Ballona Wetlands, Coastal wetland reserve in Los Angeles County, United States.

Ballona Wetlands is a coastal wetland reserve in Los Angeles County that contains salt marshes, mudflats, and upland zones. The site provides critical habitat for hundreds of bird species and other wildlife that depend on these conditions.

The wetlands originally covered an estimated 1,500 to 2,100 acres within Rancho la Ballona. In the late 1950s, construction of Marina del Rey added about 700 acres to the urbanized estuary, and much of the marsh was later filled for development. The state acquired 83 acres of estuarine wetland once owned by Howard Hughes, and the Ballona Freshwater Marsh was created in 2003 on a former celery field.

The reserve lies along the Pacific Flyway, and the Audubon Society recognizes it as an Important Birding Area; nearly 260 bird species have been recorded at the freshwater marsh alone, and about 320 across the wider survey area. Volunteers with Friends of Ballona Wetlands restored eight acres of sand dune habitat, where the rare Orcutt's yellow pincushion was found in 2010.

Access is through marked trails and guided tours are typically available, making it good for bird watching and nature photography. Wear comfortable shoes and bring binoculars, and come early in the morning for the best wildlife viewing.

The site sits along the Pacific Flyway, a major migration route where hundreds of bird species stop and rest as they travel between North and South America. This location makes it a stopover of worldwide importance for migrating birds.