A3W–A2E, 5 lakes is a 13.1-mile out-and-back in Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge near The Greenhouse, CA. The route passes A2E, Sunnyvale WPCP East Pond and Sunnyvale WPCP West Pond before reaching A3W at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
A3W–A2E, 5 lakes
13.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 4 hr 22 min
Elevation -0–22 ft
Out & Back · Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Trailhead: 37.43200, -122.08760
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:15 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto San Francisco Bay Trail, heading E.
- 1.2 miTurn left, heading SE.
- 350 ftSharp right onto Stevens Creek Trail, heading SE.
- 1.6 miPass A2E.
- 2.5 miPass Sunnyvale WPCP East Pond.
- 50 ftPass Sunnyvale WPCP West Pond.
- 250 ftSharp left onto San Francisco Bay Trail, heading NE.
- 1.2 miReach A3W, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.2 miSharp right, heading NE.
- 4.1 miSharp left, heading S.
- 1.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.4 mi in (~129 min). Leave by 5:45 PM for the 8:15 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Stevens Creek Viewpoint via San Francisco Bay Trail 2.8 mi · ▲ 0 ft
- Stevens Creek Trail 6.2 mi · ▲ 29 ft
- Stevens Creek Trail 6.3 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Hetch Hetchy Trail via Stevens Creek Trail 7.5 mi · ▲ 27 ft
- Stevens Creek Trail 7.6 mi · ▲ 58 ft
- A2E–Sunnyvale WPCP West Pond, 3 lakes 10.5 mi · ▲ 0 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near The Greenhouse, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near The Greenhouse, California