Lakes, near the main entrance. This park/trail is accessible by public transportation. Visit the Transit Info website for details.

Rules:
Park hours fluctuate with the seasons, but generally Quarry Lakes is open from sunrise to sunset. Alameda Creek Trail has a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. At Quarry Lakes, dogs must be on leash and out of the water at all times while in the park. Leashes may not exceed six feet in length. Persons who walk more than three dogs at a time, or who walk dogs for a fee, must obtain a permit. On Alameda Creek Trail dogs are permitted (gravel side only) under voice control.

The Official Story:
EBRPD's Quarry Lakes page
EBRPD's Alameda Creek Trail page

Map Choices:

• Quarry Lakes map from EBRPD
• Alameda Creek Regional Trail map from EBRPD


Quarry Lakes in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.


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