Visit Us

Welcome to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge!   

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge is just one of the 5 National Wildlife Refuges and 3 Wildlife Management Areas that make up the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Colusa NWR offers a wide variety of recreational activities for visitors: a 3-mile driving tour, 1-mile walking trail, hunting, photography and more! 

collage of 12 symbols representing visitor activities
Image Details

PLAN YOUR VISIT <-- Click here to find all the information you need to visit the Complex.....
 

      • ACTIVITIES
            • visitor center
            • auto tours
            • trails
            • photography
            • bicycling
            • hunting
            • environmental education
      • HOURS
      • FEES AND PERMITS
      • RULES AND POLICIES
      • ACCESSIBILITY
      • DIRECTIONS
      • OTHER LOCAL INFORMATION

Other Facilities in the Complex

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, with headquarters at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge Complex is comprised of 5 National Wildlife Refuges (Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa, Sutter and Sacramento River NWRs) and 3 Wildlife Management Areas (Willow Creek-Lurline, Butte Sink and Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMAs).

Large flock of Ross's and snow geese in flight against a blue sky
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is part of the SACRAMENTO NWR COMPLEX. Sacramento NWR offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including wildlife viewing, photography, hiking, hunting and so much more. The Visitor Center for the Complex is located at Sacramento NWR, where you can find...
National Wildlife Refuge
Willows,CA
six pintails in a courtship flight
Delevan National Wildlife Refuge
Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is part of the SACRAMENTO NWR COMPLEX. Delevan NWR is mostly closed to the public, but does offer hunting and limited photography.
National Wildlife Refuge
Willows,CA
flock of dunlin and dowitchers in flight above wetland surface
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge is part of the SACRAMENTO NWR COMPLEX. Colusa NWR offers many visitor activities: drive the auto tour, take photos, watch wildlife, go for a hike, or take part in a waterfowl hunt.
National Wildlife Refuge
Willows,CA
white-fronted geese standing in pond with reeds in background
Sutter National Wildlife Refuge
Sutter National Wildlife Refuge is part of the SACRAMENTO NWR COMPLEX. Sutter NWR is located about 50 miles north of the metropolitan area of Sacramento, and offers limited wildlife viewing, hunting, and seasonal trails.
National Wildlife Refuge
Sutter,CA
black tailed deer in grass with white geese flying in background
Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
SACRAMENTO RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE is part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Sacramento River NWR is made up of 30 different units that lie between Red Bluff and Princeton. Twenty-four of the units are partially or entirely open to the public, providing a variety of hiking...
National Wildlife Refuge
Willows,CA
eight sandhill cranes stand in a shallow wetland with grasses in the background
Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area
Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area is part of the SACRAMENTO NWR COMPLEX. Steve Thompson NCV WMA consists primarily of conservation easements on privately-owned wetlands, but also includes one 1,732-acre, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-owned property known as the Llano...
National Wildlife Refuge
Willows,CA
ducks and geese flying in air and in water. mountains in background
Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area
Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area is part of the SACRAMENTO NWR COMPLEX. Butte Sink WMA does not have any lands open to the public. Most of the Butte Sink WMA consists of privately-owned properties under conservation easement. One property, known as the Butte Sink Unit, is owned by the U.S....
National Wildlife Refuge
Willows,CA
ducks and geese mostly in water with 9 flying. trees in background
Willow Creek-Lurline Wildlife Management Area
Willow Creek-Lurline Wildlife Management Area is part of the SACRAMENTO NWR COMPLEX. Willow Creek-Lurline WMA consists solely of privately-owned properties under conservation easement, and therefore has no public access.
National Wildlife Refuge
Willows,CA

Rules and Policies

Plan Your Visit  <-- Please see the Rules and Policies section on our Plan Your Visit page

Locations

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
(530) 934-2801
C/O Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex752 County Road 99WWillows,CA95988-9639
Driving Directions

Colusa NWR Auto Tour and Walking Trail:

Traveling north or south on Interstate 5:

  • Exit at Highway 20, in Williams
  • Travel 6.7 miles east on Highway 20
  • Turn right onto O'Hair Road
  • Follow the road to the visitor area at Colusa NWR
  • Click here for a map with directions
     

Parts of Colusa NWR are also viewable via:

The auto tour route and walking trail off of Highway 20. 

  • From Abel Road (county-maintained road)*
  • From Ohm Road (county-maintained road)*
  • From Ware Road (county-maintained road)*

*Please be cautious when viewing from public roads as they are open to public traffic and may have soft shoulders. 

Colusa NWR Hunter Check Station:

Check station is approximately 11.4 miles southeast from Williams (Hwy 20 exit) and 7.6 miles east from Husted Rd exit

From Interstate 5, heading south:


From Interstate 5, heading north:

  • exit at Husted Rd (9 miles north of Arbuckle)
  • go 1.2 miles north on Husted Rd
  • go 2.9 miles east on Abel Rd
  • go 2 miles south on Lonestar Rd
  • go 1.5 miles east on Ware Rd to Check Station gate
  • Click here for a map with directions
Hours
Colusa NWR Auto Tour and Trail hours
Daily, year-round.
From one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.