Largest man-made aquatic park in the country created to enhance recreational opportunities in San Diego. Wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, camping, cycling, jogging, roller skating and skateboarding, or sunbathing are all popular around the bay

General Information

Hours:

Hours based on individual locations within bay

Fees:

No fees

Pet Policy:

Dogs are allowed on Fiesta Island only, which closes at 10pm nightly

Closest cities with hotels:

San Diego

Seasons:

All year

Location:

Website:

Rating:

★ 5.0

San Diego, CA Weather Forecast

Getting There

Get on I-5 N. Follow I-5 N to Sea World Dr./Tecolote Rd. Take exit 21 from I-5 N. Take Fiesta Island Rd to destination

Overview

Mission Bay is a human-made saltwater bay located south of the Pacific Beach community of San Diego, California created from approximately 2,000 acres of historical wetland, marsh, and saltwater bay habitat. The bay is part of the recreational Mission Bay Park, the largest man-made aquatic park in the country, consisting of 4,235 acres (17.14 km2), approximately 46% land and 54% water. The combined area makes Mission Bay Park the ninth largest municipally-owned park in the United States.

The bay was created to enhance recreational opportunities in San Diego, but doing so has fundamentally altered the ecology of San Diego county by removing all but 40 acres, or approximately 5%, of wetland habitat. Wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, camping, cycling, jogging, roller skating and skateboarding, or sunbathing are all popular around the bay.

Mission Bay Yacht Club, on the west side of the bay, conducts sailing races year-round in the bay and the nearby Pacific Ocean and has produced national sailing champions in many classes.

Fiesta Island, a large peninsular park located within Mission Bay, has a large off-leash dog park and is a popular location for charity walks and runs, bicycle races, time trials and other special events like an over-the-line tournament. It is also home to an impressive diversity of rare, threatened, and endangered bird and plant species, despite the popularity of the area for people and dogs.

In the water

Mission Bay has 27 miles (43 km) of shoreline, 19 of which are sandy beaches with eight locations designated as official swimming areas. Mission Bay is recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy.

Swimmers and sunbathers take advantage of the warm water, calm surf conditions and the sands of Mission Bay's beaches. Mission Bay offers boat docks and launching facilities, sailboat and motor rentals, bike/walk paths and basketball courts. There are playgrounds for children. Public restrooms and showers are available, and lifeguard stations are located in designated areas.

On the east side of the bay is a network of channels and islands which are used by wind surfers and water skiers.

Several water areas are dedicated or restricted to particular forms of water recreation, with specific separate areas for sailing, water skiing and personal watercraft use.

Mission Bay is one of the premier locations in Southern California for the sport of rowing, or "crew." One of the largest rowing regattas in the country is held on Mission Bay each year: The San Diego Crew Classic is held in Mission Bay every spring, featuring two days of competition in eight-oared shells rowed by more than 100 college, club, and senior crews.

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Rose Creek flows into Mission Bay from the north, creating a rich wetland area called the Kendall Frost Marsh.

Recreation

Mission Bay is a hub for many activities, both on the land and in the water. There are 8 locations dedicated as official swimming areas. The west end offers many channels and islands which are great for water sports. Sailboats and motor rentals, kayaks, paddleboards, and more are available for rent in various places around the bay. On land, visitors choose between various activities like playing in the sand, picnicking, riding bikes along the 14 miles of paths, playing volleyball, and flying kites. Attractions at Mission Bay include SeaWorld San Diego, Aqua Adventures for kayaking and paddleboarding, the Mission Bay Cross Country Course, the Mission Bay Golf Course, and Belmont Park, which features the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and other rides.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mission Bay (San Diego)", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0