Newark Slough is a tidal saltwater slough within the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Newark, California. The primary and most detailed access point for paddlers is Jarvis Landing, also referred to as the Thornton parking lot at the refuge entrance. This launch is a paved put-in inside the refuge, providing access to up to ten miles of protected slough paddling. The launch is free, requires no boat inspection, and is a coast launch that is highly tide-sensitive. The sloughs run shallow on a low tide, and the mudflats at the put-in are noted for sticky clay that can cling to vessels and gear. There is also a small boat launch at the refuge headquarters suitable for punts, airboats, and kayaks. Paddling here is defined by the strong tidal influence of San Francisco Bay. Timing the trip with the tides is critical, as water levels and currents change substantially; one can paddle out with an ebbing tide to reach the bay and then catch the flooding tide to return, but missing this window risks stranding. The area is closed to hunting and shooting, and power boats are not permitted, resulting in minimal motorized traffic. The environment is a network of shallow sloughs and salt marshes, offering a serene and remote-feeling experience despite the urban surroundings. It is a key birdwatching paradise within the largest estuary on the West Coast, with landscapes of stinky marshes, sulfurous smells, and views of structures near the Dumbarton Bridge. Wildlife includes numerous shorebirds, waterfowl, breathtaking cranes, seals, and the endangered saltmarsh harvest mouse in the adjacent vegetation, for which paddlers are asked to stay on the water and not step on plants. The refuge headquarters has a visitor center with exhibits, but specific paddler amenities at the launch are not detailed beyond the paved access.