BORDER FIELD STATE PARK
Border Field State Park is on the very southwestern corner of the United States and 15 miles south of San Diego. Border Field is located within the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, an important wildlife habitat. The sand dunes and salt marshes give refuge to critically threatened and endangered birds such as the Western Snowy Plover, the California Least Tern, and the Light-footed Clapper Rail.
The park provides restrooms, picnic areas, barbecues, horse corrals, and interpretive displays. Visitors enjoy surf fishing, beach combing, hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching. The Park does not recommend swimming or wading, due to hazardous conditions, such as inshore holes, rip currents, and the lack of lifeguard service within the Park.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was concluded on February 2, 1848, officially ending the U.S./Mexico War. In 1850, delegations from both countries began surveying the boundary at this location and the border monument, number 258, can be viewed on top of Monument Mesa.
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve)
California State Parks also manages the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. The Reserve is one of 27 reserves that are funded through a partnership between state governments and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Reserve is recognized by the scientific community as a very important place. It is one of only 23 wetlands in the United States that has been designated by the International Ramsar Committee as a ?wetland of international importance?.
California State Parks manages the Reserve and Border Field State Park out of the Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, at the north end of the estuary in Imperial Beach, California. State Parks works in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association to conduct research, habitat restoration and education programs at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, 10am ? 5pm.
Directions to the Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center - The Visitor Center is located at 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach, California.From Interstate 5 Exit Coronado Avenue (exit #4) in Imperial Beach.Go west on Coronado Avenue (it will soon become Imperial Beach Blvd).Turn left (south) on 3rd St and left on Caspian. The Visitor Center Parking lot will be on your right.