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 maps/brochures, exciting programs, guided tours, exhibits, and a bookstore.
LIVE WEB-CAM
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- What's the Weather Like? 
- Are there Birds at the Refuge? 
Check out the LIVE WEB-CAM at Sacramento NWR, brought to you by Friends of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.  Click on their link to find out how you can get involved! --> www.friendsofsnwr.org

 

VISITOR CENTER REMODEL

Conceptual Drawing of new visitor center with views of the west and south side of building, and overhead view with and without roof
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The Sacramento NWR Office and Visitor Center is currently CLOSED for a major remodeling effort. During the remodel, the Visitor Center and its restrooms are closed to the public. A portable restroom is available at the Visitor Center Parking Lot, and the Viewing Platform restroom remains open. The parking lot, trails, and auto tour will remain open throughout construction. Construction is anticipated to be completed late Fall 2023, and includes an expanded Visitor Center with new interpretive displays, a new environmental education classroom, updated offices and meeting spaces for refuge staff and partners.
 

FOUND AN INJURED/ABANDONED ANIMAL?

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The refuge does NOT rescue, rehabilitate or accept injured or orphaned animals.  If you need assistance, please contact a licensed care facility near you:
- Chico, CA vicinity:  Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Sacramento, CA vicinity:  Wildlife Care Association
- For a statewide list of care facilities, visit the CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife's Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities webpage.

Wildlife viewing from the Observation Platform at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Plan Your Visit
Learn about Birdwatching, Photography, Hiking, Biking, Hunting and Education at Sacramento NWR Complex

Visit Us

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Sacramento 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. Sacramento NWR offers a wide variety of recreational activities for visitors. With a 6-mile driving tour, 2-mile walking trail, and programs like hunting and photography, there's something for everyone at the Sacramento NWR! 

Find out more about Sacramento NWR by exploring the menu to the left (desktop) or hamburger menu top-right (handheld device), or see our Plan Your Visit page (link below) to find everything the Complex has to offer.

 

 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

VISITOR QUICK-LINKS for Sacramento NWR Complex

Refuge
Home
Pages:

Maps with
Driving
Directions:

Trail Maps/
Visitor
Leaflets:

Wildlife 
Checklists
& Surveys

Hunt
Maps:

PLAN YOUR VISIt to the complex
(Complex includes
all refuges, below) 		(see specific
refuges, below)		-TRAILS page
-AUTO TOUR page
-BICYLCING page
-PHOTOGRAPHY page
-EDUCATORS page
-River NWR MAPS page		-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		-HUNTING page
-Riv NWR HUNTING page
Sacramento NWRDirections - Sac NWR-Visitor Maps -Sac NWR
-Wetlands Walk guide		-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		Hunt Map - Sac NWR
Delevan NWRDirections - Del NWR--Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		Hunt Map - Del NWR
Colusa NWRDirections - Cls NWRVisitor Map - Cls NWR-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		Hunt Map - Cls NWR
Sutter NWRDirections - Sut NWRVisitor Map - Sut NWR-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		Hunt Map - Sut NWR
Sacramento River NWRRiv NWR MAPS pageRiv NWR MAPS page-Wildlife ChecklistRiv NWR MAPS page
Llano Seco Unit (STNCV WMA)Directions - Llano SecoVisitor Map - Llano Seco-Wildlife Checklist
-Waterfowl Surveys		-
Butte Sink WMA---Waterfowl Surveys-
Willow Creek/Lurline WMA----

 

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

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      The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is located about 70 miles north of the metropolitan area of Sacramento and 7 miles south of the town of Willows in Glenn and Colusa Counties. The refuge consists of 10,819 acres of wetlands, grasslands and riparian riparian
      Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

      Learn more about riparian       habitats. 

      Click on the link below to learn more about us!

      What We Do

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      • Resource Management

      To help plants and wildlife, Refuge staff uses a variety of habitat management techniques to maintain, recover or enhance plant and wildlife values. Refuge staff carefully consider any management techniques and employ them in varying degrees according to the situation.

      • Conservation and Partnerships

      The Complex is involved in many conservation endeavors, including Comprehensive Conservation Plans, Private Landowner Programs, and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act.

      Click on the link below to learn more about what we do!

      Our Organization

      National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997:The NWRS Improvement Act defines a unifying mission for all refuges, including a process for determining compatible uses on refuges, and requiring that each refuge be managed according to a CCP. The NWRS Improvement  Act expressly states that wildlife conservation is the priority of System lands and that the Secretary shall ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of refuge lands are maintained. Each refuge must be managed to fulfill the specific purposes for which the refuge was established and the System mission. The first priority of each refuge is to conserve, manage, and if needed, restore fish and wildlife populations and habitats according to its purpose.

      A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 560 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
      Program
      Washington,DC

      Our Species

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      Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is best known for migratory waterfowl. Waterfowl are present September through April and numbers regularly peak at over 500,000 ducks and 250,000 geese. Sacramento NWR is an important wintering grounds for Tule Greater White-fronted Geese.  The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex provides nearly 70,000 acres of wetland, grassland, and riparian riparian
      Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

      Learn more about riparian       habitats for a wide array of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, waterbirds, songbirds, reptiles, and mammals.  The Complex currently supports nearly 300 species of birds.

      Species and Habitats  <-- Click here to learn more about our species and habitats!

      Wildlife Checklist  <-- Click here to view our Wildlife Checklist