Monterey County's Best Kept Secret: Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge

Today's post is not an activist post, but instead, an informational one about a beautiful water area that we visited ten days ago.

This refuge is in such an unobtrusive location that we almost drove right by.  On CA-183 N, our GPS was telling us that we had arrived at our destination.  All we could see was a dirt agricultural road ahead of us, flanked by strawberry fields.  I thought the GPS was mistaken.  However, Jim spotted the brown U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service sign up ahead at the end of the field.
We drove up the dirt road.  The field road is the only access to the refuge! We wondered: How many people drive by that sign, see the dirt road, and decide to skip it because Mapquest, or the GPS must be mistaken?
Once again, we were divinely led to a beautiful sanctuary. We had experienced another metaphysical event.  We were supposed to be there.

We visited on April 24, and everything was in full bloom!

Breathtaking wildflowers.

 The refuge is nature at its best!

Salt Marsh with Gabilan Mountain Range in the background.

We took the beach trail, which is about a 20 minute walk from the 
entrance to the beach.  On the way, we encountered many fishermen/
women walking back to their cars.  The first couple we spoke to had
 a good-sized perch in their creel.  The others we asked all had the
 same reply:  "No keepers.  We threw them back."

We saw a pair of Mallards.

The refuge is packed with wildlife--especially during the spring and fall.
  The NWRS (National Wildlife Refuge Salinas) brochure states that
 the  American goldfinch and Wilson's warblers are common spring
 migrants to view.  There are also warnings to stay on the trail: 
 Plovers make their nests on the dunes, and walking there can disturb
 the nests and keep the adults away from their chicks.  Pets are not
allowed on the refuge.

We were there at straight up noon, which is the worst time to
 photograph flowers.  I could not get a picture of the sand
verbena, which is so prevalent where the snowy plovers like
 to make their nests.

The end of the beach trail

A photo of me taking a photo of the Monterey Bay

Next time, we visit the refuge, we will go earlier in the morning, and

we will bring our fishing poles!