Younger Lagoon Reserve

Younger Lagoon Reserve is a coastal protected area on the northern shore of Monterey Bay featuring a Y-shaped lagoon, wetlands, coastal prairie, and a pocket beach across several acres. Eight distinct habitats create varied environments throughout the space.

The reserve was established in 1972 when Donald and Marion Younger donated their family ranch land to the University of California. This gift created the foundation for what became a lasting research and conservation area.

The reserve sits on ancestral lands where the Awaswas-speaking Uypi people lived, and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band continues practicing traditional stewardship of the land today.

The area is actively used for research purposes and has limited public access points that visitors should check in advance. Clear weather makes the trails and wetland areas easier to explore and safer to walk through.

The reserve serves as a critical stopover for more than 60 migratory bird species that arrive seasonally from near and far. This bird diversity reveals the site's importance as a way station along the Pacific Flyway.

Location: Santa Cruz

Part of: University of California Natural Reserve System

Website: http://ucsantacruz.ucnrs.org/reserves/younger-lagoon

GPS coordinates: 36.95000,-122.06667

Latest update: December 12, 2025 08:01