Colusa County highlights include its rich Native American heritage, abundant wildlife refuges (Colusa, Delevan), historic downtown with Southern charm, agricultural backbone (rice, walnuts), the lively Colusa Casino Resort, outdoor recreation at Sacramento River State Recreation Area, and annual events like the Western Days rodeo and Civil War reenactmentse
The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), headquarters for the complex, is a crucial stop on the Pacific Flyway, offering incredible winter viewing of hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese, plus raptors like bald eagles; visitors enjoy a 6-mile auto tour (staying in vehicles) and walking trails, with peak seasons for waterfowl from November to March, making it a premier birding and photography destination near Willows, CA. The Colusa National Wildlife Refuge, a key part of the larger Sacramento NWR Complex, is located in Colusa County, near the town of Colusa, about 70 miles north of Sacramento, offering wetlands, auto tours, and wildlife viewing. The main Sacramento NWR is separate and serves as the headquarters for the whole complex, which also includes Delevan, Sutter, and other areas, but Colusa NWR is in Colusa County.
The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is located about 70 miles northwest of Shingle Springs (approx. 1 hour 20 minutes driving via I-5 North and CA-20 East). It is situated 1 mile southwest of the town of Colusa.
The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge supports multiple breeding and wintering bald eagle pairs. While a highly visible, popular nest along the auto tour route produced two eaglets, both unfortunately died in the spring following natural falls. However, other resident and visiting eagles remain in the area, taking advantage of the refuge's abundant waterfowl. Bald eagle numbers multiply significantly during the winter months when migratory birds (ducks and geese) flood the Sacramento Valley. You can spot up to 10 or more eagles in a single day during peak migration.
The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge is a premier wintering destination for tens of thousands of migrating Snow Geese. Arriving each fall from the Arctic, these magnificent birds provide a breathtaking "sight and sound" spectacle best viewed from the refuge's well-known auto tour route.
