Cosumnes River Preserve is a peaceful, beautiful place. We saw lots of birds, plus cottontails, deer, and even beavers. The big oak trees are absolutely breathtaking. The trails are easy, the signs are helpful, and the visitor center is full of fabulous displays and hands-on learning. Perfect for families. Be sure to stop by the visitor center to learn about volunteer days and upcoming events, which is a fantastic experience. We can't wait to come back! read more

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Great place to explore! We hardly saw any birds mid March, but a friend told me when they went they could barely hear because the birds were making so much noise!! So depends on the season I guess. Beautiful and green. Weren't too many people on a weekday around 10. Really nice paved paths and also a flat dirt trail. I was able to take my toddlers stroller bike just fine. I would come back! I would avoid summer though because I could see it getting hot! Bring bug spray!!!!! read more

Cosumnes River Preserve - Day trip - Parks Near Me - Galt, California

Funny it's been exactly 6 years since my last review. My how time flies! I walk here often. It's not easy to get here since the road has been washed out on Franklin for years. The detour on the freeway is worth the trip. Go to their website to inquire about guided tours and other activities. A great, low key place to walk. No crazy elevations. They are porta potties and no dogs are allowed (it is a preserve) so plan accordingly. Check out the visitors center for trail information. A great nature and learning walk for children as well. Enjoy nature! read more

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Another fantastic day of birds at the Cosumnes River Preserve: turkey vultures, hawks, Sandhill cranes, shovelers, cinnamon teal, coots, stilts, geese and song birds. Today was the perfect day. read more

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Great opportunity to connect with nature in a very peaceful environment. On our last adventure we saw not only tons of birds but also a rabbit. We've also seen several deer on previous walks. People are usual very casual because we are all out to have a relaxing time. Great place to slow down from the daily grind. read more

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Cosumnes River Preserve is tucked way out in Galt, but not a bad drive you're out in the delta area. Came here twice-once in November when some fall colors welcomed me and then again in late December when the preserve was cold and foggy. Parking is free and you can opt for a short stroll on paved trails through the wetlands or try some of the wooded trails near the river. During certain months, it's also known for a viewing area of Sandhill Cranes. Trails are flat and it's more of a walk, than a hike but still a fun outdoor adventure. Check out their website, as they do offer docent led walks for birders. Bring binoculars if you're going to explore the wetland trails-lots of migrating birds to see during the colder months! read more

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Took my son here today and did the boardwalk and wetlands trails. Enjoyed watching the birds, feeling the wind, spotting rabbits, and having weird conversations. I frequently imagine zombies or gulpers (from watching too much of The Walking Dead and Fallout) coming out of the marsh or behind the trees. Don't think about zombies, focus on the wildlife, and it's all good. read more

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Parking lot had a fault one way spike control. When I exited the parking lot, the spikes were supposed to go down and it did not. It damaged my tyres :( :( The phone number listed here does not work. What do I do now? read more

It's a nice location to get away from the hustle bustle of the city and just let the wind blow a way your troubles for a few hours. All the different birds that visit are fascinating. There's nice walking trails and good parking. read more

This is California's largest remaining valley oak riparian forest and one of the few protected wetland habitat areas in the state. It was lovely here in April (once everything was no longer muddy from the torrential 2023 rains) and we saw a lot of local and migratory birds. There are a few different trails, and it was busy but not crowded in the late morning. read more

