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California
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California State Parks

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Southern California Region
Border Field State Park
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BORDER FIELD STATE PARK
BORDER FIELD STATE PARK
9609 Waples Street, Suite 200
San Diego, California   92154

Phone: 619-575-3613
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.

History of the Area
The park was established in 1971. It spans over 418 acres near the Mexico-United States border. The area is part of a larger bi-national Friendship Park and features beachfront views.

The land has historical significance as it's where Gaspar de Portola expedition first entered Alta California back in July 1769. In addition to its cultural importance, it also serves an ecological role with habitats for several endangered species like Western snowy plover and least terns.

Due to pollution issues from Tijuana River runoff which often leads to closures during winter months because of high bacteria levels; visitor numbers have been impacted significantly.

Visitors Center
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.


Location
Border Field State Park is located near Bonita, Chula Vista and Coronado

Trails
Border Field Trail

From Border to Tijuana River is 3 miles round trip;to Imperial Beach is 6 miles round tripAt the very southwest corner of America is a monument marking the border between Mexico and California. When California became a territory at the end of the Mexican-American War, an international border became a necessity. American and Mexican survey crews determined the boundary and the monument of Italian marble was placed in 1851 to mark the original survey site. Today the monument stands in the shadow of the Tijuana Bull Ring and still delineates the border between the United States and Estados Unidos Mexicanos.

During World War II, the Navy used Border Field as an airfield. Combat pilots received gunnery training, learning to hit steam-driven targets that raced over the dunes on rails called Rabbit Tracks. Despite a variety of real estate schemers, the Navy retained control of Border Field until the land was given to the state in the early 1970s.

Before you walk down the bluffs to the beach, take in the panoramic view: the Otay Mountains and the San Miguel Mountains to the east, Mexico?s Coronado Islands out to sea, and to the north?the Tijuana River floodplain, the Silver Strand, Coronado.

Much of the Tijuana River Estuary, one of the few salt marshes left in Southern California and one of the region?s most important bird habitats, is within Border Field State Park?s boundaries.

Stop in at the visitor center and check out the natural history exhibits that interpret this unique environment.

This walk explores the dune and estuary ecosystems of the state park and takes you to wide, sandy Imperial Beach. Wear an old pair of shoes and be prepared for the soft mud of the marsh.


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Area Campgrounds
Chula Vista RV Resort & Marina
460 Sandpiper Way
Chula Vista, CA
San Diego Metro KOA
111 North 2nd Avenue
Chula Vista, CA
619-427-3601
Bernardo Shores RV Park
500 Highway 75
Imperial Beach, CA
619-429-9000
La Pacifica RV Park
1010 West San Ysidro Boulevard
San Diego, CA
619-428-4411
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
The park is located 15 miles south of San Diego. Latitude/Longitude: 32.5428 / -117.1214 From Interstate 5, there are 2 routesExit Dairy Mart Road (exit #2)Head Southwest on Dairy Mart Road. Dairy Mart Road will curve right onto Monument Road. Turn right (West) on Monument Road until you reach the park entrance.OR(For Southbound traffic) Exit Coronado Avenue (exit #4) in Imperial Beach.Go straight from the off-ramp onto Hollister Street. Continue down Hollister until you reach Monument Road. Turn right (West) on Monument Road until you reach the park entrance.

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California
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California State Parks

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