In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore,
becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the
United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only tells the story of this
16th-century exploration but also houses a wealth of cultural and natural
resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Exploration.

In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only tells the story of this 16th-century exploration but also houses a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Exploration.

Bird's eye view of the park

Cabrillo National Monument

Cosmopolitan Hotel

Bird's eye view of the campground

Silver Strand Northern Section

Silver Strand Southern Section

Silver Strand SB

The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge protects a rich diversity of
endangered, threatened, migratory, and native species and their habitats in
the midst of a highly urbanized coastal environment. The Refuge is situated at
the south end of San Diego Bay and is surrounded by the Cities of National
City, Chula Vista, San Diego, Imperial Beach, and Coronado. Established to
protect endangered and threatened species, the Refuge encompasses
approximately 2,620 acres of land and water in and around San Diego Bay.

Nesting, foraging, and resting sites are managed for a diverse assembly of
birds. Waterfowl and shorebirds over-winter or stop here to feed and rest as
they migrate along the Pacific Flyway. Undisturbed expanses of cordgrass
dominated salt marsh support sustainable populations of light-footed Ridgway's
rail.

Enhanced and restored wetlands provide new, high-quality habitat for fish,
birds, and coastal salt marsh plants, such as the endangered salt marsh bird’s
beak. Quiet nesting areas, buffered from adjacent urbanization, ensure the
reproductive success of the threatened western snowy plover, endangered
California least tern, and an array of ground nesting seabirds and shorebirds.

The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge also provides the public with the
opportunity to observe birds and wildlife in their native habitats and to
enjoy and connect with the natural environment. Informative environmental
education and interpretation programs expand the public’s awareness of the
richness of the wildlife resources of the Refuge. The Refuge serves as a haven
for wildlife and the public to be treasured by this and future generations.

The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge consists of the Sweetwater Marsh and
South San Diego Bay Units. Most of what remains of San Diego Bay’s historic
coastal salt marsh and intertidal mudflat habitat is preserved within these
two refuge units.  
  
**Sweetwater Marsh Unit**  
Sweetwater Marsh is 316 acres in size and was established in 1988 on the east
side of San Diego Bay. It is located on the east side of San Diego’s south bay
and has a rich cultural history. The Kumeyaay peoples first used the area for
fishing, hunting and gathering. On this site during World War I, a 30-acre
kelp processing plant produced potash, a key ingredient in smokeless
gunpowder, for the British Army. This is a certain area on the Refuge called
“Gunpowder Point.” Today, the refuge is not only home for native wildlife, but
is also the headquarters location for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
Complex.

Habitats at Sweetwater Marsh support species such as the California least
tern, Western snowy plover, osprey, belted kingfisher, as well as a rare salt
marsh plant found in few other places, Palmer’s frankenia.

This refuge is also the site of a very successful breeding program for the
endangered light-footed clapper rail, carried out in partnership with the non-
profit Living Coast Discovery Center, Sea World San Diego, and the San Diego
Zoo’s Safari Park. Hundreds of light-footed Ridgway’s rails have been reared
and released into the wild through this program. A variety of native birds can
be seen up close both in the aviaries and during educational bird
presentations by the nature center’s volunteers and staff. Environmental
education programs, activities and special events are offered throughout the
year by the refuge complex and the nature center. It is a great place to
visit!

**South San Diego Bay Unit**  
Dedicated in 1999, the 2,300-acre South San Diego Bay Unit was established to
shelter, protect and restore habitat for hundreds of thousands of birds
migrating along the Pacific Flyway, as well as for the bay’s resident species.
The South San Diego Bay Unit is located in the southernmost tip of the San
Diego Bay; within the cities of Imperial Beach, Coronado, National City, and
City of San Diego.

Eelgrass beds and the largest contiguous mudflat in southern California
provide a supermarket for overwintering waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds and
migrating Pacific green sea turtles. The South San Diego Bay Unit of the
refuge also provides foraging and nesting habitat for thousands of nesting
seabirds in spring and summer. The unit supports such endangered and
threatened species such as the California least tern, Belding’s savannah
sparrow and western snowy plover.

