Batiquitos Lagoon

7380 Gabbiano Drive Carlsbad, CA 92009 760.845.3501, or 760.943.7583 www.batiquitosfoundation.org

No visit to San Diego’s North County wetlands and watersheds would be complete without a visit to Batiquitos Lagoon. This Lagoon is one of many along the coastline that enhance the area like a string of pearls. Lagoons are a priceless part of our watersheds, many of which have been thoughtlessly developed or altered.

The Batiquitos Lagoon is one which was on the brink of disappearing until there was a massive effort to restore the lagoon to natural tidal flows. The dredging project, one of the biggest restoration projects undertaken in the West, has brought back many marine and land animals which had not been seen at the lagoon for many years. The lagoon is still working at restoring sites for least terns, snowy plover, savannah sparrow, pelicans, and skimmers, which can now be seen diving and skimming for fish along the shores. This lagoon is now a saltwater lagoon fed by ocean tides on the western mouth and two fresh water streams on the eastern end. Treasured for its Native American midden sites and rare native plants and animals it is a special location for visitors and students.

The Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation maintains an information center which is open on weekends and for docent-guided tours during the week. There are over two and a half miles of nature trails along the north shore. A new, permanent nature center is planned for 2001 at the eastern end of the Lagoon.

There are three access points to the trail with parking, information signage, and trail guides available to the public. Bimonthly nature walks are scheduled for the public to join docents for interesting hikes along this reserve.