Upper Newport Bay

NEWPORT BEACH. Salt water and fresh water ultimately mix in the estuary known as Upper Newport Bay, one of the last remaining formations of its kind in Southern California. Here, the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve was created in 1975 to preserve the coastline and tidal wetlands around the bay. Today, more than 200 species of birds, some of them endangered, inhabit the 700-plus-acre preserve, making it a popular destination for bird-watchers. In addition, visitors find hiking, biking and horseback riding trails; boat launches; and designated areas at North Star Beach for clam-digging and swimming. Educational programs and visitor information are available at Muth Interpretive Center, a 10,000-square-foot facility carved into a bluff overlooking the bay.