Restoration of tidal flats, salt marsh, subtidal, and native upland habitat
continues to provide additional habitat essential to birds, native plants,
fish and other marine life.

The public can birdwatch, walk and ride bicycles along a bike path around the
bay or participate in monthly tours of the refuge. Hundreds of school children
use the refuge as an outdoor classroom for refuge-sponsored environmental
education programs.

The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge protects a rich diversity of endangered, threatened, migratory, and native species and their habitats in the midst of a highly urbanized coastal environment. The Refuge is situated at the south end of San Diego Bay and is surrounded by the Cities of National City, Chula Vista, San Diego, Imperial Beach, and Coronado. Established to protect endangered and threatened species, the Refuge encompasses approximately 2,620 acres of land and water in and around San Diego Bay.Nesting, foraging, and resting sites are managed for a diverse assembly of birds. Waterfowl and shorebirds over-winter or stop here to feed and rest as they migrate along the Pacific Flyway. Undisturbed expanses of cordgrass dominated salt marsh support sustainable populations of light-footed Ridgway's rail. Enhanced and restored wetlands provide new, high-quality habitat for fish, birds, and coastal salt marsh plants, such as the endangered salt marsh bird’s beak. Quiet nesting areas, buffered from adjacent urbanization, ensure the reproductive success of the threatened western snowy plover, endangered California least tern, and an array of ground nesting seabirds and shorebirds.  The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge also provides the public with the opportunity to observe birds and wildlife in their native habitats and to enjoy and connect with the natural environment. Informative environmental education and interpretation programs expand the public’s awareness of the richness of the wildlife resources of the Refuge. The Refuge serves as a haven for wildlife and the public to be treasured by this and future generations.The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge consists of the Sweetwater Marsh and South San Diego Bay Units. Most of what remains of San Diego Bay’s historic coastal salt marsh and intertidal mudflat habitat is preserved within these two refuge units.   Sweetwater Marsh Unit Sweetwater Marsh is 316 acres in size and was established in 1988 on the east side of San Diego Bay.  It is located on the east side of San Diego’s south bay and has a rich cultural history. The Kumeyaay peoples first used the area for fishing, hunting and gathering. On this site during World War I, a 30-acre kelp processing plant produced potash, a key ingredient in smokeless gunpowder, for the British Army.  This is a certain area on the Refuge called “Gunpowder Point.” Today, the refuge is not only home for native wildlife, but is also the headquarters location for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex.Habitats at Sweetwater Marsh support species such as the California least tern, Western snowy plover, osprey, belted kingfisher, as well as a rare salt marsh plant found in few other places, Palmer’s frankenia.This refuge is also the site of a very successful breeding program for the endangered light-footed clapper rail, carried out in partnership with the non-profit Living Coast Discovery Center, Sea World San Diego, and the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. Hundreds of light-footed Ridgway’s rails have been reared and released into the wild through this program. A variety of native birds can be seen up close both in the aviaries and during educational bird presentations by the nature center’s volunteers and staff. Environmental education programs, activities and special events are offered throughout the year by the refuge complex and the nature center. It is a great place to visit!South San Diego Bay Unit Dedicated in 1999, the 2,300-acre South San Diego Bay Unit was established to shelter, protect and restore habitat for hundreds of thousands of birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, as well as for the bay’s resident species. The South San Diego Bay Unit is located in the southernmost tip of the San Diego Bay; within the cities of Imperial Beach, Coronado, National City, and City of San Diego.Eelgrass beds and the largest contiguous mudflat in southern California provide a supermarket for overwintering waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds and migrating Pacific green sea turtles. The South San Diego Bay Unit of the refuge also provides foraging and nesting habitat for thousands of nesting seabirds in spring and summer. The unit supports such endangered and threatened species such as the California least tern, Belding’s savannah sparrow and western snowy plover.Restoration of tidal flats, salt marsh, subtidal, and native upland habitat continues to provide additional habitat essential to birds, native plants, fish and other marine life.The public can birdwatch, walk and ride bicycles along a bike path around the bay or participate in monthly tours of the refuge. Hundreds of school children use the refuge as an outdoor classroom for refuge-sponsored environmental education programs.

