San Diego: a bright, colorful place that draws in tourists and travelers from all over the country. While many visit this city for its family-friendly attractions or its bustling nightlife, there are many others who head here for another reason entirely: wildlife watching.
There’s a good reason for that: San Diego is home to one of the most vibrant ecosystems in the US, and that’s really saying something. The diversity of the creatures who call this place home is astounding, and we will never tire of watching them carry out their day-to-day lives right in front of our eyes.
RVing in San Diego
Want to do a bit of San Diego wildlife watching of your own? Your best bet is to head out in an RV. This will allow you to make yourself at home wherever the animals are so you can get an up-close view while taking all the comforts of home with you.
Of course, you will need to come up with an RV to take on your San Diego adventures. If you don’t have one of your own, a San Diego rental RV is an excellent choice. There are plenty of options available, and you can even have the RV delivered if you don’t feel comfortable driving it.
Obviously, you will need someplace to park your home-on-wheels while you check out the local fauna. Fortunately, there are a number of wonderful San Diego RV parks and campgrounds to choose from, and some of these even provide opportunities for wildlife viewing from your RV window.
Some of the best San Diego RV camping opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts include the following.
San Elijo State Beach
The perfect RV camping spot for fans of marine life, San Elijo State Beach offers RV sites with a view of the ocean. Sea birds make themselves known along the shore, sea lions and dolphins are often seen out in the water, and scuba diving and snorkeling are popular activities at this beach.
Many of the campsites have water and electric hookups, and a handful even offer sewer. The restrooms include showers and flush toilets.
Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
Located about 20 minutes outside of San Diego, Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is the perfect place to escape into nature. The campground is situated on a lake and the park is the perfect place for bird watching.
Campers will appreciate the many included amenities such as the playground for kids, the swimming pools and spa, and the Wi-Fi. The showers, laundry facilities, and hookups at each site are also lovely.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
One of our favorite places to check out desert wildlife while in the San Diego area—such as coyotes, horned lizards, and jackrabbits—is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Why not camp there and see what you can see from the comfort of your little home-on-wheels?
The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet in length. The park has several places to camp and some include full hookups, but others are dry camping only, so be sure to pay attention to what you’re booking.
Laguna Campground
Lastly, we must recommend Laguna Campground. This is the place to go if you wish to see some mountain animals (and maybe even the endangered Laguna Skipper butterfly) while taking in beautiful views.
This campground is nestled into the Cleveland National Forest along the Sunrise Highway and is run by the Forest Service. It can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet in length and has flush toilets and running water, but no hookups.
Coastal Marvels
Marine life is abundant in the San Diego area. Pacific Harbor seals and California sea lions can be found either sunbathing on rocks or diving and playing in the waters near the city. Meanwhile, seabirds such as brown pelicans, osprey, and seagulls can all be spotted along the water’s edge.
Sea Lions
One of the most popular places to check out the sea lions of the San Diego area is La Jolla Cove Beach in the Village of La Jolla. This beautiful little cove offers a sandy bit of beach, plenty of rocks for climbing, and plenty of sea lions, which visitors are invited to observe but should never be approached.
Sea lions can be viewed all year round and are present throughout the day.
Snorkeling and Diving
La Jolla Cove Beach is also the entrance to San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, where you can explore sea life by snorkeling or scuba diving. We recommend a guided tour of the park, but you can choose to try it alone.
Seals
Want to see seals instead? Head to Children’s Pool Beach just down the way. This beach is chock-full of Pacific Harbor seals, and one can easily watch them lounge and play for hours. Once again, you definitely don’t want to approach the seals, and while you can sunbathe on the sandy beach, swimming is not recommended here.
Note that visitors are not allowed to get close to the seals between December 15th and May 15th due to seal pupping season, so plan to watch from a distance if visiting during this time. That said, this time of year is also when the seals will gather in large groups, so that can be a bonus.
Tide Pools
Tide pools also appear at low tide on both Children’s Pool Beach and La Jolla Cove Beach. Try to visit at low tide at least once in order to check out these amazing pools, which tend to be full of crabs, anemones, and more.
Birding Hotspots
Birding is a popular activity in San Diego, and for good reason. There are a huge number of different bird species in and around the city, and bird watchers will be thrilled as they spot one incredible bird after another.
One of the best places to go birding in the San Diego area is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This park is home to birds such as the Phainopepla, Costa’s Hummingbird, Verdin, Black-Throated Sparrow, Cactus Wren, White-Winged Dove, Greater Roadrunner, and many, many more.
Another wonderful place for birding? Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. 370 different bird species have been spotted in this park, including the light-footed Ridgway’s Rail, the California Least Tern, and the California Gnatcatcher—all threatened or endangered species.
To see the largest variety of birds, visit during the winter months. Shorebirds can be seen in abundance at low tide, and afternoons tend to be best for viewing other bird species.
Whale Watching Adventures
Whales are other marine animals that can be viewed from the San Diego shoreline or on a whale watching tour. Blue whales and fin whales can be seen in the area all year long. Meanwhile, the great gray whales migrate from Baja, Mexico to Alaska and back each year and can be seen in the San Diego area between December and April.
Dolphins are also spotted in San Diego waters on a regular basis. Species found in the area include the bottlenose dolphin, pacific white-sided dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, and common dolphin. These gorgeous creatures are around all year long and can be seen from the shore, but many prefer to take tours to get a closer look.
