Visit Us
This refuge has two distinct areas where you can experience some of the most beautiful and unique wildlife in San Diego Bay. The areas are connected by the Bayshore Bikeway. Whether you're biking, taking the bus, or driving, getting to the refuge is easy. You just have to know where to go!
Activities
This refuge is a natural gem, home to the most preserved wetlands in South Bay. Visitors can ride bikes along scenic routes, observe and photograph wildlife, and witness tens of thousands of migratory terns nesting in the heart of the refuge.
You can also get involved through education and interpretation programs with our partners, attend special events, or volunteer during habitat restoration activities.
Whatever you choose, the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful place to relax, explore, and connect with nature.
Trails
Bayside Birding and Walking Trail
This 0.4-mile trail runs parallel to the Bayshore Bikeway, stretching from 7th Street east to 10th Street in Imperial Beach. Stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, this easy trail features interpretive signage and offers some of the most beautiful views of the refuge.
Parking is available at 495 10th Street, next to the City of Imperial Beach Public Works Department. From there, cross the bike path to access the refuge’s trail.
Related Documents
Sweetwater Marsh Unit
The parking lot for the free shuttle to the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Living Coast Discovery Center is located next to Sweetwater Park on the Chula Vista Bayfront. From the I-5 freeway, take the E Street exit, turn onto Gunpowder Point Drive, drive past the traffic circle, and take the first exit to the left into the free parking lot.
The Living Coast Discovery Center operates a shuttle every 15 minutes, Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please check their website for the most current schedule. There is no fee to walk the 1.5 miles of refuge trails; however, admission is required to explore the Living Coast Discovery Center. Both the Discovery Center and the refuge’s administrative headquarters are located next to each other.
South San Diego Bay Unit
This area of the refuge is surrounded by the Bayshore Bikeway, making access easy. Many visitors walk or bike from Coronado and the Silver Strand down to Imperial Beach, following the curves of the South Bay Unit. The route continues through Imperial Beach, passing the salt ponds where numerous bird species can be seen diving for fish or swimming along the Otay River. Parking is available along this area, but please be considerate of nearby residents.
The best place to park is at 495 10th Street, Imperial Beach, in the gravel lot provided by the City of Imperial Beach for visitor use. From here, you can cross the bike path and access the Bayside Birding and Walking Trail, which runs from the northern end of 10th Street west to 7th Street in Imperial Beach.
During winter, monthly guided birding tours led by the San Diego Bird Alliance are offered from October through February (except December) in areas of the refuge normally closed to the public. Tours are not offered in spring and summer due to thousands of protected terns and black skimmers nesting in the area. However, you can still enjoy the spectacular view of migrating terns from the Bayside Birding & Walking Trail. For tour inquiries, contact info@sandiegobirdalliance.org.
Other Facilities in the Complex
San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general management of all refuges within the complex and refuge managers are responsible for operations at specific refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, refuge manager, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all refuges within the complex.
The Refuge Complex headquarters is located at: 1080 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, California 91910.
It is also in the same location as the Living Coast Discovery Center.
Rules and Policies
There are a few simple rules you can follow to help protect habitat and ensure that the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge remains a safe place for both wildlife and people.
Locations
Plug into your GPS: 1080 Gunpowder Point Dr. Chula Vista, CA 91910. To get here from I-5 freeway, exit E street exit and turn west into the entrance of the free parking lot and shuttle stop, where E street intersects Bay Boulevard.
Open from 10am - 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday, a shuttle bus run by the Living Coast Discovery Center will bring your inside the refuge gates about every 15 minutes. Check the Living Coast Discovery Center website for most up-to-date information. There is no fee to walk the 1.5 miles of trails, however there is a fee to explore the Living Coast Discovery Center. Both the Discovery Center and our administrative headquarters are located next to each other.
This area of the refuge is surrounded by the Bayshore Bikeway, so access is easy! Many people walk/bike from the City of Coronado and the Silver Strand down to the City of Imperial Beach, hugging the curves of the South Bay Unit. It continues to glide through Imperial Beach, passing by the salt ponds, where many species of birds can be viewed diving into the ponds for fish or swimming along the Otay River. You may park anywhere along this area, however it is in a residential area, so please be considerate of our neighbors!
The best place to park would be at 495 10th Street, Imperial Beach, in the gravel parking lot. This is a parking lot the City of Imperial Beach has graciously installed for extra visitor parking. From here, you can cross the bike path and access our Bayside Birding and Walking Trail, which runs from the northern terminus of 10th Street west to 7th Street in Imperial Beach.