Sacramento winter wildlife viewing

Located on the southerly end of the Pacific Flyway migratory route, the Sacramento Valley provides some of the top wintering sites for waterfowl in the world. Many opportunities to view winter wildlife are within easy driving distance of Sacramento and often without cost. There’s beautiful sunrises and breathtaking sunsets, and crowds are usually sparse. And there’s lots of wildlife, especially migratory birds.

Sacramento skyline
From the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area between Davis and Sacramento, CA, Dec. 2020
Cosumnes River Preserve
In Galt, with easy access off Interstate 5
Cosumnes River Preserve
A visitor to the Cosumnes River Preserve in Galt checks out the local wildlife, November 2020
Cosumnes River Preserve
Migratory birds fly above the Cosumnes River Preserve in Galt, November 2020.
Sandhill cranes at Woodbridge Ecological Reserve
Before evening fly off, sandhill cranes are visible from the parking lot and viewing platform off W. Woodbridge Road in Lodi in December.
Woodbridge Ecological Reserve
The Woodbridge Ecological Reserve in Lodi, also known as the Phil and Marilyn Isenberg Sandhill Crane Reserve, provides up-close access to view migratory birds.
Woodbridge Ecological Reserve
A pair of sandhill cranes stand at dusk at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve in Lodi.
Sandhill cranes at Woodbridge Ecological Reserve
With Mount Diablo in the background, sandhill cranes soar at sunset above the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve in Lodi.
Yolo Bypass
The Yolo Bypass, seen here to the right of Interstate 80 in February 2017, is one of the two flood bypasses in the Sacramento Valley.
Effie Yeaw Nature Center
The nature preserve surrounding the Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael offers direct walking access to the American River.
Effie Yeaw Nature Center
On the day after a December rain, visitors can take one of the many walkable trails at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center.
Effie Yeaw Nature Center
The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is part of a 100-acre nature preserve with riparian and oak woodlands, shrub lands, and meadows, where wildlife such as wild turkeys and deer freely roam close to the preserve’s many trails.
Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve
A group of snow geese soars above the Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve.
Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve
The Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve features a 6-mile driving tour and supports more than 250 species of birds and raptors, including bald eagles and peregrine falcons.
Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve
Geese fly off above the federal Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve near Willows in December 2020

Sacramento winter wildlife viewing

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