Hoping to catch glimpses of whales and dolphins without getting on a boat? Try Point Loma in Cabrillo National Monument where gray whales can be spotted in winter, with mid-January being the best time to see them.
Desert and Mountain Encounters
Birds and marine creatures are awesome, but we mustn’t forget the many amazing desert and mountain critters that make themselves at home in and around San Diego.
Many of these beautiful animals can be seen in the aforementioned Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. These include coyotes, bobcats, desert cottontails, desert horned lizards, jackrabbits, and deer. Catching a glimpse of any one of these animals would be amazing, and pairing that with the incredible bird watching mentioned above makes this park a must-see.
Keep in mind that the deserts surrounding San Diego can get very, very hot. If you are planning on doing wildlife watching in the desert, be sure you wear clothing that will keep you cool and protect you from the sun. Sunscreen is a must, as is a wide brimmed hat. You’ll also need to carry plenty of water.
As far as mountain wildlife viewing goes, be sure to wear proper attire—including sturdy shoes—and again, carry lots of water!
Safari Parks and Reserves
Hoping to see even more animals during your time in San Diego? You’re in luck because this city is home to one of the most amazing zoos in the country: the San Diego Zoo. Not only that, but you can also visit the zoo’s sister park, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
These two parks serve as a front door to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, an international non-profit that works to develop sustainable conservation solutions. Visiting these parks allows you to get up close to some amazing animals and learn all about them while also supporting these conservation efforts for animals worldwide.
Other great San Diego reserves that allow you to see and learn about animals while supporting conservation? The Living Coast Discovery Center and the California Wolf Center both come to mind.
Hidden Gem Wetlands
We’ve discussed oceans, shorelines, deserts, and mountains, but we have yet to talk about San Diego’s wetland habitats. The wetlands are an incredibly important part of the ecosystem, as they provide a home to thousands of plants and animals.
One such habitat can be explored at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Nature Center. This 979-acre reserve features beautiful wetlands that are full of amazing wildlife. Here you’ll find coyotes, herons, fiddler crabs, and more.
Another wetland environment that’s worth exploring? The Sweetwater Marsh in the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This marshland includes a visitor center, walking trails, and a beach, and plenty of birds and other critters can be seen as you wander and explore.
A Journey into the Backcountry
Another great way to see local wildlife? A day trip to the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area and a scenic drive along the Sunrise Highway.
This beautiful mountain drive will offer plenty of beautiful views, and you really should stop at as many viewpoints as you can just to take in the stunning vistas.It’s also likely that you will see some wildlife along the way. Examples of animals commonly seen along this route include wild pigs, deer, and the mighty California condor.
Want even more time in this beautiful wilderness? Why not take your RV with you and camp out along the way? The aforementioned Laguna Campground is one great option, but there are free dispersed campsites available for smaller rigs, such as vans. Kitchen Creek Road Dispersed Camping is one such spot. Just make sure you get a free wilderness camping permit from the Forest Service.
Wildlife Photography Tips
Obviously, you are going to want to get some good photos of the animals you see while on your wildlife viewing adventure. The first step is, of course, to take the right equipment along. A high quality camera that allows you to adjust shutter speed and aperture will be immensely helpful. We also recommend a zoom lens, which will allow you to take close-ups even from far away, along with a tripod to help you keep things steady.
Since animals tend to move, a fast shutter speed is recommended for wildlife photography. For animals that move quickly, 1/500 tends to be a sweet spot. Animals that are sitting still, such as those seals and sea lions, can be photographed with a shutter speed of 1/100. Hoping to capture a running roadrunner? Go with something super fast like 1/1000 if possible.
Many wildlife photographers choose to shoot in “aperture priority” mode. In this case, you would manually select the aperture and let the camera choose the shutter speed, something that can be helpful for beginners. We recommend choosing a small f-stop number for wildlife photography.
Other tips include heading in with lots of patience, taking a huge number of photos to make sure you get a good one, using auto-focus if it is an option, and using the rule of thirds to compose your photos.
Want to learn more about photography? Check out the Amatuer Photographer website and follow the r/wildlifephotography subreddit.
Responsible Wildlife Watching
Lastly, we really must emphasize the importance of ethical wildlife watching. It’s important that we watch animals responsibly in order to protect them and allow them to feel comfortable in their home.
When out looking at local fauna, keep your distance, always giving animals at least the legally required amount of space. This varies based on the animal, so make sure to do your research before you head out.
Never circle or attempt to trap animals, and avoid offering them food or even making food available to them. It’s also very important that you take all of your own trash with you when you leave the animal’s habitat. If you see trash that isn’t your own, go ahead and grab that as well.
You might also consider contributing to conservation efforts, and of course, you will want to share responsible wildlife viewing tips with your fellow nature enthusiasts when necessary.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are tons of amazing opportunities to watch local wildlife while visiting San Diego and the surrounding areas. Whether you want to see seals and sea lions, amazing birds, or some incredible desert animals, you’ll find it all in SoCal.
Are you ready to check out these beautiful creatures for yourself? Why not pack up the RV today and head out on your San Diego adventure? Enjoy the beauty of SoCal’s natural wonders, and remember to practice responsible wildlife watching in order to preserve these fascinating creatures for future generations to connect with and enjoy!