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If you're looking to take an afternoon stroll surrounded by peaceful, serene nature, the "Cosumnes River Preserve" just might be the place for you. Having lived in the Sacramento area since the early-2000's, it took me just over 20 years to pay a visit to this place. Located in an unincorporated area of southern Sacramento County, the easiest way to find this place is by taking I-5 to Twin Cities Road and then Franklin Blvd south. The area itself is east of Walnut Grove, west of Galt, and south of Elk Grove. I came here during the afternoon of Saturday June 4, 2022 at around 3:00pm. Since it was an overcast day, I felt it would be ideal conditions to go on a 2-hour hike to get my daily steps and calories in. What is really great about this place is that the main parking lot is absolutely FREE while offering an abundance of available spots that make this one of the easiest places to enjoy a scenic walk. Additionally, there are two public restrooms, a visitor center, and plenty of maps at the entrance exactly showing you where to go. They also include detailed signs directing you to various destinations including the Wetlands Walk, River Walk, and Visitor Center. Keep in mind that since this is a preserve, pets are not allowed so make sure to leave your four-legged pooch at home. I particularly liked this trail area since there wasn't a whole lot of people, even on a Saturday afternoon. There are paved roads to walk on as well as many dirt trails that can go in different directions. The entire roundabout of the trail area covers about 4 miles of walking distance. During this outdoor adventure, I was able to see several bird species (including a white egret, sparrow, and a goose), rabbits, squirrels, lizards, butterflies, and even a snake. The area that covers the actual Cosumnes River as well as the marshland swamp area usually has lots of ducks in a row. This is also a very popular destination to go kayaking and canoeing. Much of the water is very murky so it may not be the cleanest. I would also recommend coming here during the earlier spring months as many of us know how little amount of rain California receives to fill up its rivers and creeks. All in all, the "Cosumnes River Preserve" is a relaxing, tranquil, and peaceful way to bring out the nature in anyone. And if you're looking to capture that perfect sunset, make sure to come during the right time in the evening. My rating, an above average four stars. read more

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Nice small getaway from the urban Sac area. The place has two main "Walks": the Wetlands Walk and the River Walk. The views from the Wetlands Walk make up pretty much the majority of the photos posted here. Birds chilling on large bodies of water (I visited back in October last year a few days after that one infamous storm and the birds were having a field day with all of the accumulated water!). Very easy to reach this particular vista spot as it's right across the street from the parking lot that's off of Franklin Blvd. The River Walk is a way to get a close-up, base-level look at Cosumnes River. It also makes a good little outdoor stroll/beginner-friendly hike as it's of decent length (took me about 40 min to reach the river but I was reeeally taking my time), has multiple pathways (it's hard to get lost though as there are guide points throughout the area), and doesn't have much elevation changes at all. Most of the trail is spacious, but there are spots that are narrow and that do have some poison ivy (should be fine as long as you stick closely to the trail, but wear long pants/sleeves if you want to be extra careful). Overall nice place if you want to take pretty nature photos and get some fresh air. read more

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Nice flat, little walk around here and plenty of parking if you go around 8 am on the weekend. When we went, there were lots of people out at the viewing decks around 10/11 am. As for the trails, the one on the visitor center side doesn't have too many views and has a few areas where it's kind of roundabout. Personally, I liked the side with the water and viewing deck, but there's not much walking to do on that side. Overall it was nice and peaceful to watch the ducks and other birds here. read more

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Incredible nature preserve!! One of my favorites now for sure - loved it so much I made a second stop here on my way back home!! It's a birder's paradise for sure - with lots of peaceful trails just bursting with wildlife - and the river too! I saw several lifers here - the highlight for me being a flock of Golden Crowned Sparrows!! I was so excited!! Oh and the Black-necked Stilts!! So elegant and animated! An absolute joy to watch! I came up to this area for the great fall migration of birds from the Arctic tundra and was not disappointed!! Hundreds of Greater White-Fronted Geese were here! Not to mention all the Northern Shovelers! And apparently there are lots of salmon here during certain times of the year and at high tides! The signs around say they get more water and fishes during high tides! Would be fun to see it! I walked the Wetlands Walk trail, River Walk Loop, and Boardwalk Loop - all these trails are wonderfully maintained! I was so impressed! And the Wetlands Walk trail and Boardwalk Loop are handicap accessible and very well kept - parts of them paved, and part boardwalk - but the boardwalk is so well maintained I don't think there'd be any issues with wheelchairs or other accessible equipment. Plenty of wildlife viewing from these trails easily! There's plenty of parking in two lots close to each other and both had clean vault toilets. There's a visitor center but it looked closed. There are numerous benches along the Boardwalk Loop trail and some really nice lookout points - there's even a boat launch and I saw several people launching their kayaks - a great idea here! I highly recommend this preserve and will definitely be making my way back here come spring! read more

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A lot of areas to walk! The bridges to walk across were nice. Just a note that it is not dog friendly. Lots of parking spots available. Great view of nature with birds and ducks, a very peaceful walk for anyone. I'm glad to have found this place read more

