Rio Vista Unit, Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge, November 27, 2022

by Laurie & Don BurkPosted onGet Out!
Sacramento River. D. Burk.
View downriver from the trail in the Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Photo taken November 27, 2022, by Don Burk.

Here’s a lovely fall-colors walk for you: trails in the Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. We found immense valley oaks, cottonwoods, Oregon ashes, willows, and box-elders vibrant in their fall attire, many draped in vines of the jewel-toned California grape. Stunning! Trails took us through dense vegetation growing under high canopies, along sparsely treed open floodplain, and atop a riverbank levee.

Trail in dense riparian vegetation at its southern end. D. Burk.
The vegetation becomes increasingly more dense the closer the trail gets to the southern end of the unit, which is bounded by Hoag Slough, finally opening up again once it reaches the river. Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Photo taken November 27, 2022, by Don Burk.

We only recently came to understand the extent of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Consisting of 30 units from Red Bluff to Princeton, they provide over 10,000 acres of conserved land. These units are conveniently lumped into sections according to their location on the river: North, North-Central, South-Central, and South. Not all units are open to the public, and many are only accessible by boat. Seven of the units have hiking trails.

Open floodplains in the Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Photo taken November 27, 2022, by Don Burk.

In the North section (closest to Shasta Chapter CNPS territory), the Rio Vista Unit is the only unit that offers hiking. The trailhead is just east of Woodson Bridge, on the south side of South Avenue, outside of Corning. There are over eight miles of trails, primarily through restored riparian habitat, on this ~1,150-acre site in Tehama County.

Rio Vista Unit entrance sign. D. Burk.
Entrance sign on South Avenue for the Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. At the trailhead gate, there is more signage that includes a map, important details about the area, and many copies of a brochure for this unit. Everything is beautifully done; we were impressed by the obvious care that has gone into the maintenance of this unit. Photo taken November 27, 2022, by Don Burk.

We hiked the main trail, which makes a loop as it generally follows the perimeter of the unit. The trail is almost all flat roadbed and is very well maintained. There are several trails that connect the east and west sides of the main perimeter trail, should you like to make a shorter loop hike.

Levee trail along the river. D. Burk.
The western edge of the loop trail is mostly on top of a levee, which affords great wildlife viewing. We saw many birds, including egrets, waterfowl, black phoebes, and many others we couldn’t identify. We also got to watch a family of five river otters swim by as we ate lunch on the riverbank. Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Photo taken November 27, 2022, by Don Burk.

As it was late fall, we did not expect to see a lot in bloom. As this is California, we counted 17 species in bloom, anyway! Admittedly, many were weeds, but weeds are cool, too. Our most exciting find was the diminutive Australian brassbuttons. A weed, yes, but the first time we’d ever seen it, and the first time it has been reported in Tehama County.

Australian brassbuttons. D. Burk.
Australian brassbuttons, Cotula australis, is a non-native species with flowers less than 0.25 inches in diameter. We found it growing in a few places at the edge of the trail in the Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Photo taken November 27, 2022, by Don Burk.

We definitely recommend the Rio Vista Unit trails for a fun fall stroll, customized to fit your energy level and time limit. Besides great botany, this is a marvelous place to go bird-watching. Bring a friend—the four-footed furry types are welcome if kept leashed. However you do it, we know you’ll enjoy it. Meanwhile, we’re going to check out more of these USFWS units! ~Laurie & Don Burk

Common madia. D. Burk.
Common madia, Madia elegans, in bloom in the Rio Vista Unit of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge on November 27, 2022. Photo taken by Don Burk.