Download Coast Highway from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border

Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
0
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
Route
Description As it passes
through
Southern
California, the
Coast Highway
skirts one of
the most
populous urban
regions in the
United States.
Development
pressures have
altered and
fragmented the
natural
environment in
many
places...making
the remaining
"islands" of
wildness
increasingly
valuable as
refuges for
native plants
and animals.
These sites
make for
wonderful
wildlife
watching--whether they
offer the
chance to
observe
concentrations
of migratory
waterfowl, the
microcosmic
workings of a
tidepool, a
glimpse of rare
and
endangered
species, or the
excitement of a
grunion
spawning run.
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
Highway 1 forms the Coast Highway north of Point Conception and in the Los
Angeles area. It's replaced by Highway 101 from Gaviota to Ventura, and by
Interstate 5 from Capistrano Beach southward to Mexico.
Pismo State Beach
Location: Exit Highway 1 at Pismo Beach. Drive south 1 mile to North Beach
Campground.
What to See: The nation's largest population of wintering monarch butterflies find
shelter in the eucalyptus trees at this park. In addition, this site features the state's
most extensive coastal sand dunes. The dune preserve houses lizards, mice, blacktailed jackrabbits, bobcats, and coyotes. Beavers can be found in Meadow Creek.
The giant coreopsis can also be found here. Fifty bird species may be seen in the
lagoon, including yellow-rumped warblers, marsh wrens, and black-crowned night
herons. Look in offshore waters for resident harbor seals and southern sea otters.
During the winter, look for humpback whales, endangered California gray whales, and
thousands of sooty shearwaters, a marine bird.
Visiting tips: Butterflies are abundant November through March. Shorebirds and
songbirds are visible all year. Bald eagles are visible in the winter. Beavers are best
viewed at dawn and dusk. Dune vegetation is fragile.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.pismobeach.com
www.centralcoast.com
Contact: (805) 489-2684
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=595
Nipomo Dunes Preserve
Location: From Guadalupe on Highway 1, take West Main Street (Highway 166)
west 5 miles. Pass an entrance gate and continue 1.5 miles to the preserve.
What to See: California's most extensive coastal sand dunes are found at this
location, with some reaching over 400 feet tall. Stunted vegetation---including
eighteen protected plants---provide stabilization for the dunes. White-tailed kites,
Cooper's hawks, and northern harriers cruise over dune swales and ridges inhabited
by coast garter snakes, California quail, black-tailed deer, and coyotes. Endangered
least terns nest south of the Santa Maria River and fish at the river mouth. Nesting
snowy plovers are among the thousands of shorebirds that scour the beaches. Gulls,
cormorants, loons, and brown pelicans remain offshore. Sooty shearwaters come by
the thousands during some winters. Ospreys, terns, tundra swans, American white
pelicans, mallards and ruddy ducks are attracted to inland lakes.
Visiting tips: There are more than 200 bird species to see. Look for waterfowl in
file://///MYPC/SharedDocs/ALL_PROJECTS/circle%20design/cww/cww/pdfs/hywy1_num8_pv2.htm (2 of 12) [9/4/2003 9:31:47 PM]
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
the winter and pelicans from July through November. Marine birds can be seen all
year. Look for least terns from April through August. Birds of prey are visible yearround. Wildflowers are abundant in March. Do not disturb least tern and snowy
plover
nesting sites.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.centralcoast.com
www.santamaria.com/
Contact: (805) 343-2455
www.dunescenter.org/thedunes.html
Carpinteria State Beach
Location: At Carpinteria on Highway 101, take Casitas Pass Road exit, and turn
right on Carpinteria Avenue. Turn left on Palm Avenue and continue to entrance.
What to See: Carpinteria Creek's riparian woodland gives way to a tidal lagoon
bordered by a sandbar and a rocky reef riddled with tidepools. These pristine pools
have been protected from damage and are a sparkling world inhabited by chitons,
periwinkles, sea anemones, sea stars, and other marine life. A small beach east of
the tidepools is a major haul-out for harbor seals, particularly at night.
Visiting tips: COLLECTING FROM TIDEPOOLS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Viewing of seals is good year-round. Guided tours are available and there is an
indoor tidepool at the Visitor Center. Waves can be dangerous and rocks are very
slippery.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information: www.sbchamber.org/
Contact: (805) 684-2811
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=599
Channel Islands National Park
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
Location: From north of Ventura on Highway 101: Take Victoria Avenue exit and
turn left; then turn right on Olivas Adobe Road and Take Spinnaker Drive to visitor
center. From south of Ventura on Highway 101: Take Seaward Avenue exit, turn left
on Harbor Boulevard, and turn onto Spinnaker Drive.
