"Preserving, protecting, and enhancing
the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
and its watershed"

Become a member today:

90% of all coastal wetlands are lost forever. Explore one of San Diego's last estuaries.
Learn what you can do to help in its conservation.
It's your lagoon—it's your legacy.

Welcome to 1,000 acres, 8 trail heads, 7.5 miles of trails & 700 species of plants and animals.

The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve

San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. Map and
directions.

Regular events:
Free guided nature walks: Every Saturday, 10 - 11 am at the nature center, and every second Saturday of the month, 9 - 11 am at Rios Ave. trail head
Volunteer work parties: Every third Saturday of the month, 9 - 11 am, various locations
Bird counts: Every second Monday of the month, 7:30 am - 12 noon.
NEW: Seasonal guided family walks
Quarterly on Saturdays. Get details.

Decimated and destroyed by development, more than 90% of all coastal wetlands in California are lost forever. Gone with them are recreational opportunities, habitat for endangered plants and animals, and free ecosystem services such as flood and erosion control.

The San Elijo Lagoon is one of few remaining coastal wetlands of San Diego County and home to an exceptional number of animals and plants. It lies along the coast between the cities of Solana Beach and Encinitas of San Diego County, extending inland to Rancho Santa Fe. The lagoon is part of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, a county and state regional park of nearly 1,000 acres of diverse habitat including six plant communties: coastal strand, salt marsh, brackish/freshwater marsh, riparian scrub, coastal sage scrub and mixed chaparral. In the reserve you can access over seven miles of trails via eight trailheads and encounter a wide variety of flora and fauna.

The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy

The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust working to preserve, protect, and enhance San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and its watershed. We depend upon the financial support of individuals and foundations in order to provide educational materials, maintain the health of the lagoon and acquire additional acreage.

regional events calendar