Come See Us!
Sacramento NWR is home to our Visitor Center and is the Headquarters for the Sacramento NWR Complex.
Many other ways to be out on the refuges can be found on our Visit Us page!
Click on one of the topics below to jump to that section of this page:
Visitor Center Hours
Entrance Fees
Discovery Room
Environmental Education Classroom
Nature Store
Picnic Area
Native Plant Garden
Wetland Walk
Visitor Center & Headquarters
The Visitor Center and Headquarters for Sacramento NWR Complex is located at the Sacramento NWR: 752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988.
During open hours, you'll be able to explore the interpretive displays, Discovery Room, classroom and nature store, plus check in with staff and volunteers to find out about birding hotspots and borrow a pair of binoculars for the day!
But even when the Visitor Center is closed, you can come sit under the covered patio or tree-shaded picnic benches, use the restrooms, explore two miles of trails and check out the two viewing platforms located on the six-mile auto tour.
Current Visitor Center Hours*:
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Our new Visitor Center and Nature Store (operated by the Friends of the Sacramento NWR) are open on a limited basis on Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-3pm, unless otherwise noted. The exterior VC restrooms are always open.
*Subject to change. The Visitor Center is always closed on Federal Holidays.
Visitor Center Grand Re-Opening Celebration!
The Friends of Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge cordially invite you to the grand re-opening of the Visitor Center! Come explore the newly renovated facilities, learn about local wildlife, and enjoy refreshments and activities for the whole family.
Saturday, March 7th, 2026 from 9am-3pm. Ribbon cutting at 10am. 752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988.
Entrance Fee for Sacramento NWR Auto Tour and Trails:
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See the Passes and Permits section of our Visit Us page for more info. No entrance fee is required if you are only walking the trails.
Admission to the Hunt Area requires different permits/fees. Please see our Hunting page for information.
Discovery Room
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Explore the Discovery Room and Kids' Corner, and check out the wildlife touch station with feathers, skulls, and hides.
Environmental Education Classroom
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A new classroom facility is available for school groups to come learn all about the wetlands and wildlife of the Sacramento Valley. This space also functions as a meeting space for workshops and collaborative events with partners. See our Education and Outreach page for more information.
Nature Store
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Visit the Nature Store, run by Friends of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, and find great field guides, nature books, postcards, t-shirts, caps, stickers, pins, and even fine-art prints! Hours are still in flux. If you would like to volunteer to run the Nature Store on days when the Visitor Center is open, please reach out directly to our friends group: https://www.friendsofsnwr.org/
Picnic Area
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Get in some extra bird-watching while you eat your lunch. Enjoy your lunch on the benches under the shady willow trees next to the parking area, or check out the four new picnic tables [Coming Soon!] while watching a variety of bird-feedersjust outside the Visitor Center. Restrooms are available. Open 7 days a week, year-round, from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. Please pack-out what you pack-in (no public trash cans).
Native Plant Garden
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(Coming soon!) A native plant garden is being planned near the Visitor Center, thanks to our hard-working volunteers and partners.
Wetland Walk
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Head out onto the 2-mile Wetland Walk (pdf, brochure with map) from the Visitor Center. Walk through wetlands, a area, and vernal pools. Take an interpretive brochure (pdf, Wetland Walk brochure) along and learn about the plants and animals you encounter. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on leash. Open 7 days a week, year-round, from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.
An additional 5 miles of Spring Trails (pdf) are available on the south part of the refuge from February 15 - June 30. Visit our Trails page for additional hiking opportunities.
