San Pacifico – Batiquitos Lagoon

Batiquitos Lagoon is located on the coast about 30 miles north of downtown San Diego in San Diego North County. It is in the Carlsbad real estate area and just north of the city of Encinitas.  San Pacifico – Carlsbad ocean view homes border the lagoon on the North near the ocean. 

For more information information on San Pacifico homes, Carlsbad ocean view homes, Carlsbad whitewater view homes, or any other Carlsbad homes for sale, contact Gary Harmon, your Carlsbad ocean view Realtor.

On the west is the Pacific Ocean, steep hills on the south, on the eastern end, San Marcos Creek, the connection between the Lagoon and most of its drainage basin (or “watershed”) further east. 

 Carlsbad Blvd. (Old 101) crosses the westernmost end of the Lagoon at the opening (“mouth”) to the ocean. The southern bank of the lagoon is formed by a steep coastal ridge, with La Costa Avenue on a narrow track between the lagoon and the steep slopes. The northern banks rise gently from the shore and are now covered with eucalyptus trees lining a large development and golf course (Aviara). The Park Hyatt Hotel sits high on the north side providing a view of much of the lagoon. El Camino Real goes by the easternmost end of the Lagoon, between the lagoon and La Costa Resort.


It was not until the latter part of the 19th century that the area surrounding the lagoon became vital to California’s maturation.  In the 1870’s, the area was opened to homesteading, creating an influx of trade and the need for transportation.    The California southern Railroad line constructed a bridge to span the lagoon in 1881.  Thirty one years later, a second bridge was erected on Pacific Coast Highway.  Finally in 1965, a third bridge was built for Interstate 5. 

These three bridges started to cause trouble for  the lagoon by significantly decreasing the tidal flow in and out of the lagoon.  Accumulated silt began to fill up Batiquitos Lagoon, and the lagoon was expected to fill up within 50 years.  When Batiquitos Lagoon was annexed by the City of  Carlsbad a large dredging and enhancement project was begun to open the lagoon to the ocean’s tidal changes and flows, thus slow down the filling of the lagoon with silt.   The enhancement project’s goal is to restore the lagoon to it’s natural state and re-open a tidal inlet from the Pacific Ocean.  The project was completed in 1997 and there are continuous studies to determine its success.

More Photos in this Batiquitos Lagoon Slideshow.


The lagoon itself consists of 610 acres with a drainage basin of 30,000 to 55,000 acres. The watershed basin includes the Carlsbad real estate areas, San Marcos real estate areas, and Encinitas real estate areas, with its primary freshwater tributaries being San Marcos Creek from the east and Encinitas Creek which flows north along Green Valley, entering the lagoon under El Camino Real and La Costa Avenue, respectively.  San Marcos Creek is the same creek that feeds Lake San Marcos.

The lagoon can be seen and experienced from a nature trail (link to trail map with access and parking locations) on the north side.  The public walking and hiking trail is about 2 miles long. It starts just east of Interstate 5 at the end of Gabbiano Lane and goes most of the way to El Camino Real on the east end of the lagoon. There are five public parking lots providing access to the trail, one by the Nature Center and four on Batiquitos Drive.  Horses and bicycles are not allowed.  Take the Poinsettia Lane exit from I-5 and head east.  See the map for trail access locations.

To get more information there is a nature center at  7380 Gabbiano Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92009.

For more information information on San Pacifico homes, Carlsbad ocean view homes, Carlsbad whitewater view homes, or any other Carlsbad homes for sale, contact Gary Harmon, your Carlsbad ocean view Realtor.

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  1. […] This great coastal location (only about 1/2 mile from South Ponto Beach) is convenient to  Batiquitos Lagoon, nature trails, shopping and much more.    The neighborhoods of San Pacifico homes are also […]

  2. […] near the beach.  You can walk or bike to Ponto Beach in just a few minutes or enjoy a stroll along Batiquitos Lagoon.  San Pacifico homes offer some one story homes that are not available in nearby Hanover Beach […]