70 Miles of Coast
Your guide to San Diego — beaches, trails,
tide pools, neighborhoods and things to do.

Field guide index

Bird Watching

Explore bird watching through our San Diego field notes. Find practical guides, coastal context and links to the official information you need before heading out.

Eastern Side of Batiquitos Lagoon in Encinitas, CA photographed in 2021
Carlsbad

Batiquitos Lagoon Trail Map and Walking Guide

A north-shore lagoon walk with official map sources and clear distinctions between route length, access and reserve rules.

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Field-guide illustration of a reed-edged pond and walking path, inspired by Guajome Park
Oceanside

Guajome Park: Lake Walks, Fishing and Camping

An inland Oceanside park with ponds, several habitats and a campground. Bring a trail map and choose a loop that matches the day.

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Surf Beach near Lompoc, with ocean waves beyond the sand
Lompoc / Santa Barbara County

Lompoc Surfing and Ocean Beach Park: Know the Difference

An outside-San-Diego guide to two neighboring Lompoc coastal places that are easy to confuse when planning a beach visit.

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Brandt's cormorants and sea lions on a rock at La Jolla Cove
San Diego coast

Brandt's Cormorant: A San Diego Coast Identification Guide

Look for a substantial seabird with a hooked bill, diving behavior and a vivid blue throat during breeding season.

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Watercolor illustration of an egret in a Southern California urban tidal marsh; conceptual habitat view, not a site photograph
Point Loma / Ocean Beach

Famosa Slough: San Diego Wetland and Birding Guide

Visit Famosa Slough for an urban wetland walk, birdwatching and salt-marsh habitat, with guidance from the city and local stewards.

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View south over Agua Hedionda Lagoon and its shoreline vegetation
Carlsbad

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Garfield Street Trailhead Guide

How to use the Garfield Street access for the short North Shore Hubbs Trail beside Agua Hedionda’s outer lagoon.

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The courtyard and adobe ranch house at Rancho Los Peñasquitos
San Diego County

Hidden Places San Diego: Five Respectful Finds

Five alternatives to a crowded beach checklist, chosen for public access, habitat and a slower kind of exploring rather than secrecy.

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Open water and marsh along San Dieguito Lagoon
Del Mar / San Dieguito Lagoon

Coast to Crest Trail at San Dieguito Lagoon: Walking Guide

The lagoon section is an easy-rated part of a much larger trail system. Use the official map to choose a short out-and-back or a longer wetland walk.

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American coot photographed in the San Elijo Lagoon area
San Diego County

Best San Diego Birding Hotspots on the Coast

Compare coastal San Diego birding hotspots, from Famosa Slough and San Elijo Lagoon to Point Loma and the Tijuana estuary.

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Buena Vista Lagoon and an interpretive marker
Oceanside / Carlsbad

Buena Vista Lagoon: Nature Center and Short Walking Trail

A small nature-center loop provides an introduction to the lagoon. It is not a continuous walk around the entire wetland.

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