Get Out There and Explore!
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Many other ways to be out on the refuge can be found on our Visit Us page!
Auto Tours
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The Sacramento NWR Complex has 2 different Auto Tours (Sacramento NWR and Colusa NWR) that offer up spectacular wildlife viewing from the comfort of your vehicle during the winter months. Visitors must remain inside their vehicles, or on their motorcycles/bicycles (allowed May 15 to August 15 only, more information below under Bicycling) on the Auto Tours, except for the Park-and-Stretch areas only found on Sacramento NWR. By using your vehicle as a viewing blind, the wildlife will remain calm and provide excellent viewing opportunities for everyone throughout the day!
Rules of the Auto Tours
These are citable offenses with fines up to $275:
- Auto Tours are roads!
- Visitors must stay inside their vehicle except at designated Park-and-Stretch areas.
- Visitors must remain seated with seatbelts fastened when their vehicle is in motion. Hanging out of windows or standing out of a sunroof is prohibited when the vehicle is in motion, but is permissible when vehicle is parked at a Park-and-Stretch or in a parking lot.
- Sitting in the bed of a truck is prohibited except at Park-and-Stretch areas, in a parked vehicle.
- Vehicles may not park or travel in the wrong direction.
- The Speed Limit is 15 mph.
- Bicycles are allowed May 15 to August 15, and motorcyclists/bicyclists must remain on their bikes except at designated Park-and-Stretch areas. Bicycles are never permitted on the Pool 2 Extension at Sacramento NWR.
- Walking along the Auto Tour is prohibited.
- Dogs are permitted but must remain in vehicle, except at Park-and-Stretch areas where they must be on leash.
- Drones are prohibited on all USFWS property.
Sacramento NWR Auto Tour
Sacramento NWR has a 6-mile Auto Tour that begins at the Visitor Center and takes you through wetlands, grasslands, vernal pools and a area. Visitors are required to stay in their vehicles but can get out of their vehicles at one of the 3 Park-and-Stretch Areas. A multi-level Observation Deck is located approximately half-way around the Auto Tour in addition to a new low-profile deck, where there is a spotting scope, a restroom, and fantastic views!
An additional 1.5 mile loop called Pool 2 Extension is open from March 15 - September 10, conditions permitting. Pool 2 is drained every 3-5 years to allow for habitat work and road repairs, during which time the extension is closed.
The Auto Tour is open 7 days a week, year-round, from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.
- It has parking, restrooms, information kiosk, observation decks and a required entrance fee.
- It doesn't have potable water available, so please bring your own.
- It allows bicycling from May 15 to August 15. No bicycling is not allowed on the seasonal Pool 2 loop extension.
- A map and brochure is available to view and download ahead of time.
Colusa NWR Auto Tour
Colusa NWR has a 3-mile Auto Tour that begins at the Observation Deck and takes you through wetlands, grasslands, and a riparian area. Visitors are required to stay inside their vehicles. Look for the black-crowned night heron roost in the button willow as you cross the bridge. Keep an eye open for an occasional collared goose, and also for a western pond turtle in the "turtle pond" located at the very southeast corner of the Auto Tour.
The Auto Tour is open 7 days a week, year-round, from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.
- It has parking, restrooms, information kiosk, and an observation deck.
- It doesn't have potable water available, so please bring your own.
- It allows bicycling from May 15 to August 15.
- Amap and brochure can be viewed or downloaded ahead of time.
Trails
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A variety of trails awaits exploration on the refuges of the Sacramento NWR Complex! Wetlands, grasslands, vernal pools and riparian forests provide different experiences throughout the year. Come explore.
Sacramento NWR
Both sets of trails are open 7 days a week, year-round, from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.
Wetland Walk - These 2-miles of trails depart from the Visitor Center, located on Hwy 99W just 6 miles south of the city of Willows. The Wetland Walk will take you through wetlands, vernal pools and riparian habitat. Download a Wetland Walk Brochure ahead of time and learn about the Complex and its wildlife and habitats. The north loop is disabled-accessible.
- From the entrance kiosk parking area or the Visitor Center parking lot, you have access to: parking, restrooms, and information kiosks.
- Bicycling is not allowed on these trails.
- There is no potable water available, so please bring your own.
- An entrance fee is required to drive Auto Tour.
- A map and brochure of these trails (and the auto tour route) is available to view or download ahead of time.
Seasonal Trails: Open only from February 15 to June 30, this area is accessed from Parking Lot D, on County Road 68. This seasonal area provides up to 6-miles of trails that meander through wetlands and vernal pools.
- At this trailhead, you have access to: parking and information kiosk (please sign in at the mailbox to log your visit).
- There are in-ground blinds for photography available among these trails (waders are required to access them).
- Bicycling is not allowed on these trails.
- There is no potable water available, so please bring your own.
- A map and brochure of these trails is available to view or download ahead of time.
Colusa NWR
This 1-mile trail (0.5 mile out and back) begins near the Observation Deck located on O'Hair Road, off of Highway 20, just 2 miles west of the city of Colusa. The trail is a shaded walk through riparian habitat that provides glimpses into the adjacent wetlands. Near the end of the trail is a small boardwalk where visitors can overlook a wetland and catch views of waterfowl. This is a great spot to see wood ducks during the spring and summer.