What to See: The National Marine Sanctuary consists of five rocky, wave-blasted
islands which sit within a rich marine habitat. Crucial rookeries for California sea
lions, harbor seals, northern elephant seals, northern fur seals, threatened Steller sea
lions and guadalupe fur seals are provided by the Channel Islands. Crucial breeding
habitat for eleven marine species is found in the rugged cliffs and scrub-dominated
plateaus. These species include Cassin's auklets, Xantus' murrelets, pigeon
guillemots, ashy storm petrels, Brandt's cormorants, western gulls and endangered
California brown pelicans. The craggy shorelines include tidepools inhabited by
turban snails, tube worms, limpets, and other species. Sightings of up to twenty
species of whales, porpoises, and dolphins are available from the islands. In addition,
there are many plant and wildlife species here, such as gray foxes and scrub jays,
which differ from their mainland counterparts.
Visiting tips: The visitor center in Ventura provides information on visiting the
islands. Boat tours are available from Ventura. Year-round viewing of marine birds,
seals and sea lions is excellent. Humpbacked and pilot whales, seven dolphin
species, small mammals, predators, songbirds and amphibians are also visible yearround. Trails as well as camping and picnic areas are provided on the islands.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.ventura-usa.com
www.ventura-chamber.org/
www.oxnardtourism.com/
Contact: (805) 658-5730 or (805) 658-5700
www.nps.gov/chis/
McGrath State Beach
Location: At Ventura, take Highway 101 to Seaward and turn left. Then turn left
onto Harbor Boulevard and drive 4 miles to beach entrance.
What to See: This small site next to the Santa Clara River includes tall dunes, a
river-mouth marsh, 2 miles of beach and a freshwater lake. Look for nesting
California terns and snowy plovers along the .75-mile trail that winds through the
preserve. Other birds to watch for include long-billed dowitchers, black-necked stilts,
and whimbrels. Look among the willows, bulrushes, and tules lining the lake and
river bank for red-winged blackbirds and snowy egrets. Grunion spawn along the
beach during the spring and summer. Littleneck and Pismo clams appear in the sand
as the tide recedes.
Visiting tips: Excellent bird viewing during the change from spring to summer and
fall to winter. Please keep distance from nesting birds. Visitor center open during the
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
summer.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.ventura-usa.com
www.ventura-chamber.org/
www.oxnardtourism.com/
Contact: (805) 654-4744 or 805-654-4610
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=607
Point Mugu State Park
Location: From Oxnard, drive south 12 miles to park entrance.
What to See: This beach park is located at the edge of the Santa Monica
Mountains and encompasses five miles of sandy coastline, rocky bluffs, native
grasslands and unspoiled backcountry. Visit Sycamore Cove and La Jolla beach to
view gulls, cormorants, shorebirds, California least terns and California brown
pelicans. Year-round populations of harbor seals, California sea lions, and common
dolphins are joined by migratory endangered gray whales. Monarch butterflies
cluster on trees at Sycamore Canyon Campground. Songbirds can also be seen in
the campground. The rugged 6,000-acre Boney ountain Wilderness Area sustains
resident mule deer, gray foxes, skunks, even mountain lions. Bats roost among the
sycamores, a spring destination for breeding flycatchers, hummingbirds and wrens.
Visiting tips: More than 200 bird species are found at this park. Year-round
viewing is good for marine birds, wading birds and songbirds. The best time to
view shorebirds is between August and April. December to April is good for whale
watching; visit in the spring to see the wildflowers. Spring and fall provide
excellent viewing of songbirds. Mugu Rock is a great place to watch marine birds.
Nearby Pt. Dume State Park also provides excellent whale-watching opportunities.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information: www.oxnardtourism.com/
Contact: (818) 880-0350
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=630
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
Malibu Creek State Park and Lagoon
Location: Lagoon is 12 miles north of Santa Monica on Highway 1. Park is 6 miles
inland from Malibu on Malibu Canyon Road.
What to See: Chaparral-covered hills and steep, wooded canyons give way to oakstudded grasslands and meandering streams that end at Malibu Lagoon, one of Los
Angeles' few remaining estuaries. The rough backcountry houses raccoons,
coyotes, gray foxes, badgers and mountain lions; Cooper's hawks and golden
eagles patrol the skies. The moist, rocky gorges provide an excellent habitat for
ferns and orchids which shelter canyon wrens and white-throated swifts. Lazuli
buntings, warbling vireos, and Swanson's thrushes live among the trees that shade
Malibu Creek, which in turn supports California's southernmost steelhead spawning
run. Look for buffleheads, ring-necked ducks, and belted kingfishers at the creek
and at Century Lake. Malibu Lagoon State Beach is a brackish marsh that attracts
more than 200 bird species. The lagoon is also a nursery for many fish and is home
to reintroduced tidewater gobies.
