What Is the Elkhorn Slough?
The Elkhorn Slough is the remainder of an ancient river valley, its main channel winding seven miles inland from the harbor, feeding 2,500 acres of rich tidal marsh and mudflats. It is protected jointly by the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Moss Landing Wildlife Area, and the Elkhorn Slough Foundation. The combination of salt marsh, tidal creek, freshwater pond, and oak woodland creates an extraordinary range of habitats in a small area, which is precisely why the wildlife density here is so remarkable.
The slough hosts over 340 species of birds, a resident population of southern sea otters, harbor seals, California sea lions, leopard sharks, bat rays, and a stunning variety of fish and invertebrates. Every season brings something different, and no two visits are ever quite the same.
How to Experience the Slough
There are several excellent ways to explore the Elkhorn Slough depending on how you like to move through a landscape.
On foot, the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve offers five miles of trails winding through oak woodlands, grasslands, and tidal wetlands with sweeping views of the main channel. The Reserve is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm, and docent-led guided walks are available on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10am and 11am. The short Overlook Trail from the Visitor Center is ADA accessible. The Visitor Center features exhibits on local habitats and wildlife and is a wonderful first stop for any visit. There is a small day-use fee of $4 for visitors 16 and older.
Kirby Park, off Elkhorn Road, offers a paved, wheelchair-accessible trail and a boat launch ramp with easy access to the slough's main channel. It is a peaceful and less-visited spot that locals love for morning birdwatching.
On the water, kayaking is the most popular way to explore. The slough's main channel is seven miles long, with countless smaller side channels to explore at higher tides. Kayak Connection, Monterey Bay Kayaks, and Blue Water Ventures all offer guided kayak tours from Moss Landing Harbor, with instruction provided so no experience is necessary. Elkhorn Slough Safari operates naturalist-guided tours aboard a pontoon boat and has been bringing visitors and locals to experience the slough for over 30 years.
What You Will See
At any time of year, a visit to the Elkhorn Slough is almost guaranteed to include sea otters, harbor seals, great blue herons, snowy egrets, brown pelicans, and California sea lions. The mudflats teem with shorebirds, particularly during spring and fall migration when the Pacific Flyway brings thousands of birds through the area. The early birding walk offered by the Reserve at 8:30am on the first Saturday of every month is a local institution that draws serious birders from across California.
In spring, leopard sharks and bat rays gather in the shallower waters to breed, a genuinely unusual wildlife spectacle. In late summer, the slough's resident sea otter population swells with pups, and seeing a mother wrap her young in kelp while she dives for food is a sight that stays with you for years.
Plan Your Visit
The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve is located at 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA 95076, about a 10-minute drive from the inn. Kirby Park is closer, just off Elkhorn Road near Highway 1. For tours and kayak rentals departing from Moss Landing Harbor, everything is within walking distance of the inn.
Our front desk team loves talking about the slough and can help you decide which experience best fits your group. Stop by at check-in or call us at (831) 583-8990. Book Your Stay Today