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    Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

    3.5 (11 reviews)

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    Fields with Suttter Buttes in the background
    Terry T.

    This refuge, located on the Pacific Flyway, is a wonderful destination for birders, photographers and hunters. I believe the birds are safe once they get past the hunters and land in the reserve. This year I went in November to photograph birds. While I did not get a once-in-a-lifetime shot, or, for that matter, a prize winner, I did enjoy the time I spent here. Why you might want to visit this wildlife refuge. It is close to both the Greater Bay Area and the Sacramento Metro Area. Waterfowl start their migration in the fall and many birds spend the winter in the fields inside the reserve. The Sutter Buttes, which are on private land, are close to the reserve and makes a perfect backdrop for the flooded fields that the birds congregate in. There are blinds that you can use for either photography or bird watching. There are walking trails and lookout points. The one-way road is well maintained, has views from both sides of your vehicle, and a few pull out areas where you can stop your car. The primordial sounds of birds chattering and wings fills the air until an enemy, a hawk or perhaps an eagle, is nearby and then there is silence. There is always the possibility of a great sunset. The red sky reflects on ponds filled with birds and birds fly across the sunset. One caveat for the squeamish: There is hunting all around the reserve and the sound of gun fire can be heard and on occasion you might see a falling bird.

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    Photo of Marco M.
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    8 years ago

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    Photo of Unicorn U.
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    19 days ago

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    11 months ago

    Going to waste. No one seems to want to keep it up to date and it is very dry with few birds or any wildlife.

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    15 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    19 years ago

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    Photo of Bee M.
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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Photo of Lori B.
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    15 years ago

    good place to see ducks of many kind. My family loves to go here and watch the birds annually. Never a dull moment in nature. Enjoy

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    Shanghai Garden Park - Water Spouting Dragon (Loved by kids on a hot day)

    Shanghai Garden Park

    4.1(8 reviews)
    19.1 mi

    New to the area and went to this park with my 5 year old and 5 month old. THE PLAYGROUND IS NO…read moreLONGER THERE. There's a little bench area for toddlers and a set of swings. It was a nice neighborhood, the walking path was pretty spacious to walk with the stroller and the lawn was nice but disappointed that there isn't a playground anymore... which is a big reason to visit the park with your kids.

    Quaint little park. It's a great place to go for a walk, exercise, relax when it's not crowded,…read morehave a picnic, walk your pets, for kids to play in that little playground with swings, slides, and there's a water-spouting dragon head for kids and maybe adults to play in. Unfortunately, due to the current drought situation in California, the water fountain was shut off. No splashing around under the dragon spout. It's a beautiful park, but there are miscreants who visit the park, probably at night, that do not have any decency because there was an occasion when a tree was streamed with toilet paper. There are also some people who do not pick up after themselves or their pets. The city provides disposable bags for pet owners and trash bins are around park, yet some do not discard their waste in it including alcohol beverage containers (by the way, alcoholic beverages are not allowed). These are just a few instances. Thankfully, there is a park maintenance worker who comes around during the day and clean up other peoples messes. I come here occasionally to walk around the park and get a little exercise. I do get a weird look sometimes because I'm listening to music and stop abruptly to do a step aerobic routine depending on the song and rhythm. It may look odd, but at least I'm exercising instead of being a miscreant. Keep our park clean, respect the property and appreciate it please!

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    Shanghai Garden Park
    Shanghai Garden Park
    Shanghai Garden Park

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    South Yuba River State Park - Lupines along Buttermilk bend

    South Yuba River State Park

    4.2(59 reviews)
    33.2 mi

    This seems to a park focused on picnicking & summer river time, rather than hiking (at least from…read moreprior reviews.) However, don't sleep on South Yuba River State Park for its hiking trails! I stopped by on a drizzly spring Saturday. The rain seemed to keep crowds away (I've heard weekends can be packed!) If you visit the Bridgeport area of the park, there are two lots. One is by the newly restored covered bridge and another less than a quarter mile down the road. Parking was self paid when I visited but they also accepted CA state parks pass. It's an interesting park from a history perspective but also has quite a display of spring wildflowers. I tried out 2 trails. First, I did the Point Defiance loop trail that was a moderate climb with woodlands, river views, hillsides with flowers and some small side paths down to the water. It is just under 3 miles but a fun adventure with a variety of landscapes. Second, was the Buttermilk Bend trail which is an out and back that is a fairly flat trail that follows along the river (but higher up with some amazing views.) The second trail was an out and back and about 2.5 miles total. I was really impressed with the quality of the trails -it's a well maintained park. There are several picnic areas and a visitor center (which I didn't get to check out this time.) I can't speak for summer time and swimming here but it's a great scenic hiking spot for river views and wildflowers.

    Took a peaceful trip to the South Yuba River in Penn Valley with my boyfriend and our pup, and it…read morewas everything we needed. Nature at its finest -- cool, clear water, smooth rocks to lounge on, and beauty in every direction. The air felt fresh, the vibe was mellow, and it was just one of those spots that reminds you how healing a little escape into nature can be. Perfect for a dip, a walk, or just soaking in the calm. Already dreaming of going back.

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    South Yuba River State Park
    South Yuba River State Park - Wildflowers on the Point Defiance trail

    Wildflowers on the Point Defiance trail

    South Yuba River State Park - So many globe Lillie's on trail

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    So many globe Lillie's on trail

    Jensen Park - Large BBQ grill

    Jensen Park

    4.4(8 reviews)
    24.3 mi

    I love this park and love how this community actually uses it. On normal days, there are always…read morekids playing on the slides and swings and others having a picnic under the gazebos. There is a large BBQ for parties and smaller ones throughout the park. There are softball fields and lots of parking here. On event days half the town is over here for the carnival, or Lamb Derby, or AutoShow. Its so cool and so fun. During events the electrical is on so vendors can hook up and cook. We bring the dogs here sometimes but generally its a nice park to lounge at or to attend local events in town.

    My son and I are always on the hunt for really great playgrounds and have yet to find one out this…read moreway. We've been here since 2017, and we've been to literally every single playground from Butte County to Glenn County, to Shasta County, and even the Mount Shasta area. This is cute, but it's not a great playground. It still has these useless cement structures that have zero purpose, besides getting in the way. I remember the same type of useless structures that children we're supposed to climb on and then just sit there doing nothing when I was a child in the 1960s. These are from that exact same era. They are faded and deteriorating and just make whoever takes care of the park look like they don't give a crap. From afar, the plastic structures look new, but when you get close, you see they've been faded by the sun significantly and are probably decades old. None of the slides are good. Everything is made for someone about 3 ft tall but definitely not older than whatever age would be more than that. An abundance of swings to a weird level. I've never seen a playground with this many swings, outside the main playground at Golden Gate Park..There's just no great structure to spend time in. The structures end with really pathetic bizarrely tiny slides. It's a huge park that never ever has anyone taking even more than 2% of it up at any given time. They should use that space for an amazing park for this area since literally nowhere out this way from Glenn County to Shasta County to Butte County has a decent large playground. It's great if your child is 4 years old max

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    Jensen Park - Large party gazebo

    Large party gazebo

    Jensen Park - Big kids playground

    Big kids playground

    Jensen Park

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    Gray Lodge Wildlife Area - parks - Updated May 2026

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