San Elijo Lagoon

San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is a 979-acre coastal wetland just inland from San Elijo State Beach, where Escondido and La Orilla Creeks meet the Pacific. It is not part of the state beach. San Diego County Parks and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife run it, with about seven miles of easy to moderate trails open sunrise to sunset and a nature center at 2710 Manchester Avenue open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Who Runs It

The lagoon was dedicated in 1983 as both a county park and a state ecological reserve. San Diego County Parks and Recreation runs the nature center and trails; the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is the state partner; nonprofit partners help care for it: the county brochure lists the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, and California State Parks links a lagoon fact sheet from Nature Collective. The water itself is the San Elijo Lagoon State Marine Conservation Area, which is no-take: no fishing or collecting, and no boating, swimming, wading or diving.

The Nature Center

The county's nature center at 2710 Manchester Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It is LEED Platinum certified and has live animal exhibits, cultural and historical displays, restrooms, water fountains and balcony seating with views over the lagoon. Outside, a three-quarter-mile accessible loop trail starts at the building. Park office: 760-634-3026.

Trails

The county counts about seven miles of easy to moderate trails through salt marsh, freshwater and brackish marsh, coastal sage scrub, chaparral and coastal strand. Trails are open from sunrise to sunset. Kids can follow the county's TRACK Trails scavenger hunt.

Annie's Canyon Trail is the exception to "easy": a quarter-mile, moderate to strenuous route; Nature Collective describes a narrow slot canyon with ladder-style stairs. The county lists its trailhead at 900 North Rios Ave., Solana Beach.

The Nature Collective publishes more trail detail, including trailheads, and gives a higher total of 9-plus miles across 10 trailheads; this guide uses the county's figure.

Wildlife

California State Parks calls the lagoon one of San Diego County's largest coastal wetlands, home to more than 700 species of plants and animals. Twice a day the tide floods much of it with salt water, then drains to expose mudflats full of invertebrates that feed shorebirds and ducks. The county notes striped mullet leaping from the channels, western fence lizards and mule deer at the eastern end.

Getting There From the State Beach

The lagoon's entrance channel is at the south end of San Elijo State Beach; the state beach runs about three-quarters of a mile north from it. The nature center is a short drive inland on Manchester Avenue. In the reserve, the county allows licensed pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet, attended at all times, but does not recommend pets on the strenuous loop of Annie's Canyon Trail. Fishing and hunting are prohibited in the reserve. For dogs on the state beach, see dog rules.