Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Imperial Beach

About Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve preserves Southern California's largest coastal wetland in Imperial Beach. Visitors explore the reserve through hiking, biking, birding, and horseback riding on accessible trails including the North McCoy Trail and South McCoy Trail, which wind through marsh habitats. The Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center features hands-on interactive exhibits about estuaries, watersheds, flora and fauna, along with educational videos available in Spanish. Border Field State Park, located within the reserve, offers surf fishing, beach combing, picnic areas, barbecues, and horse corrals. The reserve encompasses diverse habitats: beach, dune, mudflat, salt marsh, riparian areas, coastal sage scrub, and upland zones where unique plants and animals thrive. Public programs include bird walks, nature walks, and educational speakers. School groups receive free visits with teacher training and curriculum resources available. The reserve operates as one of thirty national estuarine research reserves, serving as a living laboratory for research while providing recreational and educational opportunities for visitors of all abilities.