San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Tijuana Slough is a 1,072-acre wetland located where the Tijuana River meets
the sea. The refuge was established in 1980 and is part of the 2,800-acre
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR), one of only 30
such reserves in the United States.

This Refuge is also designated as a Wetland of International Importance by the
Ramsar Wetlands Convention. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) administers the reserve system and supports research and
education activities along with our partners at California State Parks and the
Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association (SWIA).

Tijuana Slough is a 1,072-acre wetland located where the Tijuana River meets the sea. The refuge was established in 1980 and is part of the 2,800-acre <a href="https://trnerr.org/" rel="nofollow">Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve</a> (TRNERR), one of only 30 such reserves in the United States.This Refuge is also designated as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Wetlands Convention. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) administers the reserve system and supports research and education activities along with our partners at California State Parks and the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association (SWIA).

Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve preserves one of the
largest remaining examples of coastal wetland habitats in the southern
California sub-region. The 2,293 acre Tijuana River Reserve is located in
Imperial Beach, Calif., situated in a highly urbanized location, 15 miles
south of San Diego and immediately adjacent to Tijuana, Mexico. Three quarters
of the reserve's watershed is in Mexico, so reserve programs apply an
international perspective to critical issues of habitat restoration,
endangered species management, wastewater from Mexico, sediment management,
and recreational use. The reserve is a home to eight threatened and endangered
species of plants and birds and is recognized as a wetland of international
importance' by the Ramsar Convention.

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve preserves one of the largest remaining examples of coastal wetland habitats in the southern California sub-region.  The 2,293 acre Tijuana River Reserve is located in Imperial Beach, Calif., situated in a highly urbanized location, 15 miles south of San Diego and immediately adjacent to Tijuana, Mexico.  Three quarters of the reserve's watershed is in Mexico, so reserve programs apply an international perspective to critical issues of habitat restoration, endangered species management, wastewater from Mexico, sediment management, and recreational use.  The reserve is a home to eight threatened and endangered species of plants and birds and is recognized as a wetland of international importance' by the Ramsar Convention.

View from a mesa in Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, California

Bounday Marker in Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, California

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

Border Field SP

The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is not just a place for wildlife, but a
refuge for the city-dwelling neighbors who surround it. Established in 1996
and stretching over 12,300 acres from the city of Jamul to communities in
Spring Valley and eastern Chula Vista, the refuge is the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service’s contribution to the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation
Program (MSCP), a landscape-wide habitat conservation plan to preserve habitat
and species while allowing appropriate development.

Guided by ongoing biological surveys and endangered species monitoring
programs, the management of this refuge also relies on its non-profit partners
and cooperative agencies to ensure the goals established in its Comprehensive
Conservation Plan are accomplished.

Open grasslands, cool riverine corridors, and oak woodlands are some of the
habitats being actively restored, once degraded by prior human uses and
wildfire. Public trails that support hiking, mountain biking, and horseback
riding are maintained while still providing for the sensitive species it is
mandated to protect.

The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is not just a place for wildlife, but a refuge for the city-dwelling neighbors who surround it. Established in 1996 and stretching over 12,300 acres from the city of Jamul to communities in Spring Valley and eastern Chula Vista, the refuge is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s contribution to the San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), a landscape-wide habitat conservation plan to preserve habitat and species while allowing appropriate development. Guided by ongoing biological surveys and endangered species monitoring programs, the management of this refuge also relies on its non-profit partners and cooperative agencies to ensure the goals established in its Comprehensive Conservation Plan are accomplished.Open grasslands, cool riverine corridors, and oak woodlands are some of the habitats being actively restored, once degraded by prior human uses and wildfire. Public trails that support hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are maintained while still providing for the sensitive species it is mandated to protect.

Cabrillo National Monument

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