Auto tour

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour

Sacramento Refuge has a 6-mile Auto Tour that begins at the Visitor Center and takes you through wetlands, grasslands, vernal pools and a riparian area. In order to minimize disturbance to wildlife and allow excellent viewing for everyone, visitors are required to stay in their vehicles while on the Auto Tour, except the 3 Park-and-Stretch Areas. Two observation decks and a restroom are located approximately half-way around the Auto Tour at Park-and-Stretch #2, where there is a spotting scope, benches, 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.

• Hours: 7 days a week, year-round, 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset
• Fees:  Sacramento Refuge Auto Tour requires and entrance fee ($6.00 daily, $12.00 annual, or valid Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful Pass, which can be purchased on Recreation.gov). For more information, see our Passes and Permits page.  Adjacent parking, restrooms, Visitor Center and trails are fee-free.
• Length: 6 miles
• Amenities: parking, information kiosk, observation decks, a restroom and a spotting scope.
  • Potable water is not available, so please bring your own.
• Bicycling: is allowed from May 15 to August 15, but is not permitted on the seasonal Pool 2 loop extension.
• Vehicles:  the Auto Tour is all-weather gravel and suitable for standard and oversized vehicles (buses, RVs). Large trailers are not recommended on the Auto Tour due to soft shoulders, small turnouts and limited parking.
• Directions:  View our Directional Map
• Brochure:  View our Area Map/Brochure

Rules of the Auto Tour

• Auto Tours are roads!
  • The Speed Limit is 15 mph.
  • Visitors must stay inside their vehicle except at designated Park-and-Stretch areas. Getting out of your vehicle will startle birds into flight when they could be resting or feeding.
  • 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. Sacramento NWR Auto Tour is one-way all the way through.
• 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.
• Be careful!  STAY ON THE GRAVEL. Road edges can be soft and your vehicle can get stuck or start a fire from dry vegetation if you leave the gravel surface.

More to Explore

The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex hosts an additional Auto Tour at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, and dozens of trails at our other refuges. FOR INFORMATION, MAPS AND DIRECTIONS, visit our:  

Auto Tours, Trails and Bicycling page