The San Elijo Lagoon is an ecological reserve located in Encinitas, CA, with a nature center and several kid-friendly hiking trails. These protected wetlands are home to a diverse group of plants and animals. Bird watching is a favorite here and the lagoon is home to over 100 bird species. Between the incoming tides of the Pacific Ocean and drainage of the Escondido and La Orilla Creeks, the landscape of the lagoon is covered by fluctuating fresh and saltwater daily. As the water heads into the Pacific, the exposed landscape is a feeding frenzy for birds and other animals.
The San Elijo Lagoon is a San Diego County Park that sits between Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Solana Beach. This central location makes it easy to visit with kids and provides many options for the rest of the day! There are multiple areas for families to explore. Kids of all ages will love the interactive exhibits of the Nature Center, the freedom of the open trails, and the engaging challenges from the Kids in Parks Track Trails. In addition, the lagoon is home to one of the area’s most popular hikes and California’s best slot canyons – Annie’s Canyon. You can read more details about the Annie’s Canyon trail and adventure in this post.
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VISITING THE SAN ELIJO LAGOON NATURE CENTER
The San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center is located on the Cardiff side of the ecological reserve. The Nature Center is the Ecological Reserve’s visitor’s center, and I highly recommend stopping here first. Here, you can pick up a park map and your Kids in Parks Track Trails brochures, but kids will love exploring the interactive exhibits before heading out to explore the trails. The Nature Center is open 9-5pm daily.
SAN ELIJO LAGOON NATURE CENTER
Kids of all ages will enjoy learning about the animals of the preserve through displays filled with living and mounted displays. The hands-on exhibits also teach visitors about the history and culture of the preserve. This introduction to the flora and fauna of the area will get everyone excited about what to look for during your hike!
PARKING INFORMATION
The San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center is located on the Cardiff side of the ecological reserve. Just off of Highway 5, there is free parking at the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center. If the lot is full (as it often is during peak times), you can park for free in the Water District parking lot across the street. The Nature Center has restrooms and water fountains as well.
KIDS IN PARKS TRACK TRAILS
If you do not know about the Kids in Parks Track Trails program, check out this post to learn more. I love this program because it provides nature-based scavenger hunts during hikes and bicycle rides for kids in several of the San Diego County Parks (and other areas of the US). The brochures are not only engaging and educational, but kids can log on to the website after your hike and will receive prizes in the mail!
THE NATURE CENTER LOOP TRAIL
The Nature Center Loop trail is a great start for first-time visitors to the lagoon. The wide and fully accessible trail winds around the nature center along the saltwater marsh. There are plenty of benches along this 3/4-mile trail. The benches make for great bird-watching and binoculars are ideal for kids and adults exploring this loop. Our one-year-old daughter loved exploring this trail. The coastal sage and wildflowers were right at her level for smelling and she had plenty of space to teeter along. This is a great trail for little kids to explore.
SAN ELIJO LAGOON HIKING TRAILS
The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Preserve is home to over seven miles of hiking trails. Almost all trails are wide and accessible, which makes them great for strollers. The majority of trails are flat and very easy for beginning walkers to navigate. The trails wind around the lagoon and through the estuary channels and marshes. All trails are accessible from sunrise to sunset.
For a more adventurous trail in the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Preserve, plan an hour or so to explore Annie’s Canyon, which is most easily accessed from the Solana Beach border of the lagoon. This hike is not stroller-friendly and is labeled as a more strenuous adventure. More on the Annie’s Canyon trail in this post.
HIKING TRAILS FROM THE SOLANA BEACH ENTRANCE TO THE LAGOON
Many trails in the San Elijo Lagoon, including the highly trafficked Annie’s Canyon trail, can be accessed from the Solana Beach entrance to the preserve. Park responsibly along Rios Avenue to access these trails. There are two entrances at the end of the cul-de-sac. You can head west to explore the coastal side of the lagoon or head east towards the freeway and the entrance to Annie’s Canyon.
COASTAL TRAILS FROM THE RIOS AVE WEST ENTRANCE
From the west entrance of Rios Avenue, you can head towards the coast and walk along the lagoon about 1/4-mile to a lookout with great views. Take a moment to sit on the bench and soak in the views of the salt marsh below. This is a great spot to bust out the binoculars.
After this side trip, head back to the main trail and head west to walk below the coaster tracks on Pole Road. At just about 1-mile in, you can cross two bridges over the estuary channels to get to the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center. From the Nature Center, you will need to head back the way you came to the Rios entrance as there is no loop through the lagoon.
