Photo by Lisa Zaretsky
Overview
Kayaking at Elkhorn Slough is a popular activity, so the safety of boaters and their impact on wildlife and the environment have become urgent concerns. The best way to have a safe trip with low impact on the environment is to stay informed.
We’ve provided a map and information to help you safely enjoy boating on the slough.
Launching & Landing
You can launch your kayak at the Moss Landing Harbor District Launch Ramp at the North Harbor, located on Hwy 1, north of Moss Landing (near the kayak shops) or at Kirby Park, along Elkhorn Road north of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve. Small watercraft can also launch in the Harbor of Moss Landing.
There are currently no other legal landing sites in the slough. Please stay in your boat at all times. Please do not step onto the mudflats or marsh.
Photo by Paul Zaretsky
Moss Landing Harbor Safety
Be aware and safe within the Harbor Area. Although the slough is rather calm and serene, the harbor area near the mouth poses several challenges to paddlers.
Currents within the harbor area
Peak tidal currents (up to 3 knots) tunneling under the Highway 1 bridge create areas of rough water that can cause boats to capsize or be difficult to paddle against, potentially sweeping you into the pilings and docks or out to sea.
Boat traffic
Many fishing boats and pleasure craft use the harbor entrance. Kayaks and canoes can be difficult to see. Observe the “rules of the road” and stay to the extreme right hand side of the channel or in the shallow areas entirely out of the main channel. Always turn your boat into the wake of a larger boat.
Photo by Katja Zuske
Current Conditions
The slough’s tides can give you a free ride back to your launch site, leave you stranded on a mudflat, or even wash you out to sea. Know the times of tides and the direction of tidal currents before you paddle out.
Tidal currents and slough mud
While the main channel is deep enough at any tide level, many creeks need at least two feet of water to be navigable. When paddling up tidal creeks during an ebb tide (outgoing), be aware that a few minutes could make the difference between paddling out and getting stuck to the gunwales in sticky mud.
Wind
Strong afternoon winds, typically out of the northwest at 10 to 20 knots, can be difficult to paddle against. Plan your trip to take advantage of the winds and currents.
Low-Impact Paddling
In California, more than 90% of our coastal wetlands and estuaries have been destroyed. Remaining estuaries like Elkhorn Slough are extremely productive and harbor a remarkable diversity of life. For that reason, it is important that we treat this important habitat with respect.
Launch and land at designated sites only: The only landing site is at Moss Landing North Harbor. Do not step out of your boat onto the mudflats or marsh—the mudflats and marsh are full of delicate life, and it takes several years for the banks to recover from a footprint.
Leave nothing behind: Haul it in, haul it out, including food items such as fruit peels, etc. Please pack out your trash.
Boat in open areas only: Any waterway east of the railroad tracks is off limits. There are also posted areas on the west side that are closed to boaters.
Do not approach too near to wildlife: If an animal changes its behavior because of your approach, you are too near. The main channel of the slough is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Give plenty of room to sea otters, harbor seals and their haul-out sites, and nesting birds. Observe animals cautiously. If they look in your direction and fidget, you are too close and should quietly back away.
Keep to mid-channel or maintain a distance of 200 feet while paralleling resting seals.
Avoid sudden changes in course and speed.
Refrain from standing, shouting, or sudden gestures such as waving and pointing.
Avoid directly approaching a haul-out.
Avoid boating closely alongside the levee when approaching a haul-out area.
Disruption of normal resting seal behavior may be characterized by escape tactics such as stampeding off the haul-out or slipping evasively off the mud, or by nervous alarm postures such as head lifting or sitting up.
Continual disruption may lead to abandonment of a previously frequented area.
Please help protect all plant and animal life in Elkhorn Slough. Only persons with scientific collecting permits or a valid fishing license may collect specimens or fish in the slough.
Photo by Paul Zaretsky
Frequently Asked Questions
The road to Kirby Park has been repaired.
Kirby Park is open from sunrise to sunset.
Wildlife and birds are abundant year-round in Elkhorn Slough. But since you asked:
Spring and fall bring more abundant birds as they migrate.
Spring also brings green hills, wildflowers, and baby animals such as sea otters, harbor seals, and nesting birds.
Summer is a great time to visit and escape the heat of the Bay Area.
Fall is a wonderful time of year as well, with abundant birds, sea otters, harbor seals, and perhaps more baby otters. We also love the weather in the fall—typically, the fog of summer lifts and we enjoy a week or two of beautiful weather before winter rains arrive.
Winter is marked by breathtaking sunsets, but it’s harder to plan ahead for clear weather.
We love kayaking in Elkhorn Slough year-round, but conditions vary based on weather, bird migrations, and even time of day. Always check current conditions for wind and tides.
You’ll find a restroom at the put-in site at North Harbor, near the kayak shops in Moss Landing, but not along the waterway.
There is no longer a restroom at Kirby Park. The closest restrooms to Kirby Park are at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, located a short drive south on Elkhorn Road. Restrooms at the Reserve are available only during open hours, Wednesday-Sunday, 9am-5pm.
There are no spots to land a boat or use the restroom along the Elkhorn Slough waterway. Plan ahead!
We do not permit kayaking within Reserve boundaries. Check out our kayaking page to see areas where boating is permitted at Elkhorn Slough. You can launch kayaks or other small boats at Moss Landing ’s North Harbor, located on Highway 1, or at Kirby Park, located north of the Reserve on Elkhorn Road.
Photo by Csaba Nemeth
Keep Elkhorn Wild
Give today to preserve the lands and waters of Elkhorn Slough for future generations.