Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a 1,072-acre national wildlife refuge in San Diego County, California, established in 1980, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There is no entrance fee. It is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge on the managing agency's own page.
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge map
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restrictions change with the season and can start or lift within days. Check the current orders for this area before any campfire, stove, smoking, target shooting or off-road driving.
Common questions
- Yes. Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.
- No. There is no entrance fee at Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
- No. Hunting is not allowed on Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Follow refuge-specific regulations and state seasons; see refuge hunting page.
- Yes. Fishing is allowed on Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge with a Nevada fishing license. Where, per the refuge: Allowed only in designated areas per refuge fishing page.
- Yes. Dogs are allowed on Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge on a leash. Leashed pets allowed on signed trails and roads unless posted otherwise.
Hours, fees, and visitor center
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.
There is no entrance fee at Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
- Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
What visitors do here: an auto tour route, birding, environmental education, fishing, hiking, hunting, photography, wildlife viewing.
Sources: fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29; fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough, checked 2026-09-28.
Wildlife
- BirdMigratory birds
- InvertebrateThreatened and endangered species
Source: fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough, checked 2026-09-28.
Hunting
Hunting is not allowed on Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Follow refuge-specific regulations and state seasons; see refuge hunting page.
Hunting rules for Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Source: fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough, checked 2026-09-28.
Fishing and boating
Fishing is allowed on Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge with a Nevada fishing license. Where, per the refuge: Allowed only in designated areas per refuge fishing page.
Source: fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge on a leash. Leashed pets allowed on signed trails and roads unless posted otherwise.
Source: fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough, checked 2026-09-28.
Trails
- Clapper Rail TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- Duck Pond Link TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- Iris to Grove TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- Marsh Spur TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- North Beach TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- North McCoy TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- North Sunset TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- P.E.R.L Loop TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- River Mouth Loop TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- Seacoast TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- South McCoy TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- Sunset Link TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
Source: fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.
Public lands next to Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
- State parkTijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge borders Border Field State Park.
- National wildlife refugeSan Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is 1.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkSilver Strand State Beach, a state park, is 2.3 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/1643 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tijuana-slough/visit-us (accessed 2026-09-29)