Overview
The Elkhorn Slough is a seasonal estuary featuring intertidal marshes, mudflats, eelgrass beds, and native oyster communities. More than 340 bird species, 100 fish species, and over 500 documented invertebrate species rely on its diverse habitats. The Slough also supports a thriving population of more than 100 Southern sea otters, which feed, rest, and raise their pups in its sheltered waters.
The Elkhorn Slough Reserve is located east of Hwy 1 and Moss Landing on the east side of Elkhorn Slough. The Reserve consists of over 1,700 acres of varied coastal habitats, from salt marsh to woodlands and grasslands, teeming with wildlife.
Elkhorn Slough Reserve is also designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve. It is managed by CDFW in partnership with the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the non-profit Elkhorn Slough Foundation. It is one of 30 national estuarine research reserves around the country that serve as representative estuaries for research, education and habitat stewardship.
The Reserve's 3 loop tails covering around 5 miles of nature trails that cross through various habitats and the Elkhorn Slough Visitor Center are popular with visitors of all ages.
Location
Directions
Travel on Highway 101 to Prunedale and take Exit 337 San Miguel Canyon Road. After a short distance, turn left onto Castroville Boulevard. In three miles, turn right onto Elkhorn Road. The entrance to the Reserve is 2.2 miles along Elkhorn Road on the left, marked as Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Entry and Fees
Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Admission fee: None
Ecological Reserve Contact: (831) 728-2822
Central Region Office: (559) 243-4005 ext. 151
More information is available from the Elkhorn Slough Foundation
Activities
Wildlife Viewing
Hiking Trails
Nature Education
Visitor Information
Volunteering
Wildlife Photography
Hunting
There is no hunting permitted at Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve. Hunting is permitted seasonally from the water only at the adjacent Moss Landing Wildlife Area.
Fishing
There is no fishing permitted at Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve.
Wildlife Viewing
Outstanding birdwatching opportunities exist in the coastal habitat.
Hiking
5 miles of nature trails featuring marsh boardwalks and scenic overlooks provide excellent opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing and nature photography.
Guided Tours
Docent-led guided walks are available year-round at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday with binoculars and bird books available to borrow at no cost.
An Early Bird walk is offered the first Saturday of each month at 8:30am. Check the ES Foundation calendar for up-to-date bird walk information.
Nature Education
Elkhorn Slough Reserve Visitor Center features exhibits exploring local habitats and wildlife. Admission is free and there is access for visitors who are mobility-impaired. All Reserve trails begin at the Visitor Center. Picnic tables are also available.
Volunteering
Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve currently has a volunteer force of approximately 75 active volunteers helping with research projects, leading tours and lending a hand to stewardship projects and maintenance needs. Volunteer training is in January and the more advanced Naturalist training continues on all Saturdays in February. More information can be viewed on the Foundation's Volunteer at Elkhorn Slough Reserve page.
Rules and Visitor Use
Be aware of some of the rules while visiting Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve:
- No horses allowed
- Visitors must stay on established trails, paths, or other designated areas
- Pets are prohibited, except when they remain inside a motor vehicle
- No e-bikes, scooters or motorized vehicles allowed
- No drones allowed without a Special Use Permit (PDF)
- No camping allowed
- No fires or barbecues
The Reserve is closed to visitor access and use on Mondays and Tuesdays and all days from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Fishing is allowed only from specific areas designated by the department and as provided in subsection 632(b) of these regulations for the marine waters shared with the Elkhorn Slough State Marine Conservation Area. Fishing is prohibited in the Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve (subsection 632(b) of these regulations).
In addition to the above, visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with all Rules and Regulations in effect at Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve.
For specific questions regarding use of this land, call the Reserve at (831) 728-2822.
Entry & Fees
No access fee. For organized youth or school group tours, contact the Ecological Reserve: (831) 728-2822 to schedule a field trip at least two weeks in advance.
Facilities
Located half-way between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey, Elkhorn Slough is a curving, seven-mile waterway extending from Monterey Bay. The Reserve occupies an area adjacent to part of the eastern shore of this channel. The approximately 1,700 acres that comprise the Reserve include salt marsh, mud flat, freshwater pond, oak woodland, and grassland habitats. A stroll on any one of the property's three loop trails reveals a variety of both wetland and upland wildlife. It is not uncommon for turkeys to be heard foraging in the oaks while a leopard shark glides through the backwater shallows in search of a meal.
CDFW naturalists welcome visitors at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve Visitor Center. The Visitor Center features interactive exhibits depicting the Reserve's ecology, habitats and wildlife, including "The Unseen Slough." Adjacent to the Visitor Center there are several shaded picnic tables. All the Reserve's hiking trails fan outward from the Visitor Center and vary in length from just under a mile to a little over two miles.
Docent-led guided walks are available at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to schedule a separate tour. Binoculars and bird books available to borrow at no cost.
Public restrooms are located at the Visitor Center, as well as adjacent to the small barn on South Marsh Trail.
Accessibility
Elkhorn Slough Reserve Visitor Center is equipped with accessibility features for mobility-impaired visitors. Overlook Trail is a 0.6 mile, ADA compliant, paved loop trail that is accessible to mobility-impaired visitors and leads to an overlook deck where an accessible-height viewing scope has been installed. Additionally, a trail-capable wheelchair is available for use by visitors on the Reserve at no cost. For details on any of these features, contact the Visitor Center at (831) 728-2822.
Connectivity
There is cellular phone service available in most areas of this property. There is no public Wi-Fi service available.
Area History
Since the 1920s, Elkhorn Slough has been a magnet for marine conservation and research. Today, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is managed by CDFW and operates in partnership with the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the non-profit Elkhorn Slough Foundation. It is one of 30 national estuarine research reserves around the country that serve as representative estuaries for research, education and habitat stewardship. This land was additionally designated as Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve by the California Fish and Game Commission in 1980.
Learning about the Land
An estuary is a nursery ground, a resting place, a smorgasbord; where rivers meet the sea. If you're a nature enthusiast you've probably heard this description before. But what exactly does it mean? And what in the world is a slough anyway? A visit to the Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve is a great way to find all this out, and much more.
Each year, the Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve hosts 3,000-4,000 school age students, who come to explore the wetlands and oak woodlands, learn about nature, and discover the tiny life found in a drop of water. At the Elkhorn Slough Reserve staff is committed to preparing tomorrow’s environmental leaders by providing them with opportunities to explore the wonderful connectedness of the world they inhabit.
There are two options for field trip experiences at Elkhorn Slough: Estuary Investigations or Self-Guided Explorations.
- Our Estuary Investigations field trips are grade-level specific and align with California’s Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These field trip experiences include hikes and field investigations that connect to grade-level science themes. Information about the program can be found on the Foundation's Reserve Field Trips page.
- Self-guided lessons for students are also available to enhance Reserve visits and provide alternatives for those who can’t join us in person.
In addition to field trip explorations for students, teachers are invited to participate in a variety of teacher workshops.
Another targeted audience for education is the coastal decision makers of the region. Topics include special status species workshops, coastal management issues as well as professional training regarding meeting facilitation. Extensive information about the program as well as a reference library to past workshops can be found on the Foundation's Elkhorn Slough Coastal Training Program page.
Watch:
Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve - Experience CDFW Lands.
The Elkhorn Slough Reserve–Woven in Time: A Cultural Heritage & Ecological History.
For more information, call the Ecological Reserve at (831) 728-2822 or the Central Regional office at(559) 243-4005