Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center

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Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center

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Experience the Tijuana Estuary

The Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center is located at 3rd Street and Caspian Way in Imperial Beach, the most southwestern city in the United States. There is no entrance fee. The Visitor Center has information and displays that pique the interest of adults and children alike. Find out how plants in the estuary get rid of the salt they take in and which birds are threatened and endangered. Click to view short film to find out why the Tijuana Estuary is so special.

Mother and son stop to read an exhibit inside the Tijuana River Estuary Visitor Center
Hours

Hours

Wed - Sun: 10am - 5pm
Trails open daily, dawn to dusk

Closed

Closed

Mon, Tue, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day

Address

Address

301 Caspian Way
Imperial Beach, CA 91932

Phone

Phone

(619) 575-3613

Welcome to the Visitor Center

As you walk toward the entrance of the Visitor Center, nature surrounds you; sounds of birds, lizards scurrying before your feet, and brush rabbits running in and out of their hiding places. Cacti and other native plants line the walkway. Before entering the building, on the sidewalk and continuing into the building is a painted floor map of the Tijuana River Watershed that is done to scale. Upon measuring your foot, you can gauge the actual distance between places, and follow one of the waterways that flows from Mexico, across the border, and then finally to the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (Tijuana Estuary) and, out to the Pacific Ocean.

Park ranger at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve speaking to a group of visitors

Information for your visit

On racks just inside the door, you will find trail maps, Reserve event information, bird identification pamphlets, and many tracts of useful information. The diorama inside is a three-tiered look at the estuary - under water, on the land, and in the air. The diorama contains many of our bird inhabitants (including the endangered light-footed Ridgway's rail), invertebrates, and fish. A migration map illustrates how birds utilize the Pacific Flyway as they journey back and forth from Alaska to South America. Children will love to climb into the Ridgway's Rail nest, assemble a food chain, probe for food like a shorebird, or search through the discovery drawers.

If you are on your way to walk the trails to do some birding, binoculars are available to borrow free of charge unless they are being used for an education program. Just leave an identification card or car keys at the desk until your return.

The Clapper Rail Nest Gift Shop

In the clapper rail nest gift shop you can find tee shirts, hats, books, cards, children’s nature toys, and a variety of fun things, including free posters. Browse the local artist corner, where picture note cards of plants and birds are for sale, as well as beautiful handmade jewelry. The Gift Shop is a great place to find unique gifts for birthday and holiday shopping. All proceeds go to the Friends of San Diego Wildlife Refuges. Join and get a 10% discount on items in the gift shop while supporting the Reserve and our local National Wildlife Refuges.

San Diego Friends of Wildlife Reguges

Directions

From the I-5 South/North

  • Take exit 4 – Coronado Avenue (not Coronado Bridge)
  • Head West on Coronado Avenue for approximately 2.5 miles. (Around 13th street, Coronado Avenue will turn into Imperial Beach Blvd; continue straight on)
  • Turn left on 3rd Street at the stop sign
  • Turn left on Caspian Way which leads into parking lot. (parking is free)

From Coronado

  • Take 75 South
  • Turn right on Rainbow Drive
  • Turn right onto Palm Avenue
  • Turn left on 3rd Street at the stop sign
  • Turn left on Caspian Way which leads into parking lot. (parking is free)

From Palm Avenue trolley station

  • Take bus #933 to 3rd Street and Imperial Beach Blvd
  • Turn left on 3rd Street at the stop sign
  • Turn left on Caspian Way which leads into parking lot

From Iris Avenue trolley station

  • Take bus #934 to 3rd Street and Imperial Beach Blvd
  • Turn left on 3rd Street at the stop sign
  • Turn left on Caspian Way which leads into parking lot