Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge Overview

California's longest river makes a splash with visitors thanks to easy access for swimmers and boaters. Kayaks, canoes, rafts, and power boats all ply these deceptively tranquil waters that meander down the Sacramento Valley. The recreation inventory for the 7-mile BLM-managed stretch from the City of Redding south to Paynes Creek includes hiking, picnicking, target shooting, camping, and wildlife watching. There's great shoreline fishing for salmon, steelhead, and trout, where you soon see why the osprey is called the fish eagle. Contributing to the wildlife are river otters, ringtail cat, blacktail deer, red-tailed hawks, and bobcats.

When to go: Year-round

Getting there: South of Redding near I-5

Put-in/Take-out: Redding. South Bonnyview, Anderson River Park. Balls Ferry, Old Mouth at Baffle Creek. Jelly's Ferry (driftboats only, primitive), Bend Bridge. Red Bluff River. Red Bluff Diversion below dam, Woodson Bridge State Park. Colusa-Sacramento.

River Class: I

Local BLM Office: Redding Resource Area
355 Hemsted Dr.
Redding, CA 96002

Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge

Contact Details:
c/o Sacramento NWR Complex
752 County Road 99W
Willows, CA 95988
Phone: (530) 934-2801

Special Note: The Sacramento River NWR is located along the Sacramento River from Red Bluff south to Colusa. In 1989, the first tract consisting of 250 acres was acquired. The total proposed refuge acreage is 18,000 acres.