Biking
At Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
Bicycling at Sacramento River NWR
Bicycling at Sacramento River NWR is limited to the designated trails of 7 units (Rio Vista, Pine Creek, Capay, Sul Norte, Codora, Packer, and Drumheller) between May 15 - August 15. Bicycling on Sacramento River NWR is otherwise not permitted.
The riparian forests and grasslands of the Sacramento River NWR offer shady rides and great viewing of songbirds. Bike one of the seven units that offer parking lots with connected trails.
- Hours: 7 days a week, May 15 - August 15, 2 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hour after sunset
- Fees: Trails are fee-free
- Length: individual units have varying miles of trails - see table, below
- Amenities: parking and information kiosks. Only the Sul Norte Unit has a restroom.
- 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
- Substrate: the trails are all-weather gravel or dirt, and puncture vine may occur on the edges. 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.
- User Overlap: 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.
- Directions/Brochures: Visit our Unit Maps and Recreation page to find details, maps and brochures about the units of the Sacramento River NWR
- There is a Complex-level Bicycling Map to see when and where bicycling is allowed.
| Refuge Unit | Location of Unit Entrance | Trail Length | Link to downloadable Map/Brochure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Vista | On South Avenue, east of Corning | 6.5 miles of marked trails | Rio Vista Map/Brochure |
| Pine Creek | On Highway 32, west of Hamilton City | 3 miles of marked trails | Pine Creek Map/Brochure |
| Capay | On Road 23, off Highway 45, south of Hamilton City | 3 miles of marked trails | Capay Map/Brochure |
| Sul Norte | On Highway 162, west of Butte City | 2.5 miles of marked trails | Sul Norte Map/Brochure |
| Codora | Access through Sul Norte parking area, south of Sul Norte Unit and Butte City Bridge | 4.5 miles of marked trails | Codora Map/Brochure |
| Drumheller | On Road 67, southeast of Butte City, east side of Sacramento River | 0.4 miles of marked trails | Drumheller Map/Brochure |
| Packer | On Highway 45, north of Princeton | 1.5 miles of marked trails | Packer Map/Brochure |
MORE TO EXPLORE!
The Sacramento NWR Complex also allows seasonal bicycling at Sacramento NWR and Colusa NWR. FOR INFORMATION, MAPS AND DIRECTIONS, visit our:
Auto Tours, Trails and Bicycling page
