Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge is located in Santa Cruz County within the Monterey Bay area. The refuge, established in 1975 to protect the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, supports two of the eight known breeding populations of the salamander. The threatened California red legged frog and the California tiger salamander, a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act, have been observed on the refuge. Current management efforts focus on enhancing both wetland and upland habitat for the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander.

To protect habitat for threatened and endangered species, the refuge is closed to public access.