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Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, south of Willows, is the headquarters of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It has a visitor center, a 6-mile auto tour, observation decks and trails. The auto tour needs an entrance pass; trails, restrooms and the visitor center are fee-free. Checked October 29, 2026 on the operator’s own pages.

From Chico: about 55 min (typical, without traffic)

6 milesAuto tour
$6Day pass
1937Established
1.8 millionNov. waterfowl avg.
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Plan It in Three Lines

  • Get thereFrom Chico: about 55 min, typical, without traffic. Address: 752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988.
  • WhenAuto tour and trails: 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset daily. Visitor Center: Fridays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (subject to change).
  • CostAuto tour requires an entrance pass: $6 daily, $12 annual, or a valid Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful Pass. Trails, restrooms and visitor center are fee-free.

Key Facts

  • The refuge was established in 1937 to provide habitat for migratory birds, manage sensitive species and alleviate crop depredation.[1]
  • Its wetlands were first built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1937 and 1942.[1]
  • In January 1937 the federal government bought the 10,775-acre Spalding Ranch for the refuge.[4]
  • The 6-mile auto tour starts at the visitor center; visitors must stay in their vehicles except at 3 Park-and-Stretch areas.[2]
  • A 1.5-mile Pool 2 Extension loop is open March 15 to September 10, conditions permitting.[2]
  • The auto tour entrance fee is $6 daily or $12 annual, or a valid Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful Pass.[2]
  • Passes are only sold online through Recreation.gov.[1]
  • The 2-mile Wetland Walk leaves from the visitor center; its north loop is disabled-accessible.[2]
  • Seasonal trails from Parking Lot D on County Road 68 are open February 15 to June 30.[2]
  • Bicycles are allowed on the auto tour from May 15 to August 15, but never on the Pool 2 Extension.[2]
  • Average waterfowl counts peak at about 1,800,000 in November, per the refuge's month-by-month guide.[1]
  • Potable water is not available, so bring your own.[2]
  • The Complex supports over 250 species of birds.[1]

Areas Inside Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

  • Visitor Center

    Interpretive displays, a Discovery Room, a classroom and a nature store; binoculars can be borrowed for the day.[3]

  • Auto Tour

    6-mile all-weather gravel route through wetlands, grasslands, vernal pools and a riparian area, with two observation decks at Park-and-Stretch #2.[2]

  • Wetland Walk

    2 miles of trail segments from the visitor center; dogs on leash.[3]

Plan Your Visit

WhatAs the operator states it
Run byU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Address752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988
Drive from ChicoAbout 55 min, typical, without traffic (Google Maps, plus 10 minutes, rounded)
HoursAuto tour and trails: 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset daily. Visitor Center: Fridays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (subject to change).[1]
SeasonPer the refuge, ducks arrive by the thousands in October, waterfowl peak in late November to early December, and shorebirds pass through in April.[1]
FeesAuto tour requires an entrance pass: $6 daily, $12 annual, or a valid Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful Pass. Trails, restrooms and visitor center are fee-free.[2]
ParkingFollow signs to Visitor Parking after turning into the refuge from Hwy 99W.[1]
DogsDogs must stay in the vehicle on the auto tour except at Park-and-Stretch areas, and must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet on trails and in parking lots.[5]
RestroomsExterior restrooms are open 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset daily; a restroom is also at Park-and-Stretch #2 on the auto tour.[1]
AccessibilityThe north loop of the Wetland Walk is disabled-accessible.[2]
ReservationsPhotography blinds are by reservation only.[1]
Phone(530) 934-2801[1]
Official pageU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Hours at a Glance

Auto tour and trails1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset daily
Visitor Center10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays (subject to change)

Season, as printed: Per the refuge, ducks arrive by the thousands in October, waterfowl peak in late November to early December, and shorebirds pass through in April.

Bars are drawn from the hours printed in Plan Your Visit below; a faded or dashed bar means the page prints sunrise or sunset, not a clock time. Today is outlined.

