Salt Pond Nature Tours

Salt Pond Nature Tours -

PLEASE NOTE THE TIMES OF EACH EVENT DAY VARY! They do NOT all start at 8am!

Oct. 13 8am-12pm

Nov. 17 11am-3pm

Dec. 9 9am-1pm

Jan. 19 9am-1pm

Feb. 16 11am-3pm

Mar. 16 11am-3pm (tentative)

The historic South Bay Salt Works, located on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, has over 20 salt ponds used to extract salt from seawater by evaporation and is abundant with birds. It is open on a limited basis for guided walks, only during the non-breeding season for the birds.  The National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, who has future plans to eventually restore some of the ponds into intertidal salt marsh for a suite of migratory and residential bird species, plants, fish, and invertebrates.

The tour is conducted by San Diego Audubon Society docents, once per month during the winter season. There are two different walks, one being shorter and lasting about 2-3 hours; the second longer and lasting about 3-4 hours.  Wear sturdy shoes that can get dirty, and wear layers of clothing for unpredictable weather.

Directions: Take I-5 south to Chula Vista and exit on Palomar Street. Go west to the T-intersection at Bay Blvd. and turn left. Drive 0.3 miles and park on the right, outside the gated fence.

No restrooms! Please plan accordingly!

Thank you, and hope to see you out there!