Sacramento NWR: Visitor Center/Headquarters = • Winter Hours (Nov-Feb) 9am-4pm every day • Spring-Fall Hours (Mar-Oct) 9am-4pm Mon-Fri • Visitor Center is closed on federal holidaysAuto Tour/Wetland Walk (open year-round) = • 1 hr before sunrise - 1 hr after sunsetSeasonal Trails (open Feb 15 - June 30) = • 1 hr before sunrise - 1 hr after sunset
DRIVE THE AUTO TOURS:
CHECK OUT THE VISITOR CENTER:
The Visitor Center for the Complex is located at the Sacramento NWR. At the Visitor Center you can enjoy our bookstore, Discovery Room, and displays. Watch the Complex's film Unfinished Symphony. Shop our bookstore that is run by the Altacal Audubon Society to find field guides, nature books, postcards, t-shirts, and more. The Visitor Center is open 9am-4pm every day from November to February, and weekdays-only the remainder of the year. Interpretive kiosks, picnic tables, benches and restrooms are located outside the Visitor Center and are available year-round.
CATCH A PROGRAM / EVENT:
Join our naturalists for guided walks, photography tours, tram rides and many more exciting events!
PLAN A BIRD-WATCHING TRIP: Check out our Sacramento Valley Birding Map and Sandhill Crane Birding Map, and plan a trip across the Sacramento Valley to see the great variety of birds found on the various refuges, wildlife areas, and state, county and city parks. See our Wildlife page to find recent sightings, waterfowl survey summaries, wildlife checklists, and other information.
GO FOR A BIKE RIDE (SEASONALLY AVAILABLE): Bicycling is only allowed on a limited number of trails and roads, for a limited time during the year (May 15- Aug 15). To learn more about where bicycling is permitted, click the link.
GEOCACHING: Combine nature and technology on our high-tech scavenger hunt.
GO FISHING: Fishing is only available on Packer Lake (on the Packer Unit of Sacramento River NWR), and on the Sacramento River.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION:
Thousands of students and youth participate in our educational programs each year.
The Sacramento NWR has a $6 entrance fee. Fees collected stay at the Complex and are used for the visitor services program. Visit the Passes and Permits page for more detailed information on the entrance fees. The Colusa NWR, Sutter NWR, Sacramento River NWR, and Llano Seco Unit of the North Central Valley WMA have no entrance fees.
Find out what wildlife are here and when it is the best time to see various species. Learn more.
Injured Wildlife: The Complex is not equipped to take in or care for injured or orphaned animals. Please leave young wildlife where they are found! The parents often know the young are still there and will continue to feed and care for them. In Butte, Glenn and Colusa Counties the Valley Oak Veterinary Center on Dr MLK Parkway in Chico accepts wildlife. In the Sacramento metropolitan area contact the Wildlife Care Association at 916-965-WILD(9453).See a list of rehabilitators in CA
The Complex is committed to providing equal opportunities for all of our visitors. Refuge-specific brochures are available in Braille and audio versions. All tour routes, platforms, and public buildings have access for people with disabilities. The north loop of the Wetland Walk Trail is wheelchair accessible. The restrooms at Sacramento and Colusa NWRs and the Llano Seco Unit are accessible. For information on hunting, visit the hunting accessibility page. A CD is available in the visitor center describing the auto tour of Sacramento NWR.
DIRECTIONS AND MAPS....
Directional Maps:• Sacramento NWR • Delevan NWR • Colusa NWR • Sutter NWR • Llano Seco Unit • Sacramento River NWR
The surrounding communities offer a variety of amenities for visitors. Visit the following webpages for more information about restaurants, lodging, and other activities. Camping is not permitted on the Complex.• Willows Chamber of Commerce• Colusa County Chamber of Commerce (including the Colusa-Sacramento River SRA)• Chico Chamber of Commerce• Orland Chamber of Commerce• Black Butte Lake National Recreation Area (offers camping)• Mendocino National Forest • Local California State Parks with camping: Colusa-Sacramento SRA and Woodson Bridge SRA• Local California Department of Fish and Wildlife Areas (no camping permitted): Upper Butte Basin WA, Colusa Bypass WA, Gray Lodge WA, and Sutter Bypass WA
Dogs are permitted on trails on a 6 foot leash. Spring and summer are tick season. Carry in and carry out - the Complex is a carry in/carry out facility. This means any trash or items you bring in with you, must leave with you. Please leave only footprints, and take only photos and memories!
The weather in the Sacramento Valley can range from extreme heat (100+) in the summer to dense fog or blustery winds in the winter. Often there is spotted fog in the Valley. If traveling from the Bay or Sacramento area, feel free to call the Complex to find out if it is foggy here. Check your local news stations to determine what to expect or check The Weather Channel or the National Weather Service (these sites will link to the weather in the town of Willows which is the closest town to Sacramento NWR).
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988Phone: 530-934-2801Fax: 530-934-7814TTY: 711email: sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov