Tijuana River Estuary
About
Tijuana River Estuary is a public beach in California, about a mile from Imperial Beach. It sits within the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and offers restrooms and accessible access, with no fee to visit. The most comfortable stretch for a beach day runs from late spring through early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show highs around 70 to 75°F from June through September, with lows in the 60s. Several short trails start close by. The Seacoast Trail is about 0.4 miles away, and the South McCoy Trail and Visitor Center Trail are each about half a mile off. The Clapper Rail Trail is roughly a mile away.
Beach Details
Parking
Available
Fee
Free
Restrooms
Yes
Accessible access
Yes
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Tijuana River Estuary
California
Data: California Coastal Commission, YourCoast public access data. Source metadata
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Year-round. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 65–75°F and lows of 46–65°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Imperial Beach Ream Fld Nas, CA weather station, 0.9 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan67° high47° low
- Feb65° high48° low
- Mar66° high51° low
- Apr67° high52° low
- May68° high57° low
- Jun70° high60° low
- Jul73° high64° low
- Aug75° high65° low
- Sep75° high62° low
- Oct73° high56° low
- Nov70° high50° low
- Dec66° high46° low
Where it is
- Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge · Public land
- Nearest town
- Imperial Beach, California · 1 mi
Source: NIFC Jurisdictional Units; USGS GNIS populated places
Nearby
Seacoast TrailHikingPhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.4 mi- South McCoy TrailHiking0.5 mi
- Visitor Center TrailHikingPhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.5 mi
Coastal Trail NorthHikingPhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)0.9 mi- Beach TrailHikingPhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)1 mi
- Clapper Rail TrailHiking1 mi
Marsh Loop TrailHikingPhoto: sergei.gussev, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)1.1 mi
Marsh Spur TrailHikingPhoto: gary_leavens, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)1.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Tijuana River Estuary
Best months: Year-round. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
67° / 47°
Feb
65° / 48°
Mar
66° / 51°
Apr
67° / 52°
May
68° / 57°
Jun
70° / 60°
Jul
73° / 64°
Aug
75° / 65°
Sep
75° / 62°
Oct
73° / 56°
Nov
70° / 50°
Dec
66° / 46°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Imperial Beach Ream Fld Nas, CA, 0.9 mi away at 24 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
