Cosumnes River Preserve

Amazing place if you want to see ducks, geese, and cranes. A solid number of birds just hanging out. There is fantastic raised wood walk way for walking out into the wet lands. Went in November, and if you are around at dusk you might catch the cranes coming in.

highly recommend!
my sister and I took our two 6 year olds and her 4 year old on the wetlands trail yesterday. It was really easy for them and they had a great time looking for animals along the way. there are tons of dragonflies and butterfly’s along the walk and once you get to the boardwalk area there are lots of birds and we even saw a fox in the distance.
the only downfall to this trail was there is very little to no shade. our kiddos had water and hats but still got very hot with red cheeks. I highly recommend big sun hats, lots of sunscreen, umbrellas or cooler neck wraps and TONS of ice water. there are a lot of benches along the way to stop for a rest though.
all in all we had a wonderful time.
*we tried to also walk the river trail but literally 2 mins down the path 3 out of the 5 of us got multiple mosquito bites so we turned around. so if you plan to do this trail bring lots of bug repellant.

Came here to walk the trails. However, many of the trails are blocked off now as dead ends, with nowhere to go but around. Can’t reach the viewing area of the river anymore due to the blocked off trail. Going through the river trail, you reach a fork with two paths, do not take the left path as it reaches a paved dead end. Why even have pavement there in the first place?
Overall, great place to walk around and learn about the preserve but if you’re looking for great views of the delta, I wouldn’t recommend coming here.

Its a beautiful place to get away from the busy city and enjoy the sounds of nature. The walking trails are easy if your walking or pushing a stroller. There are two paths the nature walk is paved and the river walk is not but both are easy for young and old to enjoy. Bring your camera, there lot of beautiful animals that call this place their home. Great place to bring the kids to burn off some energy and get a nature lesson. Take the kids into the visitor center where they have stuffed birds on display and other fun facts of about the wetlands.

Awesome place to get away really quick. Great baby stroller paths

Cosumnes River Preserve is a very peaceful and relaxing place. There are some trails to walk along to enjoy the views. I arrived a little late here around 5 and the visitor center was closed. I walked along the boardwalk trail which is about .5 miles roundtrip. That trail is paved and has wooden boards to walk on. At the end of the trail there is a lookout area as you can see in people’s pictures. Since there is a drought in Sacramento the water is low. There is a 3 mile trail where you can see more of the reserve which next time I will do.

This is my special spot. My favorite place to come and relax and enjoy nature. If you are coming from the north to the south turn left and park in the parking lot to hike the trail. Easy trail for kids as well. If you want to hike the trail with duck sightings, then park in the right parking lot when you’re heading down south (this side isn’t really a hike but more of an easy walking trail). All of this is FREE. No parking fee. This place is the most beautiful during the springtime because the preserve is filled with water and you’ll be able to see the ducks swim. They close the gates when it’s dried up. Hoping summer treats this place well and it doesn’t dry up too bad.

I’ve been here several times doing different things. Tonight I did the SOS Sandhill Cranes Tour. We met up at 3:30 and talked at the center till 4. Then everyone got in their cars and followed our guides (3) to two different viewing locations. The first one was close by and had very good views of the Sandhill Cranes (about 500 of them). The second location was a 10 – 15 minute drive away, near water. There was 1+ hours to wait for the sun to go down, but once it did, a couple thousand birds came in. Beautiful sunset too! I left there about 6:45 PM or 30 minutes past sunset.
The guides were super knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. They were very generous letting everyone look in their scopes.
Bring and extra jacket, it is colder out there than you expect. Maybe ear muffs and gloves. Definitely mosquito spray.

You know it’s little places like this in California that makes it worth wild. When your cursing down HWY 5, this is a great spot to sit back and enjoy lunch.

Nice place for a quick hike. Located just miles away south of Elk Grove. It’s a short 2 to 3 mile flat level hike. Most of the area is shaded which is nice especially in the hot weather. For bird watching the wetlands is all dried out now and birds gone for the season. But still a nice hiking location.

Wow, I can not believe I have never been here before. This place is a hidden gem. I almost don’t want to write a review for fear that it will get too crowded with people, but I have to share the wealth. Go for a short hike/​walk here, be quiet, enjoy nature, don’t leave any garbage, and hopefully this place will be as nice a place when our kids grown up.