Cosumnes River Preserve - Parks Near Me - Galt, California

According to their website, "The Cosumnes River Preserve consists of over  50,000 acres of wildlife habitat and agricultural lands owned by seven land-owning Partners." It's a fantastic nature preserve in Galt - just outside of Elk Grove near I-5 and Twin Cities Road. It's especially serene in early morning hours and perfect for watching wildlife and hiking on their well-maintained trails. read more

Cosumnes River Preserve - Parks Near Me - Galt, California

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This has become one of our favorite day walks when we have time. It's not that far of a drive from Elk Grove area. Parking is free. There are heavy rules about this being a preserve and NOT bringing pets with you. It's a beautiful area when there's water on the land and you just see dozens and dozens of brightly colored ducks bathing and mingling together. We haven't experienced any negative interactions with other humans. Most people are polite and maintain social distancing. There's also an area to go canoeing or kayaking, although it doesn't seem like the cleanest bed of water to glide over. Hours are mostly daytime till sunset. They do close the gates on time and everything is maintained efficiently. There's also bathrooms available! Come take a stroll in nature and capture some visually stunning views. read more

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What a nice experience and in my own backyard. Normally I travel up to the Sierra to get a nice bike but I've had a couple of recommendations to check this place out and it was great. As others of noted it's pretty flat hike and on the longer loop it isn't more than 4 miles but there is quite a bit to see and quite a few areas to explore. Located just south of Elk Grove, it's a short drive out here and a nice hike to take the young kids out. From what I understand it's a really great place to check out in early spring or fall but it was still a good trip even at the end of may and still quite a bit of wild life out. We happen to catch a few deer and quite a few birds. Also it wasn't very busy at all even on a Memorial Day weekend. The visitor center was closed on our visit but all the information is available just outside the visitor center and there is ample parking there as well as the lot just north at the observation deck parking. Great short hike for the family! read more

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I came around 8:30 am for a peaceful walk. It was bright and slightly windy out. I honestly felt like I was in South Carolina and not in Galt although it was much cooler in temperature and less humid. They keep the grounds pretty neat and I was lucky to see many different species of birds. The path seemed short to me. I was able to walk a full circle while also having to cross the road in no time. There were also a lot more bugs than I expected. I think this would be a great place to get some nice family photos. read more

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Such a beautiful area! I've seen many people come and take photos here and I've been meaning to do so but never really have a reason until recently. My fiancé and I came and took a few engagement shots and we are so happy with how they turned out! The possibilities are endless. There are so many different spots/locations near by to take lovely photos. I really wanted to get to the dock but we weren't able to reach it in time before sunset. You also have to walk through some grass and travel your way over. Be prepared to see some field mice too!! I highly recommend for any photo op, evening walk, morning jog, etc. read more

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I've been visiting and photographing here for over 10 years. The variety of birds, plants and wildlife offer ever changing subjects for the photographers, birders, and hikers. The River Walk Trail welcomes joggers as well. All trails are well maintained and level. Winter is the best time to see migratory birds, including the Sandhill Cranes and thousands of waterfowl, when the many ponds are flooded. This area is super kid friendly, but leave your pets at home, please! Thousands of photos here: https://wordydave.zenfolio.com/?q=cosumnes read more

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This nature preserve is one of the highlights in the Elk Grove/Galt, California region. I have been there four times and will make it a routine to stop in at least once a month. They have guided nature walks that the public can join for free monthly. I just recently signed up to go on one and I am really looking forward to it. The preserve gets busy on weekends, so I do suggest going on weekdays if you can. There are many water fowl here as well as raptors and shorebirds. Some of the birds I have spotted are: egrets, white-fronted geese, red-winged blackbirds, golden -crowned sparrows, turkey vultures, American Coots, and Northern Pintails. This is just a few of the many kinds of birds you may see since this preserve is located on the Pacific Flyway. This is a wonderful area for amateur and professional photographers. I love it!! read more

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What a beautiful nature reserve so close to home. Well maintained, marked walking trails with QR codes along the way to learn about landscape, wildlife & history. read more

