Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Glenn County, California run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. There is no entrance fee. Hours: Trails 2 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset, every day of the year.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge on the managing agency's own page.
Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge map
Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
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. Hours at Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge: Trails 2 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset, every day of the year.
- No. There is no entrance fee at Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge.
- Yes. Hunting is allowed on Sacramento River 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 Sacramento River 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 Sacramento River 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, Sacramento River NWR marked trails.
Hours, fees, and visitor center
Hours at Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge: Trails 2 hours before sunrise to 1.5 hours after sunset, every day of the year.
There is no entrance fee at Sacramento River 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/sacramento-river/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.
Auto tour route
- Sacramento River NWR marked trailsMultiple units with marked foot trails (Sul Norte, Codora, Drumheller, Packer, etc.) per complex brochure
Source: fws.gov/refuge/sacramento-river/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 Sacramento River 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 Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
Source: fws.gov/refuge/sacramento-river/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.
Fishing and boating
Fishing is allowed on Sacramento River 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/sacramento-river/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.
Pets
Dogs are allowed on Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge on a leash. Leashed pets allowed on signed trails and roads unless posted otherwise.
Source: fws.gov/refuge/sacramento-river/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.
Trails
- CAP Box Elder Swale TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- CAP East Side Connecting Fork TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- CAP East Side Connecting TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- CAP Gate 2 Spur TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- CAP Grassland Loop TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- CAP Gravel Gate Spur TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- CAP River View TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- CAP West Side TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- COD Jungle Gate TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- COD North Cut Bank TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- COD Rasor Lake East Forest TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
- COD Rasor Lake Grassland Loop TrailSigned refuge trail; see refuge map for closures
Source: fws.gov/refuge/sacramento-river/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.
Places on the refuge
- PlaceUnit trail networksMarked trails at Sul Norte, Codora, Drumheller, Packer, and other river units
Source: fws.gov/refuge/sacramento-river/visit-us, checked 2026-09-29.
Public lands next to Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
- State parkSacramento River National Wildlife Refuge borders Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park.
- State parkSacramento River National Wildlife Refuge borders Butte City Project Prop, a state park.
- State parkSacramento River National Wildlife Refuge borders Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area.
- National forestMendocino National Forest is 1.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento-river (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/1589 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento/visit-us (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento-river/visit-us (accessed 2026-09-29)