San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve

Nine miles of trails fan out from ten different trailheads across San Elijo Lagoon's reserve, from the flat, stroller-friendly loop by the Nature Center to longer paths through coastal sage scrub and salt marsh. More than 250 species of shore and water birds pass through or nest here, among them osprey, great blue herons and snowy egrets. The trails stay open from sunrise to sunset every day, while the Nature Center itself keeps shorter hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.