Cosumnes River Preserve - Parks Near Me - Galt, California

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This river preserve is the perfect place to clear your mind and distance yourself from society, pandemic or not. I loved walking along both the wet lands and river paths. There were hardly any people on the river walk path yesterday which was nice not having to worry about others coming into close contact with me or worry about whatever noise they could have made to ruin the nice and quiet ambiance of nature out there. I will definitely be coming back for morning or evening walks. Nice little gem that's not far at all from where I live. read more

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We loved this preserve me my 4 year old & my grandma went on a nice little hike. We spotted a few different types of birds we really enjoyed exploring here together. read more

I'm pretty much a nature girl at heart, even though I don't often get the opportunity to commune with it, due to being caught up with the whole work for a living scenario. But a rare occurrence happened during the New Year holiday, where I actually got a 3 day weekend! That's when Joe K and I made a last minute decision to go somewhere peaceful, calming and natural by visiting the Cosumnes River Preserve for a few blissful hours of bird watching. It is just a short drive from my house as we took the back roads to avoid the heavy traffic of holiday mayhem. It was a pleasant excursion as we leisurely strolled through the man made walk ways that bring you in to the marshy waters for a closer look at all of the varieties of birds that are native to the Sacramento area. There were hundreds if not thousands of ducks, geese, Sand Pipers, Mud Hens, and many other birds that I don't know the names of, swimming, feeding, flying and migrating together as they ignored onlookers while they went about their normal lives. We even watched from a look out point, as a majestic Heron hunted for mice near the shore and did an amazing job catching them! Many visitors were armed with long range binoculars and telescoping cameras. I on the other hand, only had my cell phone camera, which was a little embarrassing to use compared to the apparent professional photographers around me, but I was determined to catch some shots the best I could for Yelp reviewing sake! LOL! We had such a nice experience here, that we are already talking about returning again, and saving up for some much needed equipment upgrades! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0j_UsR6M6g read more

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Had a great time with a group from Meet Up 9/17/23. Flat water and free parking. Paved walkway to the boat dock for water starts. Very peaceful read more

Really great nature location for people living in the Central Valley and don't want to drive to the Bay/ Yosemite/Santa Cruz area. It's pretty large so there's a lot to explore - follow any trail and it's so peaceful. There's no large hills or anything so it's mostly a lazy hike vibe, really pretty on a sunny day. You can walk along the river or through groves of trees, and there's a fun little train track along the way for hipster millennial photo ops. No charge to get in or park. It's also not super crowded because a lot of people don't know about it. Really great Saturday morning place to walk and just spend time outside getting some vitamin D. read more

Cosumnes River Preserve - Parks Near Me - Galt, California

I love coming here to enjoy the outdoors. It looks different here every season but every time I come here it's peaceful and beautiful. Easy flat 3 mile walk. Bring bug spray and binoculars! Lots of birds to watch. Sometimes I see turtles in the late winter and spring when the water comes in. I've also seen bunnies roaming around. read more

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Consumes River preserve is such an amazing place, I come here about 6 times a year just for photos. I recommend you bring mosquito spray when you do.... I keep it in my car now. No matter the time of year this place is great for a walk, too bad there are no pets allowed. The wooden paths and bridges make for a great photo op. There are two convenient parking lots for whatever tail you want to take, and they even have a boat launch for a kayak in the summer. I recommend coming well prior to closing just so you can get a parking spot, some days it gets packed. If you are a bird enthusiast, this place is full of different species. Some days the north side will be full of all kinds of different bird. There is restrictive area just so that the birds can be left alone but that should stop you from enjoying the sight of them. read more

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A few months ago my wife and I visited the Cosumnes River Preserve but unfortunately the visiter center was closed at that time. We happen to be driving in the area so we decided to drive by the visiter center once again. Got Lucky ! It's Open ! Seeing the visiter center from a distance, it looks fairly large . Picnic tables and educational material line the outdoor patio. The visiter center actually consists of one room. There are a few stuffed birds , a butterfly collection plus information of wildlife habitat. There are plenty of parking spots here for hikers, kayakers , bird watchers ect... And restrooms are available. Recommended coming early morning or late afternoon when the weather is cooler. Enjoy ! read more