Visiting tips: Birds of prey, wading birds, songbirds, predators and deer can be
seen all year. Songbirds are viewed best during April, May, September and
October. There are great opportunities to see waterfowl, gulls, and shorebirds
during the fall and winter. Terns can be seen in the summer and fall. Hike or ride
horses on the trails; some of which connect to nearby Topanga State Park. Besides
the visitor center at this park, make sure to stop at nearby Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area Visitor Center located at 30401 Agoura Road in Agoura
Hills (Highway 101/Reyes Adobe exit).
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.malibu.org/
www.santamonica.com/
Contact: (818) 880-0367
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=614
Topanga State Park
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
Location: From Santa Monica, take Highway 1 north to Topanga Canyon
Boulevard (Highway 27). Turn north and drive 4 miles, then take the Entrada exit
and drive east to the entrance.
What to See: This pristine park on the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains is the
largest wildland within a city boundary in the United States. Adjacent private and
public wildlands provide landscape corridors and increase the size of the urban
wilderness to 16,000 acres. There are more than thirty miles of trails offering views
of oak studded meadows, chaparral, and forested canyons. The open country is
home to Desert cottontails, California quail, scrub jays, coyotes, badgers, and
bobcats. Southern mule deer browse among scrub and coast live oaks that shelter
acorn woodpeckers and western screech owls. Follow the trail through the rugged
Santa Ynez Canyon to see a twenty-foot waterfall, stream orchids and tiger lilies.
California bays, sycamores, and willows provide habitat for raccoons, canyon wrens,
Swainson's thrushes, and warbling vireos.
Visiting tips: Songbirds, upland birds, predators, and deer can be seen yearround. The best time to see the songbirds is during spring and fall. Visit during the
spring to see the wildflower display. Nature and equestrian trails as well as a visitor
center are available.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.santamonica.com/
Contact: 310-454-8212 or 818-880-0350
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=629
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Location: 3 miles northwest of Huntington Beach
What to See: This "little pocket", or "bolsa chica" of restored urban salt marsh is a
haven for waterbirds such as American wigeons, blue-winged teal, lesser scamps,
brown pelicans, and great blue herons. Mudflats provide food for red-necked
phalaropes, dowitchers, and other shorebirds. Pickleweed shelters marsh wrens
and endangered Belding's savannah sparrows. Use binoculars from the boardwalk
to watch two nesting islands for black skimmers and five tern species. Look below
the boardwalk for giant sea hares. Ospreys and peregrine falcons make perches in
utility poles. Look for wintering monarch butterflies at the bluff overlooking a
eucalyptus grove.
Visiting tips: More than 200 bird species. Look for shorebirds in fall and
waterfowl in winter. Marine birds are visible from April to August, and songbirds in
the spring and summer. Belding's savannah sparrows can be found when they are
singing in March and April. Look for peregrine falcons in fall and short-eared owls
from October through January. There are many closed areas. Terns nest in sand;
do not disturb their nesting sites.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
file://///MYPC/SharedDocs/ALL_PROJECTS/circle%20design/cww/cww/pdfs/hywy1_num8_pv2.htm (7 of 12) [9/4/2003 9:31:47 PM]
Coast Highway from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
http://www.hbvisit.com/
Contact:
Amigos de Bolsa Chica (714) 840-1575
www.amigosdebolsachica.org
Offers free guided tours first Saturday of the month and paid tours per request.
Also hosts annual "Running is for the Birds" and photo contest.
Bolsa Chica Conservancy (714) 846-1114
www.bolsachica.org/
Operates the Interpretive Center on Warner Avenue near Pacific Coast Highway
across from the Fire Station.
Bolsa Chica Land Trust (714) 536-4836
www.bolsachicalandtrust.org
Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and Regional Park
Location: Between Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach along Highway 1
What to See: This shallow estuary has many trails that wind past mudflats
concealing littleneck clams, polychaete worms, and marine life eaten by plovers,
sandpipers, and other shorebirds. Shallow bay waters shelter anchovies, California
killifish, and halibut, which in turn attract buffleheads, mergansers, black skimmers,
ospreys, egrets, brown pelicans, and occasional raccoons. Bay nesting islands
shelter American avocets, black-necked stilts, and California least terns.
