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, 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
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:
Additional special use permits are required for commercial photography use, scientific research, and access to closed areas. Visit our Passes and Permits page for more detailed 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.
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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NEWS on DROUGHT IMPACTS - 2022-23
Due to drought conditions at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, waterfowl hunting season opener was delayed and other recreational opportunities were impacted.
CHECK HERE FOR UPDATES TO VISITOR USE AREAS AND ACTIVITIES (updated January 4)...we will post information as soon as it becomes available:
- FALL FLOOD-UPS =
- Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa and Sutter NWRs received enough water to flood 50% of their wetlands this year but have been able to flood additional acres with recent rains
- Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA - Llano Seco Unit is 100% flooded
- HUNTING =
- RESERVATIONS - UPDATE = Due to the delayed hunting opener, reservations were delayed, but you can now apply for waterfowl hunting reservations for Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa and Sutter NWRs through the CDFW online License Service, CDFW License Agents, CDFW License Sales Office. Deadline to apply is 17 days before each hunt.
- Sacramento, Delevan, Colusa NWRs opened to hunting on November 19, 2022 at a reduced quota.
- Sutter NWR opened to hunting December 10, 2022 at a reduced quota, and entry was by lottery/first-come-first-serve until December 24, 2022 when reservations became available through CDFW (see above)
- Sacramento River NWR = the hunting areas of Sacramento River NWR remain open.
- AUTO TOURS = the auto tours at Sacramento and Colusa NWRs are open.
- Most, but not all, of the ponds along the auto tours are flooded.
- The pond at the Colusa observation deck was flooded in late November and the Colusa photo blind pond was flooded in mid December
- Most, but not all, of the ponds along the auto tours are flooded.
- TRAILS = the trails at Sacramento, Colusa, and Sacramento River NWRs plus the Llano Seco Unit are currently open. Spring trails at Sutter and Sacramento NWRs are anticipated to be open as usual from Feb 15 - Jun 30, 2023.
- PHOTOGRAPHY BLINDS =
- Photo Blinds #1 and #2 at Sacramento NWR are available
- Photo Blinds #3 and #4 at Colusa NWR and Delevan NWR are NOT be available due to lack of water
- **CLOSURES** = due to drought conditions, it is unknown what impacts will be to wildlife health, concentrations and distribution. We will be monitoring waterfowl populations and disease outbreaks (avian botulism, avian cholera and avian influenza) closely, and MAY DEEM IT NECESSARY AT ANY POINT TO CLOSE OR REDUCE PUBLIC USE to minimize disturbance and reduce waterfowl concentrations.
- Click here to view the News Release
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