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There is nothing like a late afternoon trip out to the Cosumnes River Preserve on a cold and clear winter's afternoon. They flood the rice fields that time of year to make a home for migrating birds. What really helps this preserve stand out from others is the pedestrian walkway that extends a few hundred yards between the fields and allows you to get up close and personal with the birds. I tried to capture my usual experience below but I am not a wordsmith and no words could possibly capture the experience anyway. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands of ducks and geese elegantly glide across flooded fields in romantic couples foraging for food while sieges of Sandhill Cranes closely observe from the banks in the far distance like spectators at a baseball game. An egret diligently stalks its prey along one of the many levees that section off the ponds. Countless flocks parade across the sky, their flight plans seemingly both deliberately erratic and synchronized, creating intricate patterns as they overlap at various elevations. Dusk begins to conquer and the birds begin to dissolve into the ever darkening sky. Meanwhile birds continue to calmly swim in the growing late afternoon shadows below as the sun slowly sinks behind Mt Diablo, casting red, orange and yellow hues upon the water in what becomes their final evening stroll. read more

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This was a very unique hiking experience that I went to a couple of months ago. I hadn't really seen a hiking trail like it, very different from the standard hiking trail I'm used to with trees all around. It seemed very out of this way with great scenery. read more

One of my family's favorite little gems! It's never too crowded or loud, and the views are stunning! The path is wheelchair accessible if needed, and very kid friendly. Watching migrating birds during the migrating season is always a fun pastime. Almost hesitant to leave this review because it's such a hidden treasure! read more

Cosumnes River Preserve - View from parking lot - Parks Near Me - Galt, California

Confused on how to go hiking here ! I'm not from the area so when you park couldn't find the trail ! So upset wish I could've enjoyed it ! Will come back and try and figure it out one day ! read more

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If you have a kayak and live in Sacramento, then head south on Franklin Blvd for about 25 miles for a real treat. The preserve is at the confluence of the Consumnes and the Mokelumne, with a nice launch through some linked sloughs winding around under Franklin Blvd and the Southern Pacific tracks. On our 3 hour excursion we saw dozens of turtles, three large cranes, and countless other wildlife. The banks are tree lined, and the water moves slowly, so it's a great spot for a nice slow cruise through our beautiful local wetlands. read more

Came to the Preserve to kayak today for the first time. We have been here to walk around trails and loved it. Watching for wildlife in their habitat is a wonderful feeling. Photography of wildlife and environment of many types of plants and flowers. Boat launch Parking lot was full so we parked on the edge of the parking lot like others did. There is also a separate visitor center parking lot but beware you must be back to your vehicle before they close as they close the gate and no way out. The boat launch gate stays open at least it was when we left at 4:30 pm on a Sunday. And exit only area if after gate closes. But only for this parking lot. My only gripe is I really wish the boat launch dock was alittle closer as it's a slight downhill then evens out to water but at least I had a kayak dolly which helped. Dock has no ramp to launch from so you have to either get wet to get in kayak using stairs on dock into water or plop your self in if you can't stand on your kayak steadily. I am new to kayaking and can't stand on kayak yet so I used stairs. With no issues. The water was warm and calm in the preserve. Scenery was beautiful just floating and paddling along then shore line watching for wildlife flying over head or in the banks. Great day all together. When you get on the Consumnes and Mokelumne River just beware there are bigger motor boats on the waterway. We encountered 4 boats and all slowed down to slow speed when passing kayakers. Then take off when clear. Glad they look out and mind their speed so we don't capsize. Thank you boaters. We will definitely be back as so much to explore. Hope to go back when more wildlife out as not too much today think it was too hot. As when boys are fishing I am looking out for wildlife. read more

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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. read more

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Birders paradise with a mile of boardwalk out into the wetlands. I am always there at Thanksgiving and I always see sandhill cranes and thousands of Snow Geese. This preserve is very well managed for the many thousands of migratory birds that come through. They have a nice visitor center. A great place to bring children to introduce them to birdwatching. Enjoyable and interesting hiking trails. I see a different species every time I go. Highly recommended. read more

it has water. and bird. i can easily swim through the water. i am only disappointed that there is a lack of other whales