Endangered light-footed clapper rails and threatened black rails hide in the
cordgrass. Look for Anna's hummingbirds, yellow-breasted chats, California
gnatcatchers, endangered Belding's savannah sparrows, plus many hawks and owls.
Visiting tips: There are nearly 200 bird species and many mammals. Up to
30,000 birds are present from August to April. Expect to find many wading birds,
shorebirds, and waterfowl from October through March. Look for terns from midApril to mid-July, with songbirds in spring and summer. Birds of prey and clapper
rails are seen year-round; listen for rails' clapping calls.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.hbvisit.com/
Contact: (949) 973-6820
www.ocparks.com/uppernewportbay/
Crystal Cove State Park
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
Location: From Newport Beach, take Highway 1 south 1 mile to Pelican Point
parking lot...or continue 0.25 mile to the next parking area.
What to See: Grasslands and endangered coastal scrub are located on this marine
terrace that overlooks three miles of bluff-backed beaches and rocky points. The
terrace can be explored by trails that travel through Moro Canyon's riparian
woodland. The woodland is home to bobcats, coyotes, badgers and southern mule
deer as well as many songbirds. Sheltered beaches provide habitat for gulls, terns,
and shorebirds, while birds of prey hunt the uplands. Look for fishing ospreys and
pelicans. Harbor seals, California sea lions, Pacific white-sided dolphins and
endangered gray whales are visible offshore.
Visiting tips: More than 150 bird species are located here, with excellent viewing
of shore birds and marine birds during the fall and winter. Songbirds are visible
during the spring and summer. For birds of prey and marine mammals, viewing is
excellent year-round. December through February offers the best viewing of
whales. Hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails as well as hike-in dry camping
are available at the park.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.newportbeach-cvb.com/
Contact: 949-494-3539 or 949-492-0802
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=644
Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve
Location: From San Clemente and Interstate 5, take Highway 78 west 0.75 mile.
Turn left on Hill Street. Buena Vista Audubon Society Nature Center is 0.5 mile on
the left.
What to See: Southern California's only freshwater lagoon provides a premier site
for birds navigating the Pacific Flyway. Pickleweed, salt grass, and other brackish
marsh vegetation at the west end of the lagoon give way to freshwater plants to the
east. Breeding habitat for the light-footed clapper rail, California least tern, and the
Belding's savannah sparrow are provided by the quiet lagoon. Besides these
endangered species, there are many other birds to be seen including plovers, blue
herons, snowy egrets and brown pelicans. Although year-round viewing is possible,
the best times are during spring and fall.
Visiting tips: Binoculars are needed to view clapper rails and savannah sparrows.
There's a universally-accessible picnic area with marsh viewing, and a visitor center
is also present.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.scchamber.com/
Contact: (760) 439 BIRD (2473)
file://///MYPC/SharedDocs/ALL_PROJECTS/circle%20design/cww/cww/pdfs/hywy1_num8_pv2.htm (9 of 12) [9/4/2003 9:31:47 PM]
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
www.bvaudubon.org
Torrey Pines State Reserve/ Los Penasquitos Marsh
Location: North of San Diego; exit Interstate 5 on Carmel Valley Road and go
west.
What to See: Rugged sandstone cliffs are topped by the rare Torrey Pine and
dotted by trails that overlook one of the few remaining salt marshes in Southern
California. The trails offer views of brush rabbits, bobcats, scrub jays, and
California quail. Hillside chaparral shelters California thrashers and loggerhead
shrikes; great horned owls and American kestrels hunt near the bluffs. Southern
mule deer feed at the marsh, where pickleweed hides endangered Belding's
savannah sparrows and light-footed clapper rails. Offshore, near the reserve
entrance, watch for bottle-nosed dolphins, occasional California sea lions, and
endangered gray whales.
Visiting tips: Viewing is good for all birds, deer, and dolphins year-round. There
is excellent viewing of shorebirds and waterfowl in the winter; songbirds are best
viewed in the summer. This is a good place to see dolphins. A visitor center is on
the site.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information:
www.sandiego.org/
Contact: (619) 755-2063
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=657
www.torreypine.org/
Mission Bay Park
Location: San Diego. Exit Interstate 5 at Clairemont Drive, and head west toward
the bay.
