Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge

About Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge

Tijuana Slough is a 1,072-acre wetland where the Tijuana River meets the Pacific Ocean. The refuge was established in 1980 and is part of the 2,800-acre Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of only 30 such reserves in the United States.The refuge is also recognized as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The reserve system is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which supports research and education programs in partnership with California State Parks and the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association (SWIA).

How to Get There

From Interstate 5, take the Coronado Avenue exit and head west. At Third Street, turn south and follow the signs to the visitor center on Caspian Way. Wildlife viewing deck and interpretive panels are also located at the end of Seacoast Drive.

Plan Your Visit to Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge

Heading to Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)