The 1400-acre
Reserve is a hub of activity and hosts programs that promote
education, research, and conservation in Elkhorn Slough. The
Visitor
Center has award-winning exhibits that invite everyone
to explore the Unseen Slough. There are five miles of trails
that meander through beautiful oak woodlands, calm tidal creeks,
and freshwater marshes. We offer tours
on the weekends (see below) and special events throughout
the year. |
 
Entrance fee and
hours
Reserve and Visitor Center hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
The Reserve and Visitor Center are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
When the Reserve is closed you cannot access the trails, restrooms, or staff.
Admission
is free to the Visitor Center and picnic areas.
To walk the trails, there
is a $2.50 day-use fee (cash or check, no credit cards) for
adults 16 and older; children are free; entry is also free with
a California hunting or fishing license. A one-year pass is available
for $15.
Other Information
Dogs and bicycles are NOT allowed on any of the Reserve Trails.
There is a short paved trail to an overlook that is wheelchair accessible – the rest of the trails are dirt, gravel or grass.
Directions
The Elkhorn Slough Reserve
is located at 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA 95076 (map
and directions); there is no city or county bus service to the
Elkhorn Slough Reserve.
Tours,
field trips, and group reservations
Docent-led tours
of the Reserve are held every Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and
1 p.m.
There is also an early
birding walk the first Saturday of every month at 8:30 a.m.
All tours meet at the
Visitor Center, rain or shine. No notice or reservations are needed
for groups of under six people. There is no additional fee for tours.
Want to bring your group to the Reserve? Please phone ahead
of time before bringing any group to the Reserve. Special docent-led
tours can be arranged with at least two months notice.
School field trips
are by Reservation only. Teachers must first complete a Teacher
Workshop before bringing a class to the Reserve. Please call
Tricia Wilson at (831) 728-2822 for information and reservations.
Get involved at
the Elkhorn Slough Reserve
There
are many ways to get
involved, including volunteering and
employment. Call Kenton Parker at (831)
728-2822 for more information about volunteering. There is also
habitat restoration and short-term projects to
participate in.
ESNERR
staff
Looking for a staff
person at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve? Click
Here
Other
Reserve programs and links
• Education
• Coastal
Training Program
• GIS
at Elkhorn Slough
• Research
at Elkhorn Slough
• Restoration
at Elkhorn Slough
• Tidal
Wetland Program
• Volunteer
Program
ESNERR Management Plan (.doc, 6.4MB)
Reserve
Advisory Committee agenda (11/6/06 .doc, 22KB)
Mission
The Mission of the Elkhorn
Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is to ensure the perpetual
health of ecosystems in Elkhorn Slough and the surrounding watershed
through preservation, restoration, research, information exchange
and education with particular emphasis on the Research Reserve.
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