National wildlife refuge

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is a 5,933-acre national wildlife refuge in Colusa County, California, established in 1938, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. There is no entrance fee. It is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.

Check current closures and fire restrictions for Delevan National Wildlife Refuge on the managing agency's own page.

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge
Photo: Lora Haller/USFWS, Public domain

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge map

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

View larger map Open in Google Maps Directions

Fire restrictions

Fire restrictions change with the season and can start or lift within days. Check the current orders for this area before any campfire, stove, smoking, target shooting or off-road driving.

Common questions

Yes. Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.
No. There is no entrance fee at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge.
Yes. Hunting is allowed on Delevan National Wildlife Refuge for waterfowl and upland game birds. Where, per the refuge: Follow refuge-specific regulations and state seasons; see refuge hunting page. Seasons, limits and methods are set by the refuge regulation and Nevada Department of Wildlife rules, which change every year: read them before you go.
Yes. Fishing is allowed on Delevan National Wildlife Refuge with a Nevada fishing license. Where, per the refuge: Allowed only in designated areas per refuge fishing page.
Yes. Dogs are allowed on Delevan National Wildlife Refuge on a leash. Leashed pets allowed on signed trails and roads unless posted otherwise.
Yes. The refuge has an auto tour route, Delevan NWR Auto Tour Route.

Hours, fees, and visitor center

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round.

There is no entrance fee at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge.

What visitors do here: an auto tour route, birding, environmental education, fishing, hiking, hunting, photography, wildlife viewing.

Sources: fws.gov/refuge/sacramento/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29; fws.gov/refuge/delevan/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Auto tour route

  • Delevan NWR Auto Tour Route

Source: fws.gov/refuge/delevan/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Wildlife

  • BirdWaterfowlWhen: winterPeak concentrations during Pacific Flyway migration
  • BirdShorebirdsWhen: spring and fallMudflats and shallow wetlands during migration

Hunting

Hunting is allowed on Delevan National Wildlife Refuge for waterfowl and upland game birds. Where, per the refuge: Follow refuge-specific regulations and state seasons; see refuge hunting page. Seasons, limits and methods are set by the refuge regulation and Nevada Department of Wildlife rules, which change every year: read them before you go.

Hunting rules for Delevan National Wildlife Refuge

Source: fws.gov/refuge/sacramento/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Fishing and boating

Fishing is allowed on Delevan National Wildlife Refuge with a Nevada fishing license. Where, per the refuge: Allowed only in designated areas per refuge fishing page.

Source: fws.gov/refuge/delevan/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Pets

Dogs are allowed on Delevan National Wildlife Refuge on a leash. Leashed pets allowed on signed trails and roads unless posted otherwise.

Source: fws.gov/refuge/delevan/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Trails

  • Sutter NWR seasonal trails (complex)No public foot trails on Delevan; seasonal riparian and wetland trails are on adjacent Sutter NWR via Parking Area B

Source: fws.gov/refuge/delevan/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Places on the refuge

  • Viewing areaMaxwell and Four Mile road viewingWildlife viewing from public roads when the unit is otherwise closed
  • Viewing areaReserved photo blindsHunting and photography blinds by reservation per Sacramento NWR Complex

Source: fws.gov/refuge/delevan/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Getting there

  • Nearest town: Williams
  • 70 miles from Sacramento

Source: fws.gov/refuge/delevan/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.

Public lands next to Delevan National Wildlife Refuge

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.