Читать книгу 50 Best Short Hikes: San Diego онлайн

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West of I-5, in the West Basin part of the lagoon, high tides wash over mudflats and mats of salt-tolerant vegetation. Because of the habitat diversity, you can see a dozen kinds of shorebirds on a typical day. In fact, some 300 bird species have been spotted in and around the lagoon over a period of years, and about 300 species of plants have been identified here. In addition to providing world-class birding opportunities, the West Basin also features one of San Diego’s newest hiking venues, Annie’s Canyon Trail, which opened in June 2016 following extensive restoration work. Annie’s Canyon is a truly special place featuring towering sandstone walls; nooks and crannies that host shade-loving native plants; and thrilling, sloping, body-tight squeezes to pass through a rare coastal slot canyon.

The East Basin portion of the lagoon, east of I-5, is a freshwater marsh, supported by runoff from Escondido Creek and La Orilla Creek. Like its western counterpart but typically less visited, the East Basin provides expansive marshland views and great birding of its own.