Updated August 7, 2025 - 12:30 PM
On-going Construction at Sacramento NWR
The entrance road, visitor center parking lot, and north-side walking trails will be under construction June 16 through mid-October. When the refuge is open to the public, thank you for driving slowly, following all flaggers directing traffic, and honoring any closures while this important work is completed this summer into fall. Read more about this project in our Press Release from Project Leader Sharon Vaughn. What's currently open (as of 8/7/2025):
- Entrance road, parking lot and bathrooms at the Visitor Center, and Auto Tour. Watch for flaggers and redirected traffic.
- North-side (compacted gravel) and south-side (vegetated) walking trails, accessed from the Visitor Center Parking lot or kiosk parking lot upon entering the refuge.
- Visitor Center will be open on Fridays 9am-4pm, unless otherwise noted.
Partial Walking Trail Closure at Sacramento NWR
Starting the week of August 18, the north-side compacted gravel walking trail will be closed to the public while construction crews replace the walking surface. This project is expected to be completed by mid-October. The south-side vegetated walking trail will remain open.
Temporary Closure of Visitor Center at Sacramento NWR
The Visitor Center will be closed on Friday August 22 and August 29 while our interpretive displays get installed. The bathrooms will remain open (accessed from outside the visitor center).
Upcoming CDFW + USFWS online outreach meeting regarding hunt programs
Read more on our News page for how to participate. The meeting will be August 25 from 4-6pm.
Sheep grazing at Pine Creek Unit (Sacramento River NWR)
Sheep are grazing Pine Creek unit mid-July through mid-August to help manage weeds. This is a reminder that dogs must be kept on leash and on the trail at all refuge units (see Rules and Policies). Learn more about the Complex's grazing opportunities.
Visit Us
Welcome to Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area (including the Llano Seco Unit)!
This WMA is primarily composed of privately-owned properties under conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.
Learn more about conservation easement , but does have one Service-owned property that is open to the public: the Llano Seco Unit. Located about 10 miles southwest of the city of Chico in Butte County, the Llano Seco Unit offers a Visitor Area with a Restroom and Information Kiosk, Observation Deck, Observation Mound and a Trail.
There are LOTS of recreational opportunities across the Complex, including a Visitor Center, Auto Tours, trails, bicycling, photography, hunting and environmental education.
VISIT US! <-- CLICK HERE....
to find all the information you need to PLAN YOUR VISIT, like recreational opportunities, what to expect, hours and directions, accessibility, passes and permits, rules and policies, local and contact information. Or jump straight to your favorite activity using these quick links:
VISITOR CENTERAUTO TOURSTRAILSBICYCLINGPHOTOGRAPHYHUNTING-WATERFOWLHunting-RiverMAPS, DIRECTIONS + BROCHURESENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area is one of the 5 National Wildlife Refuges and 3 Wildlife Management Areas that make up the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex:
Location and Contact Information
About Us
TheSteve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Areais part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It is located across 11 counties in California's Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Delta. It consists primarily of conservation easements on privately-owned wetlands, but also includes one 1,732 acre fee-title property known as theLlano Seco Unit .
Click on the link below to learn more about us!
What We Do
- Resource Management
To help plants and wildlife, Refuge staff uses a variety of habitat management techniques to maintain, recover or enhance plant and wildlife values. Refuge staff carefully consider any management techniques and employ them in varying degrees according to the situation.
- Conservation and Partnerships
The Complex is involved in many conservation endeavors, including Comprehensive Conservation Plans, Private Landowner Programs, and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act.
Click on the link below to learn more about what we do!
Our Species
The Llano Seco Unit supports large populations of wintering waterfowl, as well as other species such as: bald eagle, mountain lion, bobcat, State-listed threatened greater sandhill cranes, Swainson's hawk, federally threatened giant garter snakes and valley elderberry longhorn beetle, federally endangered vernal pool tadpole shrimp and vernal pool fairy shrimp, and species of concern California linderiella and Ferris's milk-vetch.
Click on the link below to learn more about our Seasons of Wildlife, Wildlife Checklist, Wildlife Surveys, and Our Species....