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Visiting Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

Access to the refuge is limited, but there are special opportunities to experience the incredible wildlife that call Seal Beach NWR home. Because the refuge is located within Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, which stores and handles munitions, it is closed to the public except during special events and guided tours. These tours are offered on the last Saturday of each month (except December).

Tours begin at 8:30 a.m. outside the Navy base main gate and end around 11:30 am. Advance registration is required. To reserve your free tour, call the refuge office at 562-598-1024.

About the Refuge

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge covers 965 acres within Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in the northwest corner of Orange County. It protects one of the last remaining pieces of a once vast wetland system that stretched inland from the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers to the Santa Ana River along the Southern California coast.

The refuge is an important stopover and wintering site along the Pacific Flyway, providing quiet habitat for thousands of migratory birds, including shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors. During monthly tours, visitors often see shorebirds feeding on the tidal flats. You might even spot a green sea turtle or the endangered light-footed Ridgway’s rail in the marsh.

Learn more about the refuge’s Habitat and the Threatened & Endangered Species that live here.

Activities

Monthly Walking Tours

The Friends of Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and refuge staff lead free walking tours on the last Saturday of each month (except December). Each tour lasts about two hours and covers roughly one mile round trip.

Special group tours for 15–20 people can also be arranged throughout the year. Please plan ahead and request these tours 2–3 months in advance.

What to Expect

Visitors will ride a shuttle to Refuge Headquarters, where you can explore educational displays. After a short introduction, guests will visit docent-led stations on topics like:

  • Bird identification
  • Marsh wildlife
  • Native plant gardens

The tour includes time at the observation deck, which offers beautiful views of the marsh.

Reservations

  • Required for all tours.
  • Call (562) 598-1024 to book your spot.
  • For the latest tour dates and volunteer opportunities, visit the Friends of Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge website.

Trails

Bolsa Avenue Trail

Open Season: Available during monthly guided walking tours.
Length: About 1 mile (round trip).
Surface and Difficulty: Paved and boardwalk sections, firm surface, and fully ABA compliant for accessibility.

The Bolsa Avenue Trail is part of the monthly refuge tours and special guided birding tours. Tours begin at the Navy base main gate and last about two hours, covering roughly one mile of walking distance.

Along the trail, visitors will find a six- to eight-foot-wide pedestrian pathway made of decomposed granite. This path runs east from the refuge office along Bolsa Avenue to an observation deck located about a quarter mile east of the intersection of Bolsa Avenue and Kitts Highway. The observation deck offers views of the marsh and includes interpretive signs about the habitats and species protected within the refuge.

During organized tours, visitors can also explore trails through the native plant garden. Signs throughout the garden identify native plants and highlight the wildlife that depends on them.

Related Documents

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is located within the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach.

From the North (I‑405 South)

  • Drive south on Interstate 405 toward Long Beach.
  • Take Exit 22 for Seal Beach Boulevard.
  • Turn left onto Seal Beach Boulevard.
  • Continue approximately 0.5 miles west until you reach the entrance to the Naval Weapons Station, located at 800 Seal Beach Boulevard.

On tour days, arrive by 8:30 a.m. and meet in the visitor parking lot outside the Navy base main gate.

From the South (I‑5 North)

  • Head north on Interstate 5.
  • Merge ontoI‑405 North toward Long Beach and Seal Beach.
  • Take Exit 22 for Seal Beach Boulevard.
  • Turn left onto Seal Beach Boulevard and drive about 0.5 miles to the Navy base entrance at 800 Seal Beach Boulevard.

Arrive by 8:30 a.m. on tour days to meet in the visitor parking lot outside the main gate.

Other Facilities in the Complex

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Refuge complex is comprised of Seal Beach NWR, San Diego Bay NWR, San Diego NWR, and Tijuana Slough NWR.

Yellow crowned night heron catching a crab.
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Tijuana Slough is a 1,079-acre coastal wetland where the Tijuana River flows into the Pacific Ocean. The refuge was created in 1980 and is part of the 2,800-acre Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. This reserve is one of only 30 protected estuarine areas in the United States.
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San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge
The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge protects a remarkable diversity of endangered, threatened, migratory, and native species, along with their habitats, all within a highly urbanized coastal setting. Spanning approximately 2,620 acres of land and water around San Diego Bay, the refuge is...
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Atop the peak of McGinty Mountain, looking Southwest to Miguel Mountain.
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Rules and Policies

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is located inside Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, an active military base. Because of this, public access is limited to a guided tour offered once a month on the last Saturday (except December). These tours are free, but you must register in advance.

How to Join a Tour

  • Reservations: Call (562) 598-1024 by the Wednesday before the tour. Provide the first name, last name, and middle initial for all participants. If no middle initial, include date of birth.
  • Eligibility: Tours are open to U.S. citizens only. A government-issued photo ID is required for anyone 18 or older.

Tour Rules

  • Smoking and weapons are not allowed.
  • Photography is permitted, but do not take photos of Navy personnel or buildings.

Meeting Details

  • Arrive at the Main Gate parking lot (800 Seal Beach Blvd.) by 8:30 a.m. to catch the shuttle.
  • The tour ends around 11:30 a.m.
  • Late arrivals cannot be accommodated.

Locations

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge
(562) 598-1024
C/O U.S. Naval Weapons Station800 Seal Beach Boulevard, Building 226Seal Beach,CA90740-5607
Driving Directions

From Los Angeles, CA (Downtown)

  1. Get on I-5 South from your location.
  2. Merge onto I-605 South toward Seal Beach.
  3. Take Exit 1B for Seal Beach Blvd.
  4. Turn left onto Seal Beach Blvd.
  5. Continue straight; the Naval Weapons Station main gate will be on your right at 800 Seal Beach Blvd. Park in the visitor area near the gate for refuge tours.

Approx. Distance: ~30 miles
Estimated Time: 35–45 minutes (depending on traffic)

From San Diego, CA

  1. Take I-5 North toward Los Angeles.
  2. Merge onto I-405 North toward Long Beach.
  3. Take Exit 22 for Seal Beach Blvd.
  4. Turn right onto Seal Beach Blvd.
  5. Continue straight to the Naval Weapons Station main gate at 800 Seal Beach Blvd. Park in the visitor area near the gate for refuge tours.

Approx. Distance: ~95 miles
Estimated Time: 1 hour 45 minutes (traffic varies)