At least 30,000 visitors come to the park annually to enjoy activities like camping, fishing, boating, kayaking, bird watching, and hiking. The camp store near the visitor center rents kayaks and sells supplies. From November to February, park staff offer guided kayak tours and educational programs featuring water-dependent bird species. Cormorants and cattle egrets nest year-round, while migratory birds—like marsh birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl—stop to rest and feed. Up to 1.5 million eared grebes and nearly half of California’s white-faced ibis population have been recorded here annually.

Fishing remains popular despite rising salinity, with tilapia thriving and no catch limits. A fishing jetty at Varner Harbor supports both shore and boat fishing. Boating is also popular; the sea’s high salt content increases buoyancy, and its below-sea-level elevation boosts engine performance. Five campgrounds offer over 200 campsites, some with full hookups.