TRAILS FROM RIOS AVE EAST ENTRANCE (THE ANNIE’S CANYON TRAILHEAD)
The hiking trails accessible from the Solana Beach east entrance to the lagoon are some of my favorites to explore. Not only does the trail lead to the popular slot canyon, Annie’s Canyon, but there are a variety of short trails and loops to explore and several benches to enjoy along the lagoon.
In Spring wildflowers are abundant along this trail. As you head down the small hill, the brush clears and you get some incredible views of the lagoon. Keep an eye out for birds perched on the brush.
About a 1/4 mile down the trail, you reach a fork in your path. Continue straight directly towards Annie’s Canyon, or head left to the 1/2 mile “Gemma Parks Loop” that brings you closer to the wetlands. This is a small detour that provides great views and benches for birdwatching. We had a small picnic from one of our favorite sandwich shops in one of the viewing areas when our daughter was a few months old. We loved it but she was not too sure!
After the Gemma Parks Loop Trail, you will connect back to the main Annie’s Canyon trail. The entrance to the slot canyon is clearly marked when you reach the grove of eucalyptus trees. More details on hiking the Annie’s Canyon slot canyon trail is available in this post.
At this point, let the kids take some time to explore the stumps under the trees in the Eucalyptus grove. From here, you decide whether to loop back to the Rios Avenue entrance, hike through Annie’s Canyon, or continue east to explore the trails ahead that run underneath I-5.
LA ORILLA TRAILHEAD – RANCHO SANTA FE ENTRANCE TO THE LAGOON
This 3-mile out and back trail starts from a small parking area in Rancho Santa Fe. The trail gives you a different perspective of the lagoon. As you start walking the trail, you are surrounded by heavy greenery that turns to thick brush. Shortly afterward, you realize you are walking right alongside the wetlands covered in reeds and growth.
We visited after a morning of light rain, so you can see the trail is a bit muddy. However, this trail is mostly flat and was very easy with my 8-year-old and 1-year-old. They loved the up-close views of the lagoon that you get after a short distance. Signs at the trailhead warn of mosquitos, so plan accordingly. However, we did not see any or have any issues.
The La Orilla Trail would be fun to explore in Spring when the wildflowers are popping up. My daughter loved looking into the brush and toddling along this easy trail. We passed several people walking dogs and enjoying the views, but the trail was not crowded.
After coming out of the brush, the trail heads uphill slightly to a beautiful area under the trees. There are several benches along this trail and we took a small break here for my kids to explore. There are warning signs about mountain lions and poison oak in the area, so be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially with children!
Although we did not walk to the very end due to current construction, we enjoyed the views of the lagoon and Manchester Avenue from a bench and vista along the lagoon. From here, we headed back to our car. My one-year-old daughter walked this entire trail and we took lots of time to explore. We were back in the car in less than 90 minutes.
AFTER YOUR VISIT TO THE SAN ELIJO LAGOON
I love how central the lagoon is to so many great spots. After you spend some time exploring the lagoon, make sure to grab a snack, meal, or drink at one of our favorite places nearby!
HOMESTEAD SOLANA BEACH
Homestead Solana Beach is a great stop no matter what you are in the mood for. Open 10-4pm Wednesday – Sunday, this family-run market and cafe is delicious and has something for everyone. They offer great food, daily specials, craft beers, kombucha, and great wines. They also have gelato fresh pasta with accompanying sauces and other veggies to-go.
There are so many things I still need to try on their menu. Just down the street from the San Elijo Lagoon, Homestead Solana Beach is a great place to stop by and enjoy a glass of wine or scoop of gelato after your hike!
TEMECULA OLIVE OIL COMPANY
Just next door to Homestead is the Temecula Olive Oil Company tasting room. Although known for their aromatic oils and vinegar, there is more to this little shop! If you picked up something for dinner at Homestead, you can definitely find gourmet products to enhance your meal here! My friend swears by the blue cheese stuffed olives for martinis. My mom and I love the Fresh Mediterranean Herbs Olive Oil for roasted veggies and chicken.
CARRUTH CELLARS
Carruth Cellars is an awesome urban winery in the Cedros District of Solana Beach. They have expanded to this new, larger space and it makes for a great stop! They have plenty of fun events and movie nights, but happy hour is a great deal if you want to share a bottle of wine with a friend! This is a great place to relax and unwind after a lagoon adventure!
MOTO DELI LEUCADIA
Moto Deli is a delicious deli with a great drink selection located just 6 miles away from the lagoon. I recommend grabbing sandwiches to-go for a picnic at the lagoon or stopping by after your hike! I highly recommend the Turketta, but my husband swears by the Italian. They carry great kombucha and CBD seltzer options in addition to a variety of craft beers on draft.
What is your favorite part of the San Elijo Lagoon? Where is your favorite place to unwind after a hike?
