Palo Alto Duck Pond (Peers Park)

The Palo Alto Duck Pond sits inside the Baylands Nature Preserve at 2775 Embarcadero Road — a concrete-lined pond that started life as a saltwater swimming pool in the 1930s, was converted to a bird refuge in 1947, and now hosts two dozen duck species plus egrets, coots, and the occasional pelican. It is one of the easiest free nature stops on the Peninsula and works as a standalone visit or a first stop before the Magical Bridge Playground at Mitchell Park, about a mile away. Spring is the standout season: avocets nest nearby, stilts are visible in the shallows, and the pond often has ducklings from March through May.

Overview

Family wading in shallow urban park waterfront with children playing while birds rest on a wooden dock under city buildings on a sunny day.

How to Do It

Take Highway 101 to the Embarcadero Road exit and head east. Follow Embarcadero all the way to the T-intersection at the Baylands — the pond is on your left immediately. There are two small parking lots: a closer one right at the pond (fills first on weekends) and a slightly larger overflow lot a short walk further along the road. The paved 0.9-mile loop trail around the pond is flat and stroller-friendly with no gates or barriers, so the whole circuit is accessible start to finish. If you want to combine this with the Magical Bridge Playground, drive or bike over to Mitchell Park at 3700 Middlefield Road after — it is about 10 minutes by car. Budget 30–45 minutes at the pond and another 45–60 at Magical Bridge if the kids have energy to burn.

Child climbing on a colorful rope net playground structure outdoors.

Tips & Tricks

Signs at the pond say no feeding, but the ducks treat every visitor as a potential food source and will crowd in regardless. If you ignore the signs (many people do), cracked corn or plain oats are the least harmful options — bread is genuinely bad for ducks and geese, so skip it. The parking lot right at the pond fills up by 10am on weekend mornings, especially in spring; arrive before 9:30 or use the overflow lot. Birding is legitimately good here: the Duck Pond Loop Trail and the adjacent "Rail Alley" section of the Baylands are known hotspots for shorebirds August through April, so a pair of binoculars is worth throwing in the bag. The restroom situation is minimal — one ADA-compliant porta-potty near the sailing dock and one at the pond — so plan ahead if you have a toddler who gives zero notice.

Children and families playing at a splash pad fountain on a sunny day surrounded by trees

Planning

Admission is free, and the preserve is open sunrise to sunset year-round. No reservations, no fee kiosks, nothing to book. Parking is free. Bring a water bottle and snacks; there are no concessions on-site. Good stroller terrain throughout on the loop trail. The preserve is exposed and flat, so a hat and sunscreen matter even on overcast Peninsula days. Spring (March through May) is the best time for ducklings and nesting shorebirds. Summer and fall are excellent for variety — migrating species pass through the Baylands in numbers. The pond works for every age from infant through 8, though the sweet spot is 18 months to 5 years, when watching ducks up close is legitimately thrilling.