Cottonwood Campground

Brannan Island boasts world-class boating and watersports (see the windsurfing section). With a ten-lane launch ramp and boat-in campsites, we don’t doubt it. Power boats are not allowed on the Seven Mile Slough, but all watercraft can travel down the Three Mile slough. If you can’t bear to leave the peaceful water, berth your boat overnight at a campsite. Berths accommodate boats up to 35 by 10 feet, and if your boat exceeds those dimensions, you can take up two berths...

Bass, sturgeon, catfish, perch, shad, bluegill, and migrating salmon live in the Delta. There is a wooden fishing platform on the Seven Mile Slough with adjacent accessible parking. Frank’s Tract is five miles away and is only accessible by boat, but it is an excellent place to fish as well. Make sure you bring your California fishing license first!

This recreation area isn’t ideal for hiking as there aren’t many designated hiking trails, but it’s fun to explore nonetheless! Walk along the sloughs surrounding the island and be sure to check out the swimming area!

Windsurfing is quite popular on Brannan Island, with two sloughs and the Sacramento River at your fingertips, but the best place to do it is Windy Cove, right by the park entrance. Why? Because it’s windy… which means it’s great for windsurfing. You should contact the park for more information!

It gets hot here during the summer, so it seems perfect to cool off in the water. You can take a dip at the picnic area on the shore of the Seven Mile Slough in the eastern section of Brannan Island. Lifeguards may not be on duty, so be SURE to keep an eye on the youngins.

Brannan Island is home to plenty of little wildlife critters, like jackrabbits, ground squirrels, skunks and snakes, as well as 76 types of birds, including blackbirds, meadowlarks, mockingbirds, pheasants, flickers, sparrows, doves and the burrowing owl. With so many islands and marshes, there’s sure to be many types of animal residents. The protected wetland marsh, Little Frank’s Tract (only accessible by boat) is home to minks, otters, beavers and muskrats, and is probably the best place to go birding.