Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

Valérie Lent

2024-02

The visitor center had excellent displays and very friendly volunteers. When we visited last week, in January, the trail was closed for repairs., but you can still see a few birds from the top of the stairway, and around the visitor center where they have bird feeders.

Stephanie Ross

2024-02

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Helene Deisher

2024-04

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Benjamin Meyer

2023-11

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David Partridge

2024-01

The best months to visit Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge are January and February. There are thousands of migratory birds here and at nearby crop fields that the birds may be foraging at during the day.At the Visitor Center there is a Viewing Tower with a good vantage point of the refuge and normally a number of birds within sight. They have restrooms and drinking water available at the Visitor Center. From here there are several trails that go along the canals and other wetlands of the shores of the Salton Sea.The Rock Hill Trail takes you up a small mountain with great views of the lake and the surrounding area. Lots of signage telling you what type of birds you may see.

Gretchen Mominee

2023-05

I visited on a Saturday in early January, and spoke with Brandiele, a volunteer in the visitor center. She was very helpful and knowledgeable and gave me a lot of good information. I didn’t have much time, but walked a bit and saw a number of snow geese flying, a couple of egrets, and several quail near the visitor center. It’s a beautiful place and I hope to get back when I have more time.

gloria Leal

2020-05

Awesome place to watch birds and relax. I’m from Imperial County and visit this place several times a year, wish more local families visit this incredible place. Most of the times this bird refuge is empty, mostly visited by photographers and nature lovers. Just visited the refuge las Saturday, April 4, the weather was perfect, all green. I went back to the Refuge on April 21 and took the photos attached.

Victoria Sampson-Diaz

2022-05

The refuge is a very interesting place to visit. I went with my hiking group from the Desert Museum in Ocotillo, Ca. It was nice to have guides as they explained the Salton Sea and gave much insight into how important it is to wild life. You don’t have to have a guide to visit the refuge but you will learn so much if you receive a guided visit by some one from the Desert Museum. Enjoy! And go in the cooler months (November -March) and apply mosquito repellant .

Gloria Leal

2021-05

Best hours to visit: 7:00 to 12:00 noon during spring and summer, too hot after these hours; during winter add the hours from 3:00 to 6 pm if this time works better for you. In November the weather in Imperial County tends to be warm especially after noon. Wear light color clothes and take at least 2 bottles of water. The place is never closed, even when it says "temporarily closed" due to Covid, the reality is that you will always find it open, bathrooms are also left open, and there is always plenty of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Bring something to eat, there are a couple of picnic tables at the entrance of the place. The place is mainly visited by nature lovers and bird photographers that are not local residents. The place is so quiet that you can even do some yoga, just don't forget your mat. You can also visit the mud volcanoes, about 5 minutes distance from Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. Photos below were taken during my visit of Nov 22, 2020

Travis Ashe

2021-05

A great place to visit and view wintering bird species. Tons of Ross Geese, Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes, shorebirds, and more. Make sure you visit both units. The Unit 1 complex usually has the Sandhill Cranes. We are still on the lookout for Borrowing Owls, as the refuge supposedly has the highest concentration of Borrowing Owls in California. Next year we will try to make it out to the refuge in December.

Nicollette Wands

2022-05

Stopped here on a drive from Phoenix to LA. The Salton Sea is such an interesting place! The visitor center and the restrooms were closed when I stopped, but I still took the hike as the sign recommended. It was a bit desolate, but there was beauty there as well. So interesting to see all the birds hanging out. And the walk up to the overlook peak was worth it. I also found some interesting rocks along the walk. The smell of the Salton Sea is like a porta potty.....at first I thought it was legit the porta potties I was smelling! But as I got away from them, I realized - nope - this is just the smell of the sea. Took a bit to get used to. I would highly recommend checking the Salton Sea out before it is gone.

