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Snowy egret

trip 1.1 Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

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Distance 1.6-plus miles (loop)

Hiking Time 1 hour

Elevation Gain Negligible

Difficulty Easy

Trail Use Good for kids

Best Times All year

Agency BCER

DIRECTIONS The trailhead lies on the inland side of the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), 1.5 miles south of Warner Avenue, and 1.5 miles north of Seapoint Avenue in Huntington Beach.

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve protects the largest saltwater marsh between Monterey Bay and the Tijuana River. Its name, Spanish for “little purse,” came from a subdivided portion of an 1834 Mexican land grant. The wetlands were dammed to create a duck hunting preserve around 1895, and then they were built up for oil drilling in 1940 and for a coastal defense artillery battery during World War II. Since 1973, California has recognized the ecological significance of the wetlands and has been restoring them. In 2006, a major project was completed to remove the dam and much of the oil equipment. Birds and fish are now flourishing, making it a very popular destination for wildlife observation.