Tijuana Estuary
Details
This is a moderately-paced hike along established paths through the Tijuana Estuary Research Reserve in Imperial Beach. The total distance is about four or five miles, and the hike should take about two or three hours. For information on the reserve, see trnerr.org (http://trnerr.org/).
We've done this hike twice before, once on Dec. 18, 2014 and again on Apr. 28, 2016. Descriptions at www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/219271487 (https://www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/219271487/) and www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/230619073 (https://www.meetup.com/sandiegodayhikers/events/230619073/).
After the hike, we can look at exhibits in the Visitor Center. It will be closed when we start our hike, but should be open when we finish. (It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.)
We'll meet at 9:00 AM at the visitor center at 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach 91932 (N 32 34.498 W 117 7.547), and step off at 9:15 AM. The gates to the parking lot may be locked, but there is enough parking on nearby streets.
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SUGGESTED ROUTE FROM SAN DIEGO: Go south on I-5 and exit at Coronado Ave. Go east about two miles on Coronado Ave., which becomes Imperial Beach Blvd. when it enters Imperial Beach. Turn left on Third Ave. and follow it about 0.1 miles as it turns left and becomes Caspian Way. Park in (or near) the visitor center parking lot on the right. The distance from central San Diego is about 17 miles and the driving time is about 27 minutes.
San Diego MTS buses 933 and 934 stop at the intersection of 3rd St. & Imperial Beach Blvd. every 15 minutes on weekdays.
The name of this reserve varies somewhat from one sign to the next, but the words "Tijuana" and "Estuary" (or "Estuarine") seem to appear in all variants.
The reserve is especially good for bird watching: ducks, gulls, terns and even some big, noisy whirlybirds.
The paths are mostly decomposed granite (which is a kind of fine gravel, not granite and not decomposed), with a few muddy spots, and NO HILLS. Hiking shoes are not required.
Leashed dogs are allowed.
CONTACT: Philip Erdelsky, home 619-282-8611 cell 619-866-8512 E-mail pje@efgh.com
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