San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy


One of the few remaining coastal wetlands of San Diego County and home to many animals and plants, is the San Elijo Lagoon. Situated along the coast between Encinitas and Solana Beach of San Diego County is a non ecological reserve that is part of the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, a county and state regional park of nearly 1,000 acres of diverse habitat including six plant communities: salt marsh, coastal strand, riparian scrub, brackish/freshwater marsh, coastal sage scrub and mixed chaparral. In addition the reserves has over seven miles of trails via eight trail entrances to encounter a wide variety of fauna and flora.

San Elijo Lagoon

The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve has a few rules to abide while using the trails:

  • Dogs are allowed if kept on a leash of 6 feet or less
  • Stay on established trails
  • Carry out your trash, including pet’s waste
  • Fishing and a fishing license is allowed from established trails. Nets or seines are not allowed, and commercial fishing is prohibited
  • Boating, swimming, wading and kayaking are not allowed
  • Bicycles, motorcycles and other vehicles are prohibited
  • Don’t disturb or collect any plants, artifacts, minerals or plants
  • Do not enter reserve after dark
  • Do not feed the wildlife or release animals into the reserve

San Elijo Trails

Here is a map of the available trails for more info, check San Elijo’s site.

Trail Map

The Nature Center is located at 2710 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff by the Sea. Map and Directions are below.

San Elijo Map

NATURE CENTER
I-5 to Manchester exit
Drive west on Manchester Avenue
Turn left into first available driveway
2710 Manchester Avenue

RIOS AVENUE
I-5 to Lomas Santa Fe exit
Drive west on Lomas Santa Fe Drive
Turn right on Rios Avenue
Drive to end of Rios Ave and park along the curb

SANTA CARINA
I-5 to Lomas Santa Fe exit
Drive east off exit
Turn left at the first available street: Santa Helena
Turn left on Santa Victoria
Turn left on Santa Carina
Drive to the end of Santa Carina and park along the curb

SANTA INEZ
I-5 to Lomas Santa Fe exit
Drive east off exit
Turn left at the first available street: Santa Helena
Turn left on Santa Rosita
Turn left on Santa Florencia
Turn left on Santa Inez

SANTA HELENA
I-5 to Lomas Santa Fe exit
Drive east off exit
Turn left at the first available street: Santa Helena
Follow Santa Helena all the way to the end

LA ORILLA
I-5 to Lomas Santa Fe exit
Drive east off exit
Turn left on Highland Rd (4-way stop)
Turn left on El Camino Real
Look for the parking area on the left side of the road before you get to the 90 degree bend in the road