Admission, Side by Side

Auto tour, daily$6
Auto tour, annual$12
Trails, restrooms, visitor centerFree

As the operator prints it: Auto tour requires an entrance pass: $6 daily, $12 annual, or a valid Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful Pass. Trails, restrooms and visitor center are fee-free.

Dogs

Dogs must stay in the vehicle on the auto tour except at Park-and-Stretch areas, and must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet on trails and in parking lots.

Map of Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

The pin is approximate, placed from the address or place name. © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions

Around Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

10 mi20 mi30 miN123456
  1. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area: 21.0 miles east
  2. Orland and Willows: 21.8 miles north
  3. Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park: 25.9 miles northeast
  4. Gridley and Biggs: 26.5 miles east
  5. Butte County Fairgrounds: 27.1 miles east
  6. Chico State Campus: 27.5 miles northeast

The yellow dot is this place. Rings are spaced so close places do not pile up, and a numbered badge may sit slightly off its true spot (a thin line ends at the true spot). Distances are straight-line miles worked out from the map points each page prints; they are not drive times or walking routes.

What We Could Not Verify

These items were not on an official page we could open on October 29, 2026, or two official pages disagree. Check with the operator before you rely on them.

  • Not confirmedCurrent refuge acreage (USFWS page gives the 1937 purchase of 10,775 acres, not today's size)
  • Not confirmedWinter visitor center hours (page says extended winter hours coming soon)
  • Not confirmedNature store hours
  • Not confirmedConflict: Seasonal (Spring) Trails length: the trails page says up to 6 miles; the visitor center page says an additional 5 miles.

More in Orland & Glenn County

All of Orland & Glenn CountyOrland and WillowsBlack Butte LakeAll Places

Coming Up in Orland & Glenn County

8 events are on our calendar for Orland & Glenn County in the next 45 days. 2 are listed as free by the organizer; 2 are marked Not confirmed because we could not confirm them on the organizer’s page yet. This list rebuilds itself every day at midnight, Pacific time.

October 2026

  • Country Pumpkins: October Farm Season

    Runs Oct 1 to Oct 31, 2026

    10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

    Country Pumpkins, Orland

    Price: Free admission; corn maze $5, haunted maze $15

    Open daily in October with pumpkins, a petting zoo, hay pyramid and slide, and a daytime corn maze (last entry 5:30 PM). The Haunted Maze runs 7 to 10 PM on select nights, last night Friday, October 30; the farm is closed Halloween.

    Checked Oct 30, 2026 · Source for Country Pumpkins: October Farm Season (opens in a new tab)

November 2026

December 2026

Sources: each card links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we checked it. This list shows the next 45 days; see every upcoming event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost money to visit Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge?

Only the auto tour needs a pass ($6 daily, $12 annual, or a Federal Duck Stamp or America the Beautiful Pass). Trails, restrooms and the visitor center are fee-free.[2]

When are the most birds at the refuge?

The refuge lists average waterfowl counts of about 1,500,000 in October, 1,800,000 in November and 1,400,000 in December.[1]

Can I walk on the auto tour?

No. Walking along the auto tour is prohibited; stay in your vehicle except at the designated Park-and-Stretch areas.[2]

Sources

  1. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Read October 29, 2026.
  2. Sacramento NWR Complex Auto Tours and Trails, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Read October 29, 2026.
  3. Sacramento NWR Complex Visitor Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Read October 29, 2026.
  4. About Us – Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Read October 29, 2026.
  5. Laws and Regulations – Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Read October 29, 2026.

Cite this page: “Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/orland-glenn/sacramento-national-wildlife-refuge/

Coming Up Here

No dated event at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is on our calendar right now. We list a date only after reading it on the organizer’s own page, so an empty list means not listed yet, not that nothing is happening. See every upcoming event.

On The Map

7 places named on this page are pinned. Tap a pin for the page and directions. Dashed pins were placed from the street address and are approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.