San Elijo Lagoon Best Local Hike, Patch Readers Say

When Encinitas locals want to get lost for a while, their favorite place to go is the San Elijo Lagoon. That’s according to , which runs every Monday morning. The trails through Encinitas Ranch came in second place in our poll with 28 percent of the vote.

The San Elijo Lagoon is especially loved by locals for the bird-watching it offers, like this photo of a clapper rail, one of 300 species of birds currently enjoying the preserve. The beauty we enjoy on those trails is thanks in large part to the (SELC) which was recently able to expand the preserve when  across from Cardiff State Beach.

The SELC was able to buy that land thanks to a private loan, but now it must repay that $3.25 million and it needs the community’s help. If you’d like to help, you can donate online, or for more information, you can contact SELC Development Director Elaine Dodge at elaine@sanelijo.org. 

Next week we’ll be asking you the best place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, so be sure to weigh in with your two cents, and thanks to all our readers who voted this week.