Tehama - The Magazine

10 TEHAMA - THE MAGAZINE, October 2014 Trails Beyond the auto tours there are trails in each of the units. The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge has a 2-mile Wetland Walk that leaves from the visitor center and is open year-round, and 5 miles of spring trails that are open February 15 through June 30. Colusa has a 1-mile trail that begins near the viewing platform at the beginning of the auto tour. Lesser known Sutter has 6 miles of spring trails that are open from February 15 through June 30. The Llano Seco Unit has a 1/2 mile trail that connects 2 viewing platforms. The Sacramento River NWR has 7 different units that have over 17 miles of trails, most of which are accessible from boat ramps along the Sacramento River. Be sure to checkout the Complex's website at http://www.fws.gov/ refuge/Sacramento for trail maps and information. Visitor Center For those short on time or in addition to your trip to the auto tour and trails, make sure to check out the Visitor Center located at the main Sacramento Refuge just south of Willows. At the Visitor Center there is a bookstore, Discovery Room, and numerous displays. For an overview of its history and mission, you can watch the Complex's film Unfinished Symphony. The bookstore is run by the AltaCal Audubon Society and is a great place to find field guides, nature books, postcards, T-shirts, and more. The Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday from November to February, and weekdays-only the remainder of the year. The Visitor Center is closed on all Federal holidays but the auto tour routes remain open. The refuges collect a $6 day use fee to pay for visitor facilities and wildlife habitat improvements. Holders of a Federal Duck Stamp ($15) or, my favorite, an America the Beautiful - Interagency Annual, Senior, Access or Volunteer Pass (or the past equivalent Golden Age Pass) enter free. They also offer a $12 annual pass for the frequent visitor. However you experience the Complex, you will come away with a new appreciation for the vital role the Sacramento Valley plays in

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