Beautiful place. We wanted to do a hike with our 2yr old daughter and an 8 mo pregnant wife so that means it has to be paved and not so far away. This is the perfect to do just that. Only 15mins away from elk grove and it is really beautiful. Lots of birds and daughter really liked it. Clean and calm place for a morning walk. Come and visit the wetlands Im sure you guys will like it.

Cosumnes River Preserve is an awesome nature preserve for photography, bird watching, quiet walks, enjoying nature, and much more. There is a 3-​mile dirt path trail and a 1-​mile paved trail to take a nature walk. I’ve also been told that there is a place to put your canoe or kayak into the river. The visitor’s center is a great place to stop first for a map or ask any questions of the helpful staff.
There is no smoking and no pets allowed, but bring your lunch and some water and have a relaxing day. I hope to return here at either sunrise or sunset to take some photos of the birds and other wildlife.
If you’re looking for a peaceful place to commune with nature and enjoy the outdoors, this is it.

I really love it here. You can do some short walks and also see wildlife. Its mostly birds but sometimes other wildlife too. If you are really lucky, you might see an otter. I have enjoyed some trips here.
To get here is pretty easy. Its a short drive from most parts of Sacramento and is located in the Galt area.
I would say to bring your camera as I found it to be pretty here. Its really peaceful here too. I feel its a really nice spot to go to. Its not that crowded either.
There is a visitor center but its not always open. Bathrooms are not always available. It is a nice spot for a picnic though.

Well, my brilliant spousey «googled Sandhill Cranes’ because we had heard there were places around Sacramento where it was possible to see them. Well, up popped Consumnes River Preserve and several hours later, we found ourselves wandering around a fabulous 50,000 acre sanctuary for wildlife and yes, we saw at least 30 Sandhill Cranes at dusk. The guides were wonderful – Mike and the taller woman with the SOSC shirt on (Save our Sandhill Cranes)…I am so good with names. I got some fabulous crane photos and also the never extinct Cessna Crane shot. This place is MUST SEE for bird and small animal aficionados and hobbyists (British word), There is a great website Consumnes River Preserve to get more information. The only thing we forgot to do is bring snacks. A snack machine (inside) might make the preserve some revenues.

Bob and I hopped in the car for a road trip today! We didn’t hit the road until after 3 pm but our destination wasn’t far away; just a jaunt down the 5 and a right on Twin Cities Road. There is no charge to park or to hike the trails and you can put your kayak in for free too! The preserve is run largely by volunteers and maintained with volunteers showing up for monthly work days. We plan on returning in June for the guided kayak tour so we can get the lay of the River.
We chatted a while with a couple that’s been coming here for over 20 years and they said the waters lower than its been in years. Seems the wife has had some experience with ticks. I listened to her recommendations intently as I was a bit paranoid when I saw the note on the white board that there had been tick sightings. I’m still a bit itchy, but Bob says it’s all in my mind… lol!
We really enjoyed our hike… planned on the 1 mile and ended up doing more like 3. I heard plenty of wildlife but only caught glimpses of a few. A white crane across the water and a brownish jack rabbit that stopped along the trail and soon ran out of sight; kinda like the one in Alice in Wonderland!
Whether you’re looking to learn more about birds, join a kayak tour, or just volunteer once in awhile for the clean up days; Cosumnes River Preserve has it all.
Don’t forget to bring drinking water, snacks and if you’re like me wear a hat so you don’t worry so much about ticks!