What to See: The largest aquatic park on the west coast has recreation areas,
beaches, and restored or developed natural areas. Its two wildlife preserves are a
labyrinth of tidal channels, salt marshes, and mudflats. The Northern Wildlife
Preserve may be one of southern California's best salt marshes. Look for
endangered light-footed clapper rails, great blue herons, American wigeons, ruddy
ducks, canvasbacks, and brants. Mudflats are heavily used by sandpipers, plovers,
dowitchers, willets, and other shorebirds. The adjacent salt pan habitat is used by
Forster's terns and endangered Belding's savannah sparrows.
Visiting tips: This area affords a good opportunity to see many sensitive species.
There's excellent year-round viewing, with up to 10,000 waterfowl during the
winter. Please observe regulations regarding closed areas.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information: www.sandiego.org/
HIghway 1from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
Contact: (619) 235-1169
www.sannet.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/mbtour.shtml
Cabrillo National Monument
Location: From Interstate 5 in San Diego, take Highway 209 exit south about 6
miles to entrance.
What to see: A windswept rocky shoreline covered by endangered coastal sage
that gives some of Southern California's best views of endangered gray whales.
Marine life such as starfish, sand castle worms and sea hares reside in the rockbound tidepools. Birds such as wandering tattlers, marbled godwits, and ruddy
turnstones follow the tides, each using a specialized bill to probe beneath the sand.
Prairie falcons, great horned owls and other birds of prey patrol the bluffs around
the Bayside Trail. Many other bird species abound, including endangered California
brown pelicans, cormorants, and terns. There's a visitor center on the site. Watch
for gray foxes in the mornings and evenings.
Visiting tips: More than 375 bird species are located here. The best time to view
shorebirds and wading birds is in the fall and winter. Birds of prey and songbirds
are visible fall through spring. Low tides give great viewing of tide pools October
through April. DO NOT DISTURB OR COLLECT FROM TIDEPOOLS. Excellent viewing
of gray whales takes place December through February.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information: www.sandiego.org/
Contact: (619) 557-5450
www.nps.gov/cabr/
Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
Location: From Chula Vista and Interstate 5, take the E Street exit.
What to See: Here, the mouth of the Sweetwater River meets the largest
remaining salt marsh in San Diego Bay. The wetlands and mudflats teem with
shorebirds, waterfowl, and wading birds. The Chula Vista Nature Center offers
observation decks and information about the interpretive trails. Mudflats contain
invertebrates sought by hundreds of migratory shorebirds, including willets, longbilled curlews, western sandpipers, and plovers. Western meadowlarks, black and
Say's phoebes as well as many spring and fall migrants access the upland shrubs
and marsh vegetation. Crucial habitat is provided by the refuge for California
brown pelicans, California least terns, light-footed clapper rails, Belding's savannah
sparrows, snowy plovers, and peregrine falcons, all of which are endangered
species. In addition, unusual species such as little blue herons, reddish egrets, and
black skimmers are frequently visible.
Visiting tips: Viewing is great year-round, with more than 215 species to be
seen. Bird-watching is excellent in the fall and winter. Guided walks and a
file://///MYPC/SharedDocs/ALL_PROJECTS/circle%20design/cww/cww/pdfs/hywy1_num8_pv2.htm (11 of 12) [9/4/2003 9:31:47 PM]
Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican Border
museum are available.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information: www.sandiego.org/
Contact: (619) 557-5450 or Chula Vista Nature Center (619) 409-5900
www.seaworld.org/swc/wetlands/sd_county_wetlands/sweetwater_marsh.htm
www.chulavistanaturecenter.org/
Tijuana Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Location: South of San Diego; exit Interstate 5 at Coronado Avenue West. Drive
to Third Avenue and turn left, then continue to Caspian Way and turn left to the
visitor center.
What to See: This is southern California's largest estuarine wetland,
encompassing a federal refuge and a state park. Nearly 400 bird species, including
six endangered species, reside in the Tijuana River Valley's tidal sloughs, beaches,
uplands and riparian corridors. Tidal flats sustain many shorebirds including willets,
dowitchers, marbled godwits, and sandpipers. The uplands offer reliable views of
desert cottontails, California ground squirrels, coyotes, songbirds, and birds of
prey.
Visiting tips: American peregrine falcons winter at the refuge, and California
brown pelicans visit during the summer. There is a visitor center at the site. Yearround viewing of wading birds, birds of prey, shorebirds and small mammals is
quite good. Visiting in the spring and fall will permit excellent viewing of
songbirds. Summer and fall give excellent views of pelicans; waterfowl are best
seen in the winter.
Local Accommodations and Travel Information: www.sandiego.org/
Other: (619) 575-3613
www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=669
www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/nerr/reserves/nerrtijuana.html
go to top