The trail is open 7 days a week, year-round, from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.
- From the parking lot, you have access to: parking, restrooms, information kiosk, observation deck and walkway, and picnic tables.
- Bicycling is not allowed on this trail.
- Potable water is not available, so please bring your own.
- A map and brochure is available to view or download ahead of time.
Llano Seco Unit of the Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA
This 1-mile trail (0.5 mile out and back) departs from the Observation Deck at the Visitor Area located on 7-Mile Lane, just 15 minutes southwest of the city of Chico. The trail takes you through the wetlands to an Observation Mound with a picnic table. From October to February you will find great viewing of sandhill cranes and waterfowl. There is very limited shade during the summer.
The trail and viewing platform area is open 7 days a week, year-round, from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.
- Upon arriving, you have access to: parking, restroom, information kiosk, observation deck and mound.
- At the end of the trail, there is a picnic table.
- Bicycling is not allowed on this trail.
- Potable water is not available, so please bring your own.
- A map and brochure is available to view and download ahead of time.
Sutter NWR
Seasonal Trails are only open from February 15 through June 30 (1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset), and are accessed from Parking Lot B on the Bypass Levee Road (off of Hughes Road), south of the city of Sutter. This seasonal area provides up to 6-miles of trails that go through a long riparian corridor and wander through seasonal wetlands. The riparian section offers great viewing of songbirds and raptors. Waterfowl are present until wetlands dry up in March/April.
- Upon arriving, you have access to: parking and an information kiosk (please sign in at the mailbox to log your visit).
- Bicycling is not allowed on these trails.
- Potable water is not available, so please bring your own.
- A map and brochure is available to view and download ahead of time.
Sacramento River NWR
Visit our Unit Maps and Recreation page to find details, maps and brochures about the units of the Sacramento River NWR. All areas have riparian habitat that offer great viewing of songbirds between March and late May.
River trails are open 7 days a week, year round, from 2 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset.
- At each unit, you have access to: parking and information kiosks.
- There is only a restroom at Sul Norte Unit parking area.
- Potable water is not available, so please bring your own.
- Bicycles are permitted on trails from May 15 to August 15, except at Ord Bend.
- Some units allow hunting between August 1 to May 31, so check the table on our Sacramento River Unit Maps and Recreation page if you are concerned about user-overlap.
Eight of Sacramento River NWRs units have trails:
- Rio Vista - on South Avenue east of Corning; 6.5 miles of marked trails. Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
- Pine Creek - on Highway 32 west of Hamilton City; 3 miles of marked trails. Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
- Capay - on Road 23, off of Highway 45 south of Hamilton City; 3 miles of marked trails. Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
- Ord Bend - on Ord Ferry Road just west of Sacramento River; 1 mile of marked trails. Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
- Sul Norte - on Highway 162 west of Butte City; 2.5 miles of marked trails. Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
- Codora - access through the Sul Norte parking area; 4.5 miles of marked trails. Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
- Packer - on Highway 45 north of Princeton; 1.5 miles of marked trails. Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
- Drumheller - on Road 67 southeast of Butte City; 0.4 miles of marked trails. Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
Bicycling
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When and Where Can I Bicycle?
Bicycling at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex is limited to a select number of roads and trails from May 15 to August 15.
There is a Complex-level Bicycling Map to see when and where bicycling is allowed.
Sacramento NWR:
Auto Tour: the 6-mile Auto Tour is only open to bicyclists from May 15 to August 15. Note: Bicycles are not allowed on the Pool 2 Loop Extension. Only stop and dismount in designated Park-and-Stretch areas. Please know there is no shade along the Auto Tour.
Sacramento NWR's trails (Wetland Walk, Spring Trails/Logan Creek) and hunt area are not open to bicycles.
Colusa NWR:
Auto Tour: the 2-mile Auto Tour is only open to bicyclists from May 15 to August 15. No stopping along the Auto Tour. Please note there is very limited shade along the Auto Tour.
Colusa NWR's trail and hunt area are not open to bicycles.
Sacramento River NWR:
Seven of the Sacramento River NWR units have trails open for bicycles from May 15 to August 15 (see list below). All brochures and more information can be found on the Sacramento River NWR Unit Maps and Recreation page.
- Rio Vista - on South Avenue east of Corning; 6.5 miles of marked trails
- Pine Creek - on Highway 32 west of Hamilton City; 3 miles of marked trails
- Capay - on Road 23, off of Highway 45 south of Hamilton City; 3 miles of marked trails
- Sul Norte - on Highway 162 west of Butte City; 2.5 miles of marked trails
- Codora - access through the Sul Norte parking area; 4.5 miles of marked trails
- Packer - on Highway 45 north of Princeton; 1.5 miles of marked trails
- Drumheller - on Road 67 southeast of Butte City; 0.4 miles of marked trails
Be Prepared and Alert!
Puncture vine may occur on the edges of gravel roads. You are strongly encouraged to have a can of fix-a-flat or a patch kit suitable for your bicycle's tires, in case something happens while out on the trails or auto tours.
These are natural and wild areas. You may encounter ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, yellow-jackets, bees, poison oak, stinging nettle, poison hemlock, rattle snakes (particularly on Sacramento River NWR), and mountain lions. Be aware of your surroundings, hold off on touching plants or insects, and make some noise on the trails, especially if you’re by yourself.
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