What a fabulous conservation effort between various agencies, private organizations, and citizens encompassing 46,000 acres of wetlands, native trees, grasslands, and groves of Valley Oaks that are home to several hundred species of wildlife and waterfowl.
This weekend found us heading down I-​5 south to seek out yet another one of the amazing refuges conserving and restoring wetlands to their natural state. The drive takes about 40 minutes or so but once there, the travel is worth it. The visitors center is your first stop prior to hitting the paved walkways along the wetlands. Feel free to look and peruse the brochures.
During our walk beside the waterways, we saw numerous species of ducks, geese, and in the distance, wintering Sandhill Cranes. Bear in mind that waterfowl are quite shy and have a large radius of private space, so in order to truly view them in their natural habitat, I would recommend either a good binocular or spotting scope. Photo buffs? That 70−300mm lens will not work, unless you have a 2x teleconverter. Come with your 400−600mm lens. And the best time to view is either sunrise or sunset. Most of the waterfowl were resting and not too active during the day.
In addition to winding pathways around the waters edge, there are other trails that meander through the groves of trees and native brush/​bushes/​brambles that are also home to insects and other mammals.
The best part? Free. No admission charges.
In the near future, may I recommend an family outing to your local wildlife refuge? Children will always have time in their later stages in life to spend in front of a TV or computer. Nature in this wonderful form may not last forever unless we choose to support such endeavors that strive to preserve our slowly disappearing wetlands.

The Cosumnes River Preserve is a nature preserve of 46,000 acres located 20 miles south of Sacramento. The preserve protects a Central Valley remnant that once contained one of the largest expanses of oak tree savanna, riparian oak forest and wetland habitat in North America. Agricultural development has changed the landscape from groves of oaks and tule marshes to productive farmlands.
The Cosumnes River is the last remaining free-​flowing river in California’s Central Valley, with the preserve located on the river’s lower reach where it joins the Sacramento-​San Joaquin Delta tidelands. The area supports a diverse range of plant and animal life, including three species of oak as well as various rare plants. Other Notable features include the Sandhill Crane fall migration (along the Pacific Flyway), the Tall Forest in Wood Duck Slough, and the Cougar Wetlands. More than 250 bird species, more than 40 fish species, and some 230 plant species have been identified here.
My first visit to the Consumnes River was impressive. I was here as part of an Earthwatch Expedition — The Riparian Zone: Protecting California’s Rivers. I spend 3 enjoyable days with 7 other volunteers and several scientists from UC Davis getting cut up by thick underbrush in the Tall Forest, taking measurements in the rain near the Cougar Wetlands, learning Birding 101 at the Visitor’s Center Area and surrounding vineyards, collecting camera traps and later viewing the results, and really learning a thing or 2 about California water issues and the Delta ecosystem.
Our data collection was providing much needed assistance in helping scientists quantify and describe vegetation diversity, structure and biomass, as well as in collecting data on important bird and pollinator species that may include butterflies and/​or native bees. This included work in adjacent vineyard areas.
I’m now itching to come back on my own and learn more. I’ll no doubt start at the Visitor’s Center and restart from there.

Visited here early last weekend and parked on the road because they don’t open the gate until 8. Saw a male Western Tanager as we crossed over the tule bridge. Also spotted our first Western Kingbird down by the slough. After our hike we stopped in the visitor center and the docent was very friendly and well informed. We told him that a few years ago we saw a duck hunter in a camouflage boat hunting. The docent said hunting still is legal from the river, but not from land. This seems odd for a «preserve.» Thus the 4 star rating instead of 5.

I’ve only kayaked here so I can’t speak for the visitor’s center:
There are decently clean restrooms right in the parking lot. They’re still «pit» style but at least they’re in a permanent building rather than an out house with wheels.
There are not a ton of parking spaces so during certain times of the year you might want to get here early. I can’t remember the exact count but I’m guessin around 20 spaces. I am sure there are more at the visitor’s center.
If you have a canoe or kayak this is a great place for a leasurely paddle and wildlife viewing. The water is flat with almost no current. We’ve seen turtles, beavers, great heron, great egret and tons of other critters.
Keep in mind, the dock where you drop your boat in is a bit of a hike so if you have wheels for your boat you might want to bring them, and a lock to lock the wheels at the dock so you don’t have to hoof it back to the car with them. Accorrding to the website the dock is 200 yards from the parking lot, and wheels are available for lending at the visitor’s center.
To quote the website:
It is the only remaining unregulated river on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. In its lower reaches, it flows through one of the biologically richestregions in California’s Central Valley, before merging with the Mokelumne River to flow into the Sacramento-​San Joaquin Delta and eventually the Pacific Ocean. The Cosumnes River Preserve was created to safeguard much of this unique landscape.
The Cosumnes River Project continues to grow and expand; it now encompasses more than 46,000 acres.