Today's Moss Landing harbor and various sloughs to the south are part of this old river bed. Mark Silberstein's wonderful aerial photo shows essentially all of Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing harbor. This view is looking east from Monterey Bay.
Weather can be important as the wind tends to kick up in the afternoon.
Alternatively, morning fog can keep things quiet. There is also a Harbor Seal pupping area. The more northerly ponds are mostly kept dry from an important breeding colony of endangered Snowy Plovers. Access used to be through trails beginning at the northeast corner of the W.A. but currently that access point and the trails are closed. Almost immediately one has tidal mud flats to the left and right of the road, but the only legal parking is down to the right near the kiosk that goes to the State Beach.