Bike Ride to the Salt Mines
Public Disclosure: An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. Changes and Closures happen frequently so check directly with each site before you head out to know if it's open or not and what their policies are.
Cooking Tip: a little salt goes a long way! ๐ง ๐ ๐ You can find this mountain of sea salt in Chula Vista near the Bayshore Bikeway trail. ๐ด๐ปโโ๏ธ
Park in front of Trident Coffee โ๏ธ ; itโs a known bike staging area since thereโs a bike path entrance nearby. ๐ And obviously fuel up with the best cold brew Iโve ever had! and grab a keto-paleo donut when youโre done. ๐ฉ It's only 1.5 miles away, or a 15 minute bike ride with kids.
As you enter the Bayshore Bike trail, turn right (north) โก๏ธ and youโll ride over some fun bridges with cool views of the salt ponds. When the trail ends, continue on the back roads over to the South Bay Salt Works; which began operations in the 1860โs! ๐ฒ You can see salt on the conveyer belt going all the way up to the packing house. Youโll probably see a semi hauling away bags of salt. ๐ ๐ง๐ง๐ง
South Bay Salt Works harvests sea salt thatโs evaporated from the ocean water and collected in the salt ponds nearby. ๐ This is a stopping point for 94 different breeds of wild & endangered migratory birds. The salt rich ponds breed brine flies & brine shrimp ๐ฆ that birds love to eat. ๐ During the winter you might be able to catch a monthly tour out into the salt ponds to observe migratory birding. ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ฆ
Ride back to where you started and instead of turning right, go straight ahead and youโll find some easy dirt trails along the Otay River. Youโll also find Sellers-Keever Park (memorial for 2 young boys) with rocks to climb and viewing telescopes for bird watching. ๐ญ ๐ฆ ๐ ๐ฆ
You can also just drive here and park right in front for a super quick stop.
South Bay Salt Works
1470 Bay Blvd., Chula Vista, 91911
(no website)
If you're biking over to see it, park in front of:
Trident Coffee
536 13th St., Imperial Beach, 91932
619-522-4905
More photos below from our bike ride to South Bay Salt Works: