Trails
Visit our Unit Maps and Recreation page to find details, maps and brochures about the units of the Sacramento River NWR.
Eight of Sacramento River NWR's units have trails:
- Rio Vista - on South Avenue east of Corning; 6.5 miles of marked trails
- Pine Creek - on Highway 32 west of Hamilton City; 3 miles of marked trails
- Capay - on Road 23, off of Highway 45 south of Hamilton City; 3 miles of marked trails
- Ord Bend - on Ord Ferry Road just west of Sacramento River; 1 mile of marked trails
- Sul Norte - on Highway 162 west of Butte City; 2.5 miles of marked trails
- Codora - access through the Sul Norte parking area; 4.5 miles of marked trails
- Packer - on Highway 45 north of Princeton; 1.5 miles of marked trails
- Drumheller - on Road 67 southeast of Butte City; 0.4 miles of marked trails
Important Notes:
- Bicycles: from May 15 - August 15 bicycles are permitted on the trails except at Ord Bend.
- Hunting: some units allow hunting between August 1 - May 31, so check the table on our Unit Maps and Recreation page if you are concerned about user-overlap.
- Restrooms: restrooms are only available at Sul Norte unit and Llano Seco unit.
- Wildlife Viewing: all areas have riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian habitat that offer great viewing of songbirds between March and late May.
Be Prepared! These are natural and wild areas. You may encounter ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, yellow-jackets, bees, poison oak, stinging nettle, poison hemlock, rattle snakes (Sac River NWR) and mountain lions.
The Packer Unit trail is about 1.5 miles and takes you through thick riparian habitat. The entrance to this unit is on Highway 45 north of Princeton. See brochure for more information.
Trail Length (mi)
1.49
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Route Type
Lollipop
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
The Ord Bend Unit trail is on Ord Ferry Road just west of Sacramento River. It offers about 1 mile of marked trails. See the brochure for more information.
Trail Length (mi)
0.78
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
The Pine Creek Unit trail is on Highway 32 just west of the Sacramento River. It offers about 2 miles of marked trails. See brochure for more information.
Trail Length (mi)
0.49
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
The Llano Seco Unit trail is part of the Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area. This 1-mile trail (1/2 mile out and back) departs from the Observation Platform at the parking area, and takes you to a second Observation Platform. Very limited shade during the summer. Great viewing of sandhill cranes and waterfowl from October - February.
Trail Length (mi)
0.83
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
The Capay Unit trail is on Road 23 which is off of Highway 45, south of Hamilton City. It offers about 3 miles of marked trails and has view of the Sacramento River from the 3rd parking area. See brochure for more information.
Trail Length (mi)
0.31
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
The Rio Vista Unit trail is on South Avenue east of Corning. It offers about 6 miles of marked trails and has a view of the Sacramento River. See brochure for more information.
Trail Length (mi)
2.23
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
The Drumheller Unit trail is on Road 67 east of Butte City (from Highway 162 go south on Road Y). It offers about 0.5 mile of marked trail and has a view of the Sacramento River. See brochure for more information.
Trail Length (mi)
0.45
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly
The Sul Norte Unit trail is on Highway 162 west of Sacramento River, just west of Butte City. It offers about 2.5 miles of marked trails. See brochure for more information. The Codora Unit trail is on Highway 162 west of Sacramento River....access through Sul Norte parking area; 4.5 miles of trails. See brochure for more information.
Trail Length (mi)
1.26
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
Kid friendly