2025 June 1 Field Trip – Elijo Lagoon and Fiesta del Sol

Field Trip
San Elijo Lagoon and Fiesta del Sol, San Diego
Sunday June 1

 

 

A coastal San Diego multi-part adventure and fun day out!

 

THE PLAN

Part 1 – We will meet at the Solana Beach Transit Station. Once together we will probably stop for a coffee or morning drink and then head North walking through the beautiful coastal town of Solana Beach.

Part 2 – We will arrive at the San Elijo Ecological Preserve, only a mile away. The Preserve is a very large marsh and coastal estuary. At the Preserve we will first visit the small coastal dunes. There we will find a few plants either rare or absent in Orange County, Acmispon prostratus, Nemacaulis denudata, Chaenactis glabriuscula var. orcuttiana, Abronia umbellata and A. villosa and hybrids of the two, and many more.

Part 3 – Then, we will cross Hwy 1 to the inland side and visit much more of the marsh, incl. the coastal sage scrub and bluff scrub on the South side. Here we will hope to find Artemisia palmeri, Peritoma arborea var. globosa, Leptosyne maritima, Ehrharta calycina, and more.

Part 4 – We have timed this trip to coincide with Solana Beach’s annual Fiesta del Sol celebration, a spectacular street and music fair. After getting our plant fix we will then take a slow, friendly walk back to near where we started in “downtown” Solana Beach, doing a little window shopping, plant watching, and food nibbling as we go. Solana Beach has some of California’s best browsing and treasure hunting and your whole family will love it. The Fiesta del Sol makes it even better.

This is a trip for everyone, not just plant folks. Stay out all afternoon hunting plants in the marsh or head back early to linger in the wonderful shops and Fiesta. It’s your choice.

 

REGISTRATION

Free and open to all.

Go to our Eventbrite page for this event to sign up (register and waiver.)

 

LOGISTICS

  • Leaders: Rachel Whitt and Ron Vanderhoff
  • Meet: 9:00 AM. Solana Beach Transit Station, on the East side right at the base of the walking bridge going over PCH. Free parking as available at the North end of the adjacent Amtrak parking lot (map HERE).
  • Bring a small day-pack or fanny-pack with water and any other essentials.
  • Wear attire comfortable for walking, with a layer you can shed depending on temperatures, a hat, sunscreen, etc.
  • Having the iNaturalist app loaded and ready on your phone is always a good idea.
  • Note: This was originally planned as an Amtrak train trip. However, rail service between San Clemente and Oceanside has been closed for six weeks for emergency repairs. This is now a car or carpooling trip to Solana Beach. Unfortunately, CNPS insurance regulations prohibit OCCNPS from organizing or assisting with carpool connections. However, some of us will be leaving out of the San Juan Capistrano/Junipero Serra #2 Park-and-Ride lot at 8AM.

 

Field Trips