Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area Campground

Boating

The Sacramento Riverallows shallow motorized boats, and of course anything that is propelled by man (that means you). There is a small launch ramp in the park and lots of miles of scenic river to be had! Although the river can look pretty harmless, it can also pick up speed and make way for rapids during certain seasons – be sure to get all the information you need before setting sail.

Fishing

The Sacramento River is known as one of the “finest fishing stretches in California”, and with good reason. The part of the river that falls under this land is beautifully lined with cottonwoods and willows. This elegant canopy means plenty of nice places along the river bank to claim a shady fishing spot . Fishermen here enjoy catching king salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout and striped bass and more. Bonus: the shade means that there is no reason to rock a dorky fisherman’s hat (unless that’s your thing - then rock on).

Hiking

The Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation area definitely has some hiking trails worth checking out. Most of the hiking trails in this park are easy going and most lead to a sandy riverbank meaning ALL of the trails here are undoubtedly awesome. Some of the trails here also lead to views of old Colusa buildings, the Sutter Buttes and the Coast Range.

Paddling

Colusa-Sacramento State Recreation Area is lucky to cross paths with the Sacramento River, the longest river in California. There is a boat launch and a small beach in the recreation area, making it the ideal spot to slip into the river for a paddle . You’ll often share the river with small motorized boats, but the hum of motors only adds to the river’s atmosphere. Although the river usually seems tame, watch out for certain times of year where it flows faster and paves the way for some wild rapids.

Swimming

The recreation area gives visitors access to a gravel bar beach area making it easy to go for a swim in the Sacramento River. Swimmers can enjoy waters gently shaded by cottonwoods and willows. In the summer, the waters here are typically calm making it ever so tempting (and rewarding) to jump in and cause a few waves.

Wildlife watching

Beneath the cottonwoods and the willow trees, and amongst the wild grapes and fig there are plenty of animals that come to the Sacramento riverbanks to quench their thirst and claim a home. Some animals visitors should keep an eye out for include deer, raccoons, foxes opossum, muskrats, geese and osprey.