Robert Lowe

2024-04

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Lakshmi Raman

2024-02

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Rachel Thompson

2024-02

Great visitor centers with helpful volunteers. Clean restrooms and access to drinking water. The viewing platform was very cool. There is currently construction on part of the trail but we still saw American Coot, Northern Shovelers, White Pelican, Snow Geese, N. Mockingbirds, W. Meadowlark, White-crowned and House sparrows, Towhee sp., Kestrel, Verdin, Eurasian Collared, Mourning and Inca Doves, and Gambel's Quail

tom gioia

2023-05

The immediate area is all industrial but the refuge offers stunning views of the distant landscape. Plus a trail to a VolcanoRestrooms: 2 unisex stallsPicnic area: 2 tables with shade

bree avalos

2020-05

It was a nice short walk, about 2mi round trip. There is a flush toilet which is great, i didnt see the office area, but there is an observation deck that was nice and sturdy with binoculars. Down the trail you end up at the top of a big rock on a hill. It's very pretty and the views are nice.I gave it 4/5 stars mostly due to the smell, its right off the salton sea, and farmlands, which explains it, not because of the grounds themselves being gross or unkempt, it was very clean. The other part i found a bit lacking was the lack of maybe camouflaging some of the industrial machinery along the route. The route itself leaves something to be desired, but its still worth the trip.The ground is level enough for it to be a good jog, and the running water in the bathrooms is a huge plus, also there is a drinking fountain and ample parking.Oh, and rabbits!

Randolph Mejia

2024-01

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Alexander Pas

2024-04

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Melissa C

2019-05

Not a very impressive state park. If you're in the area/Imperial Valley, it's definitely worth a stop. The walk is about 30 minutes. We spent a totally time of about 1 hour and 45 minutes there. We took time to take photos. It's an interesting landscape. Good for photography. Overall, not very pretty. But unique.

Carol Ann Heath

2019-05

Many of the refuge roads stopped before one could get close to the sea. Rust and many closed access routes. Best birds were in a roadside sewage run-off pond!

Sara Michell

2019-05

Beautiful refuge for migratory birds of all sorts. Offers great bird viewing as well as awesome views of the southern Salton Sea. Do the hike if you can, it's definitely worth it!

Charize St. Hai

2020-05

This area has so much educationand history about the 🌿flora, 🐰fauna, and howindigenous inhabitants 🙈🙉🙊of the land utilized and survived in this area.Thank you to all those who have helped in some way or another to keep places like this available for CURIOUS brains out exploring the UNIVERSE.Bravo, well done hümans. . .keep go->ING⚡⚡Oh, and the Time Capsule was a nice touch for those of us trying to get rid of wristwatch tan lines. 'cuz we ain't raisin' yo' kids (-';[>^.*<]:"-€

Katherine Gross

2019-05

Unbeatable view of the Salton Sea after a pleasant hike. There are many areas you cant enter due to wildlife- and it is better that way! You can spy many rare birds. I saw a roadrunner, a gambel’s quail and a nesting pair of burrowing owls. Look for plastic piping sticking out of the ground near the parking lot entrance. There is a sign above their burrow that warns you not to bother them.

Douglas Terry

2019-05

While you may have to hike out to the hill to see many of the birds this is a great place for a few hours of hiking and good birdwatching

Robin Dewkett

2022-05

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M A

2022-05

Hopefully the state of California will sort this place out and restore it as a bird refuge. Lots of work to be done and so much potential. Photo of Ross’s goose with Snow Goose.

katerina Igolka

2023-05

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Emily Kenny

2021-05

A bit disappointed that this wasn't more. It had a ramp with some binoculars at the top to look at a group of birds far away. There was a walking path but it was just a flat dirt desert path with not much wildlife.

Ron Reeves

2021-05

Spend some time and take the hike to enjoy the birds. Bring water and food for a day visit.

Dan Ward

2021-05

The only reason to visit is to birdwatch in the Winter. But if you wanna see some birds, this is the place!