A short, one-mile-long tidal trail now is open to the public along the recently restored salt marsh in the San Dieguito River Valley. The trail, which can be accessed from the Dust Devil Nature Trail parking area, parallels the sweeping curve of El Camino Real and ends just short of the El Camino Real bridge. For now, it is only an out-and-back spur overlooking the tidal wetlands and active birdlife that includes California gnatcatchers, light-footed Ridgway’s rails, herons, egrets, and ospreys diving for fish that have already found their way up river. Eventually the trail will connect to the 71-mile Coast-to-Crest Trail system running from the ocean at Del Mar to the source of the San Dieguito on Volcan Mountain.