Whether you like to hike, photograph, birdwatch, hunt, bicycle, or learn something new at the Visitor Center, there is something for everyone to do at the Sacramento NWR Complex.
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- Click on the ACTIVITIES below to find details about what the Complex has to offer.
- SCROLL DOWN to find information on hours, fees/permits, rules/policies, directions, maps and more.
ACTIVITIES
Visitor Center Auto Tours Trails Bicycling Photography Hunting Environmental Education
- Sacramento NWR:
- Visitor Center (including bookstore, info kiosks, native garden, picnic area, restrooms)
- Auto Tour (6-miles) with 2 Observation Decks and restroom
- Trails (2-miles Wetland Walk, open all year)
- Trails (6-miles Seasonal Trails, open Feb 15 - Jun 30))
- Photography (including 2 Photo Blinds, by reservation)
- Wildlife Viewing
- Bicycling (limited to Auto Tour between May 15- Aug 15)
- Environmental Education Program
- Hunting (in designated hunt area)
- Delevan NWR:
- Photography Blind (by reservation)
- Wildlife Viewing is limited to the bordering county roads (Maxwell & Four Mile Rd). Delevan NWR is otherwise closed to public admittance.
- Hunting (in designated hunt area)
- Colusa NWR:
- Visitor Area (including info kiosk, restroom, native garden, picnic area)
- Auto Tour (3-miles) with an Observation Deck
- Trail (1-mile round trip, open all year)
- Photography (including 1 Photo Blind, by reservation)
- Wildlife Viewing
- Bicycling (limited to Auto Tour between May 15 - Aug 15)
- Hunting (in designated hunt area)
- Sutter NWR:
- Trails (6-miles Seasonal Trails, open Feb 15 - Jun 30)
- Photography is limited to Hughes Rd (other than Seasonal Trails). Sutter NWR is otherwise closed to public admittance.
- Wildlife Viewing is limited to Hughes Rd (other than Seasonal Trails). Sutter NWR is otherwise closed to public admittance.
- Hunting (in designated hunt area)
- Sacramento River NWR:
- Trails (open all year) on eight different units
- Photography
- Wildlife Viewing
- Bicycling (limited to designated trails, open May 15 - Aug 15) on seven units
- Fishing (Packer Lake and along Sacramento River)
- Hunting (in designated areas)
- Llano Seco Unit (Steve Thompson N. Central Valley WMA):
- Visitor Area (including Observation Deck, info kiosk, restroom)
- Trail (open all year, 1-mile round trip) with an Observation Mound
- Photography
- Wildlife Viewing
HOURS
Sacramento NWR:
Visitor Center/Headquarters = currently closed due to construction
• Winter hours (November-February) = 9 am- 4 pm daily
• Spring hours (March-October) = 9 am- 4 pm Monday-Friday*
*closed on federal holidays
Auto Tour and Wetland Walk (open year-round) =
• 1 hr before sunrise - 1 hr after sunset
Seasonal Trails (open Feb 15 - June 30) =
• 1 hr before sunrise - 1 hr after sunset
Delevan NWR:
General viewing is limited to the bordering county roads
Colusa NWR:
Auto Tour and Trail (open year-round) =
• 1 hr before sunrise - 1 hr after sunset
Sutter NWR:
Seasonal Trails (open Feb 15 - June 30) =
• 1 hr before sunrise - 1 hr after sunset
Llano Seco Unit of Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA:
Trail (open year-round) =
• 1 hr before sunrise - 1 hr after sunset
Sacramento River NWR:
Trails (open year-round) =
• 2 hrs before sunrise - 1.5 hrs after sunset
Hunting Areas: See Hunting Webpage
FEES AND PERMITS
Sacramento NWR:
An entrance pass is required at Sacramento NWR. Valid passes include refuge passes ($6 daily pass/$12 annual pass), current year Federal Duck Stamp, or an Interagency America the Beautiful Pass. Visit our Passes and Permits page for more detailed information.
Colusa NWR, Sutter NWR (seasonal trails), Sacramento River NWR, Llano Seco Unit:
Entrance passes are not currently required for admission into the Visitor Use Areas of Colusa NWR, Sutter NWR (open Feb 15-Jun 30), Sacramento River NWR, or the Llano Seco Unit.
Special Use Permits:
Certain activities, such as RESEARCH PROJECTS, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES (for-profit guided tours, photography, filming, etc) and LARGE WILDLIFE-ORIENTED ORGANIZED EVENTS (birding, wildlife watching, festivals) require a SPECIAL USE PERMIT if deemed compatible with the USFWS Mission and Refuge Purpose, and approved by the Refuge. LARGE PRIVATE EVENTS such as weddings, memorials and parties are not allowed at Sacramento NWR Complex. For more information, contact the Complex Headquarters to speak with the refuge manager of the area where the proposed activity will occur: (530)934-2801. Visit our Passes and Permits page for more fee and permits information.
Hunting:
Special licenses, validations & passes are required for hunting. Visit the Hunting Permits and Regulations page for more detailed information on entering the hunt areas.
RULES AND POLICIES
Visitors to National Wildlife Refuges must comply with all applicable local, State, and Federal regulations and signs
Auto Tours:
While on the Auto Tour Routes (Sacramento NWR and Colusa NWR), visitors are required to stay in their vehicles. The Sacramento NWR Auto Tour has 3 park-and-stretch areas to allow visitors to get out of their vehicles. This is a citable offense with fines up to $275.
Closed Zones:
National Wildlife Refuges were created for wildlife. Areas throughout the refuge are designated as closed or restricted-use areas to protect wildlife or for public safety. Please read and adhere to the regulations identified by signs.
