San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
Encinitas, San Diego County, CA
- Size
- 16 acres Source
- Managed by
- San Diego County Parks and Recreation
About San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
A 979-acre coastal estuary where Escondido and La Orilla creeks meet the Pacific, with 7 miles of trails. Source
San Elijo Lagoon is a peaceful place to enjoy nature. You can run, hike, birdwatch, take photos, or paint. It is one of the largest wetlands in San Diego. The 979-acre reserve is mainly a shallow-water estuary. It is where the Escondido and La Orilla Creeks meet the Pacific Ocean. It also provides a beautiful setting for weddings and special events!
Facilities
- Drinking Water
- Restrooms
Facility details: OpenStreetMap
Sunrise & sunset
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve hours follow the sun (Trails sunrise to sunset). Mid-month times for this location:
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6:51 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. |
| Feb | 6:33 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. |
| Mar | 7:01 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. |
| Apr | 6:20 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. |
| May | 5:50 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. |
| Jun | 5:39 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. |
| Jul | 5:50 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. |
| Aug | 6:11 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. |
| Sep | 6:31 a.m. | 6:57 p.m. |
| Oct | 6:52 a.m. | 6:17 p.m. |
| Nov | 6:19 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec | 6:44 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. |
Calculated from the park's coordinates (NOAA solar equations), Pacific time.
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve at a glance
- PParking · 2
- WCRestrooms · 1
- WDrinking water · 1
- Named trails · 2
Outline: CPAD. Points and trail lines: OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
Trails
| Trail | Mapped length | Elevation | Surface & uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature Center Outer Loop | 0.5 mi | 18 ft up & down12–22 ft | UnpavedNo horses |
| Nature Center Inner Loop | 0.1 mi | 3 ft up & down18–22 ft | UnpavedNo horses |
Trail names and mapped lengths come from OpenStreetMap; lengths count only the part inside the park boundary. Up-and-down totals (climbing plus descent, one way) and elevation ranges are estimates from USGS 3DEP elevation (about 15 m grid) sampled along the mapped line. Use the official guide map for the route and current closures.
Rules & reservations
Official park page- Dogs
The county says dogs are allowed in most County parks; in any County park or on County trails, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The park page does not say more, so check with the park before you go. Source
- Fees
The official park page does not list an entry or parking fee. Check with San Diego County Parks and Recreation before you go. Source
Nature center 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Map & directions
2710 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
Nearby parks
Straight-line distanceContinue exploring
San Diego County parksSources & verification
Last verified: Oct 15, 2026- California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) 2026aname, county, agency, access, acres
- San Diego County Parks park page (read in a browser)official_url, hours, hours_note, address, description
- San Diego County Parks FAQ (dogs in County parks)dogs
- OpenStreetMap facilities and trailsfacilities.drinking-water, facilities.restrooms, trails
- U.S. Census Bureau place boundariescity
- Official park page (checked for dog and fee information)unstated.fees
- OpenStreetMap: parking, restrooms, water, trailheads, trail lines, and bus stopsvisit
- Terrain Tiles elevation (USGS 3DEP), sampled every 20 m along OpenStreetMap trail linestrails.elevation
- Official park page (introduction excerpt)intro