Hike the Trails
at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

A variety of trails awaits exploration on the refuges of the Sacramento NWR Complex!  Wetlands, grasslands, vernal pools and riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian
forests provide different experiences throughout the year.  Come explore....

Sacramento NWR Home Page  <--- Click here to return to the Sacramento NWR Home Page

Sacramento NWR

Wetland Walk - These 2-miles of trails depart from the Visitor Center located on Hwy 99W just 6 miles south of the city of Willows.  The Wetland Walk will take you through wetlands, vernal pools and riparian habitat. Grab an interpretive booklet (pdf) and learn about the Complex and its wildlife and habitats. The north loop is disabled-accessible. 

  • Parking
  • Restroom
  • Information kiosk
  • Potable water is not available so make sure to bring your own
  • entrance fee 
  • Download Map/Brochure (pdf)

Seasonal Trails - Open only from February 15 - June 30, this area is accessed from Parking Lot D, on County Road 68.  This seasonal area provides up to 6-miles of trails that meander through wetlands and vernal pools.  

  • Parking
  • Restroom
  • Information kiosk
  • In-ground blinds for photography (waders required)
  • Potable water is not available so make sure to bring your own
  • no fees
  • Download Map/Brochure (pdf)

Colusa NWR

This 1-mile trail (1/2 mile out and back) begins near the Visitor Area located on O'Hair Road, off of Hwy 20 just 2 miles west of the city of Colusa.  The trail is a shaded walk through riparian habitat that provides glimpses into the adjacent wetlands. Near the end of the trail is a small boardwalk where visitors can overlook a wetland and catch views of waterfowl. This is a great spot to see wood ducks during the spring and summer. Trail begins near the Observation Deck. 

  • Parking
  • Restroom
  • Information kiosk
  • Observation Deck and Walkway
  • Picnic tables
  • Potable water is not available so make sure to bring your own
  • no fees
  • Download Map/Brochure (pdf)

Llano Seco Unit of the Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA

This 1-mile trail (1/2 mile out and back) departs from the Observation Deck at the Visitor Area located on 7-Mile Lane, just 15 minutes southwest of the city of Chico.  The trail takes you through the wetlands to an Observation Mound with a picnic table. From October - February you will find great viewing of sandhill cranes and waterfowl. There is very limited shade during the summer. 

  • Parking
  • Restroom
  • Information kiosk
  • Observation Deck and Mound
  • Picnic Table
  • Potable water is not available so make sure to bring your own
  • no fees 
  • Download Map/Brochure(pdf)

Sutter NWR

Seasonal Trails are only open from February 15 - June 30, and are accessed from Parking Lot B on the Bypass Levee Road (off of Hughes Road), south of the city of Sutter. This seasonal area provides up to 6-miles of trails that go through a long riparian corridor and wander through seasonal wetlands. The riparian section offers great viewing of songbirds and raptors. Waterfowl are present until wetlands dry up in March/April.

  • Parking
  • Restroom
  • Information kiosk
  • Potable water is not available so make sure to bring your own
  • no fees  
  • Download Map/Brochure(pdf)

Sacramento River NWR

Visit our Unit Maps and Recreation page to find details, maps and brochures about the units of the Sacramento River NWR.  All areas have riparian habitat that offer great viewing of songbirds between March and late May. 

  • Parking
  • Restroom (Sul Norte Unit only)
  • Information kiosks
  • Potable water is not available so make sure to bring your own
  • no fees
  • Bicycles permitted on trails from May 15 - August 15, except at Ord Bend
  • 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.

Eight of Sacramento River NWR's units have trails:

  1. Rio Vista - on South Avenue east of Corning; 6.5 miles of marked trails.  Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
  2. Pine Creek - on Highway 32 west of Hamilton City; 3 miles of marked trails.  Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
  3. Capay - on Road 23, off of Highway 45 south of Hamilton City; 3 miles of marked trails.  Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
  4. Ord Bend - on Ord Ferry Road just west of Sacramento River; 1 mile of marked trails.  Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
  5. Sul Norte - on Highway 162 west of Butte City; 2.5 miles of marked trails.  Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
  6. Codora - access through the Sul Norte parking area; 4.5 miles of marked trails.  Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
  7. Packer - on Highway 45 north of Princeton; 1.5 miles of marked trails.  Download Map/Brochure(pdf)
  8. Drumheller - on Road 67 southeast of Butte City; 0.4 miles of marked trails.  Download Map/Brochure(pdf)

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.