Hike of the week: Unique wildlife and rock formations take spotlight at San Elijo Lagoon and Annie’s Canyon

I might be late to the party, but are we talking enough about the jumping fish at the San Elijo Lagoon?

I saw the fish — the striped mullet — hopping from the tidal waters during my hike at the lagoon this week. And while I’d seen them before, their leaps on Wednesday evening seemed comically abundant. At one point, I stopped along the Gemma Parks Loop Trail just to watch them fly; I counted at least a dozen jumps within a few minutes.

The striped mullet can be found worldwide, and there are different theories as to why it jumps from its waters, including as a method to take in oxygen or to confuse predators. Regardless of the reason, it’s a sight to see — and was a highlight on my roughly 1.5-mile loop at the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and through Annie’s Canyon in Solana Beach.

I also saw several birds, including a great egret, along with two rattlesnakes presumably mating in the brush along the trail. And if wildlife isn’t your thing, Annie’s Canyon — a slot canyon with high sandstone walls that leads to views of the lagoon and ocean — is a unique feature that adds some complexity to this otherwise easy hike.

Hikers can access the route from a few different trailheads, including one located off Solana Hills Drive and another that begins at Holmwood Lane. But I chose to start at the Rios Trailhead, located at the northern end of North Rios Avenue because I prefer to hike as far away from Interstate 5 as possible. (The trail at Solana Hills Drive travels parallel to the freeway.)

Only street parking is available. The Rios Trail starts by heading east and downhill toward the lagoon. The path is partly shaded and cool, making this a good coastal hike during hot weather, especially as San Diego County experiences soaring temperatures this weekend.

The trail continues straight for 0.2-miles before coming to an intersection with the Gemma Parks Loop Trail. I chose to take this route to get closer to the lagoon’s waters — where I saw the striped mullets make their ascents — and to extend my hike. The Gemma Parks Loop Trail is about a half a mile long before it reconnects to the Rios Trail.

Head west along the Rios Trail to complete the loop — but make sure to stop at Annie’s Canyon along the way, which is marked with a few signs. The route through the slot canyon is very narrow and includes a short climb up a metal ladder to reach the viewpoint.

Hikers who are uncomfortable with this can opt to take a switchback trail that also leads to the viewpoint. The switchback trailhead can be accessed just left of the slot canyon trailhead. There is a large sign directing hikers with arrows to either route.

I climbed up through the slot canyon and descended the switchback trail — altogether a 0.2-mile looped section of the hike — before finding myself again on the Rios Trail, heading west. There are a few hills, but the return hike is mostly flat and serene.