Bay Nature Special Event: Sea Otters as Summer Begins at Elkhorn Slough

Join Bay Nature and the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for a seasonal exploration of Elkhorn Slough on Sunday, June 14 from 12:30pm–4:30pm. This special two-part experience begins with a guided boat tour through the slough’s rich tidal habitat, followed by a short drive to a nearby reserve for a guided walk offering a complementary perspective on one of California’s most important estuarine ecosystems.

On the water, we’ll ride an electric-powered catamaran to search for the sea otters, harbor seals, and birdlife that make Elkhorn Slough so remarkable. June marks the end of harbor seal pupping season, and visitors may spot freshly weaned pups hauled out along the banks. While most migratory birds have departed for the season, resident wildlife takes center stage, including cormorants, snowy egrets, great egrets, great blue herons, willets, curlews, godwits, wimbrels, Caspian terns, and diving brown pelicans. We may also encounter seabirds such as murres, phalaropes, Heermann’s gulls, and nesting pigeon guillemots beneath Highway 1.

Following the boat tour, attendees will travel to the Elkhorn Slough Reserve for lunch and a naturalist-led hike on the Oak Marsh Loop for a gentle walk through grassland and marsh habitat. Early summer wildflowers may still be blooming, including monkeyflower and lupine, and the trail offers expansive views across the slough and surrounding wetlands. This program is the first of two seasonal visits to Elkhorn Slough this year, with a second autumn outing planned for November.

Details

• Location: 10932 Clam Way, Moss Landing, CA 95039 (Google Map)
• Distance: 1.5-hour boat tour, plus ~2–3 mile hike
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate; mostly flat terrain with some uneven trail surfaces
• Parking: Park in the lot at the intersection of Clam Way and the west side of Sandholt Road (Google Maps). Street parking is also fine along Sandholt Road.
• Restrooms: Restrooms available at the harbor; limited facilities on trail.

Please note: The boat is scheduled to depart right at 12:30pm, so please plan to arrive to the event location 20-30 minutes early to ensure you reach the boat and find parking in time. 

What to bring: Layers, sun protection, water, binoculars, cameras, and comfortable walking shoes. A box lunch is included with registration.

Weather: Conditions on the water can be cool, windy, and sunny even in June. Please dress in layers and bring sun protection.

Meet your guides: Taylor Honrath joined ESF in spring 2019 to lead development and communications efforts, and now serves as its Executive Director. An amateur naturalist, he enjoys birdwatching, backpacking, astronomy, and getting lost in the backcountry of Ventana/Big Sur. Ross Robertson is ESF’s Communications Director. He has an eclectic background as a writer and editor for environmental nonprofits. He’s also been a farmer, a journalist, an English teacher, and a monk.

Tickets: $75 for Bay Nature members; $100 for non-members. Registration is limited and includes a box lunch.

Additional information

• All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Dogs are not allowed on Bay Nature events
• Please note you may encounter uneven terrain, wind exposure, and muddy trail conditions near the marsh

Photo courtesy of Monterey Bay Eco Tours.