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Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Sacramento Valley Refuges

January 16, 2027 - January 17, 2027
Saturday and Sunday January 16-17,  9:00am – 4pm (both days)
Sacramento and Colusa NWRs  (Sat)
Llano Seco NWR and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (Sun)
Leader: Pat Gordon
pa****@*ol.com
Join us for a hopefully spectacular weekend of waterfowl in California’s Central Valley! We have planned the weekend to include the Sacramento and Colusa NWRs on Saturday, followed on Sunday by visiting the Llano Seco unit of the Sacramento NWR and ending the day at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, near Gridley, with many hopefully staying for the fly-in (or fly-out?) at sunset. Often on the drive to this unit we see Tundra Swans in the fields, along with Sandhill Cranes.

There should be hundreds of ducks, geese, and swans, along with shorebirds and a host of raptors! Three of the refuges offer auto tour routes, and there will be some walking at Llano Seco, which has a viewing platform that affords great close views of ducks and geese. A short hike at Gray Lodge is also planned.

Saturday – meet at the new Visitor Center at Sacramento Wildlife Refuge.
Sunday – meet Starbucks in Willows.
Bring lunch both days. Trip will go rain or shine.

For those wishing to spend the entire weekend with us, overnight accommodations can be found in Willows or Williams. (Granzellas, Best Western, Holiday Inn, Super 8, Motel 6, etc.). We are tentatively planning a group dinner in Williams on Saturday night.
Note: Sacramento NWR requires a pass, or it is free for seniors, and/or a Federal Duck Stamp (registration at entry kiosk). Gray Lodge Wildlife Area does require a CDFW Lands Pass ($5.66 in 2025), which can be purchased online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Lands-Pass or by calling (800) 565-1458.

Directions: Saturday‑To reach Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, which is located approximately 90 miles north of Sacramento on Interstate 5 and six miles south of the town of Willows.  When traveling north on Interstate 5, pass the town of Maxwell, take exit #595/Road 68, and make a left turn and travel north on County Road 99W for 1.5 miles to reach the refuge entrance. The six-mile Auto Tour Route starts at the Visitor Center. Restrooms and parking spaces are available at the Visitor Center, where we will meet.

Directions: Sunday–The Starbucks is located at 505 N. Humboldt Street in Willows. From I–5 in Willows, go east on Hwy 162, turn left on N. Humboldt to the Starbucks. If you wish to go directly to Llano Seco, continue on Hwy 162 through Butte City, left on Road Z, staying on that road, then left on 7 Mile Road to the unit. Restrooms are available. The group should be there about 10 AM.  (Note: last year we ran into flooding, making several detours!)

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Details

  • Start: January 16, 2027
  • End: January 17, 2027
  • Event Category:

Venue

  • Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
  • 752 County Road 99W752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988.
    Willows, CA 95988     + Google Map
  • View Venue Website

Organizer

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