sheep grazing in tall grasses with bulrush and pond in background
Grazing Opportunities at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Willows, California, has opportunities for grazing in Tehama, Butte, Glenn and Colusa Counties. There are 14 grazing units available covering 6,214 total acres of grassland and/or riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian habitat, each with between 240 and 4,628 acres available for cattle or between 29 and 1,586 acres available for sheep. Agreements will provide for grazing rights for a period of up to 5 years. Learn more about these opportunities.

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge 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.
Visitor Center Remodel

Beginning January 17, 2022 the Sacramento NWR Office and Visitor Center will be closed for a major remodeling effort. During the remodel, the Visitor Center, public restrooms and outdoor interpretive kiosks ​adjacent to the office will be closed to the public. Portable restrooms will be provided at the Visitor Center parking lot. The parking lot, hiking trails, and auto tour route (including the restroom at the viewing deck) will remain open throughout construction. During construction visitors will still be able to call the office (530-934-2801) with questions regarding visiting the Refuge. Construction is slated to be completed in the Spring of 2023. 

The Sacramento NWR Office and Visitor Center remodel project will include an expanded Visitor Center with new interpretive displays, a new environmental education classroom, and updated office facilities and meeting space for refuge staff and partners.

POOL 2 EXTENSION:  the Pool 2 Extension of the Auto Tour will be closed for 2022.  Pool 2 will be drained in order to repair extensive erosion along the road/levee.

Latest News

8 male wild turkeys walking in grass
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Picture of person looking through binoculars from the Colusa NWR Observation Deck.
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A cloudy, orange sky at dawn over a marsh, with mountains barely visible on the distant horizon
Recreation
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This is one in a series of articles in which U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff members reflect on favorite photos they have taken at national wildlife refuges. It features former refuge manager STEVE EMMONS and several national wildlife refuges north of Sacramento, California.
A large white bird soaring in blue sky with its long white-and-black wings spread the width of the photo
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Refuge Animals From A to Z
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Visit Us

collage of 12 symbols representing visitor activities
Image Details

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
      • ACCESSIBILITY
      • DIRECTIONS
      • OTHER LOCAL INFORMATION

VISITOR QUICK-LINKS for Sacramento NWR Complex:
 

Maps with
Driving
Directions:

Trail Maps/
Visitor
Leaflets:

Guides &
Checklists

Hunt Maps:

Refuge Home
Pages:
Sacramento NWR
COMPLEX (Complex
includes all of the
refuges, below)		 (see specific
refuges, below)		 -TRAILS page
-AUTO TOUR page
-BICYLCING page
-PHOTOGRAPHY page
-ENV EDU page
-River NWR MAPS page		 Wildlife Checklist -HUNTING page
-Riv NWR HUNTING page		 PLAN YOUR VISIT
 
Sacramento NWR Directions - Sac NWR -Visitor Maps -Sac NWR
-Wetlands Walk guide		 Wildlife Checklist Hunt Map - Sac NWR Sacramento NWR
Delevan NWR Directions - Del NWR - Wildlife Checklist Hunt Map - Del NWR Delevan NWR
Colusa NWR Directions - Cls NWR Visitor Map - Cls NWR Wildlife Checklist Hunt Map - Cls NWR Colusa NWR
Sutter NWR Directions - Sut NWR Visitor Map - Sut NWR Wildlife Checklist Hunt Map - Sut NWR Sutter NWR
Sacramento
River NWR		 Riv NWR MAPS page Riv NWR MAPS page Wildlife Checklist Riv NWR MAPS page Sacramento River
NWR
Steve Thompson
North Central Valley
WMA (Llano Seco)		 Directions - Llano Seco Visitor Map - Llano Seco Wildlife Checklist - Steve Thompson
NCV WMA
Butte Sink WMA - - - - Butte Sink WMA
Willow Creek/
Lurline WMA		 - - - - Willow Creek-Lurline
WMA

 

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      white geese flying in air with rainbow in background
      Image Details

      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 primarily of wetlands, with some 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!

      Notice of Cooperative Agricultural Opportunity:  

      Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex is headquartered in Willows, California, with properties available for cooperative agricultural opportunities for grazing in Tehama, Butte, Glenn and Colusa Counties.  Cooperators will have up to 6,214 total acres of grassland and/or riparian habitat, with between 240 - 4,628 acres available for cattle and between 29 - 1,586 acres available for sheep, depending which of the 14 grazing units for which they apply, for a period of up to 5 years.  To be considered, applicants must complete and submit application materials (including Special Conditions of Use, Cooperative Agricultural Opportunity Application, and Commercial Activities Special Use Permit Application) which can be found, along with further details on the refuge website...click on this link: Notice of Cooperative Agricultural Opportunity. 

      What We Do

      tractor mowing levee road with mountains in background
      Image Details
      • 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

      snow goose portrait
      Image Details

      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