OPEN: Areas open to public use will be posted as such. Road entrances to public use areas have a large brown refuge sign, open gate, and posted hours. Areas open to the public include designated Auto Tour Routes, Nature Trails, and Parking Lots. Areas open to the public are listed on the refuge public use maps – follow the “MAPS” tab on the right side of this web page. Public use areas are DAY USE ONLY.
CLOSED: Areas closed to the public include all property that is not explicitly posted as an area open to the public. Closed area boundaries are posted along accessible areas with signs that may list the following: “UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED”; “AREA BEYOND THIS SIGN CLOSED All public entry prohibited.” Visitors must stay out of posted closed areas. Visitors that enter posted closed areas are trespassing and are subject to law enforcement action including citations.
Hunting:
Hunting is allowed in designated areas of Sacramento NWR, Delevan NWR, Colusa NWR, Sutter NWR, and Sacramento River NWR with appropriate licenses and permits. Visit the Sacramento NWR Complex hunting page and the Sacramento River NWR hunting page for more information.
Dogs/Pets:
Dogs are allowed where visitors are allowed. Dogs must be on-leash (no more than 6 ft long) while on trails or parking lots, except for authorized hunting activities under the immediate control of a licensed hunter. Owners/handlers are responsible for disposal of dog droppings on refuge public use concentration areas such as trails and parking lots. National Wildlife Refuges provide habitat for native wildlife. Pets (including waterfowl) are not allowed to be released on the refuge.
Speed:
The on-refuge speed limit is 15 mph.
Accessibility:
The Complex is committed to providing equal opportunities for all of our visitors. Refuge-specific brochures are available in Braille and audio versions. A CD is available in the Visitor Center describing the Auto Tour of the Sacramento NWR. 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.
Camping and Fires:
Camping is not permitted on the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, with the exception of the following: 1) on the Sacramento River, camping is permitted on gravel bars for up to 7 days during a 30 day period, and 2) for waterfowl hunting, an overnight stay is permitted inside a vehicle or RV in designated areas; tents are prohibited. No person may build or maintain fires except for the use of portable gas stoves on Sacramento River gravel bars and in Hunter Check Station parking lots.
Fishing:
Fishing is only permitted on Packer Lake (Sacramento River NWR) and on the Sacramento River. Follow state regulations.
Bicycles:
Bicycling is only permitted on the following areas from May 15 - August 15: Sacramento NWR Auto Tour, Colusa NWR Auto Tour, and Sacramento River NWR trails of the following units: Rio Vista, Pine Creek, Capay, Sul Norte, Packer, and Drumheller. Bicycling is otherwise not permitted. Visit the Bicycling page for more information.
PERMITTED Activities:
- Use of posted Auto Tour Routes (Sacramento NWR, Colusa NWR)
- Use of posted Nature Trails (Sacramento NWR, Colusa NWR, Sutter NWR, Sacramento River NWR, Llano Seco Unit)
- Use of posted Hunt Areas within approved hunting season (Sacramento NWR, Delevan NWR, Colusa NWR, Sutter NWR, Sacramento River NWR) - please see out Hunting Rules and Regulations page
- Use of posted Parking Lots
- Pets on leash when outside vehicle
- Day use only
- Bicycling ONLY in designated areas May 15 - August 15
- Special Activities, ONLY by pre-approved Special Use Permit: research activities, commercial activities (filming, photography, guided tours), large wildlife-oriented events (birding, wildlife watching, festivals)
PROHIBITED Activities:
ALL areas of the refuges are CLOSED to public entry unless explicitly posted as a public-use area. Visitors must comply with ALL posted rules and regulations, in addition to what is listed below. Except where otherwise permitted/posted:
- No trespassing in posted closed areas
- No entry behind closed gates or fences
- No night use
- No large private events (weddings, memorials, parties)
- No travel off of designated public use road or trail
- No parking outside of designated parking lots
- No walking on Auto Tour Routes
- No pets off leash when outside of vehicles
- No dog field trials or dog training that involves being off-leash
- No abandonment of wild or domestic animals
- No horseback riding
- No camping
- No fires or open flame cooking grills
- No weapons (except shotguns used during lawful hunting activities as authorized by permit)
- No discharge of firearms (except during lawful hunting activities as authorized by permit)
- No take, disturbance or collection of wildlife or plants
- No search for, or removal of, objects of antiquity or other valued objects
- No prospecting or mining
- No littering
- No removal of any property from refuge
- No feeding wildlife
- No spotlighting
- No interference with persons engaged in authorized activities
- No alcohol or illegal drugs, including marijuana
- No drone activity
ACCESSIBILITY
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.
• A CD is available in the visitor center describing the auto tour of Sacramento NWR.
• 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.
HOW TO GET HERE
Directional Maps:
• Sacramento NWR
• Delevan NWR
• Colusa NWR
• Sutter NWR
• Llano Seco Unit
• Sacramento River NWR
OTHER TIDBITS
• Dogs: are permitted on trails on a 6 foot leash.
• Ticks: spring and summer are tick season.
• Trash: the Complex is a carry in/carry out facility. This means anything you bring in with you, must leave with you.
• Walk Softly: Please leave only footprints, and take only photos and memories!
WILDLIFE
Wildlife and Habitat <-- Click here to learn more about the Wildlife and Habitats of Sacramento NWR Complex, and to learn about how our Refuge biologists conduct their monthly wildlife surveys.
Waterfowl Surveys <-- Click here to see how many waterfowl use the Complex each month. Refuge biologists conduct wildlife surveys once a month, mid-month. Summaries are available for 2008-present, and the current year's surveys are updated at the end of each month.
WEATHER
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 (search Willows, CA or by zip 95988). View the live weather feed data collected on the Sacramento NWR.
LOCAL INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
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
CONTACT US
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex
752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988
Phone: 530-934-2801
Fax: 530-934-7814
TTY: 711
email: sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov
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