Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center is a popular attraction located in the city of Palo Alto, California.


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Summary

It is a great place to visit for those interested in nature and wildlife. The center is situated on the edge of the San Francisco Bay and features over 1,940 acres of marshland and open space.

There are many reasons to visit the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center. Visitors can take part in nature walks and bird watching tours, and can also explore the interpretive center exhibits and educational programs. The center also offers a variety of activities for children, including summer camps and field trips.

One of the main points of interest at the center is the saltwater marsh habitat, which is home to a variety of plants and animals. Visitors can also see the tidal channels and mudflats, and observe the migratory birds that pass through the area.

Interesting facts about the area include that it is part of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1974 to protect the habitats of many species of birds and animals. The Baylands also contain over 15 miles of hiking trails, which offer stunning views of the bay and surrounding landscape.

The best time of year to visit the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center is during the fall and winter months, when the migratory bird populations are at their peak. However, the center is open year-round and offers something to see and do in every season.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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