Cosumnes River Preserve

Came here yesterday for quality time with my dear friend.

We did the river walk and it was so lovely. It's an easy stroll with lots of wildlife, butterflies, dragonflies, the relaxing sound of wind through the trees, and nice, safe trails.

There are also signs posted that you can scan and learn more about what's around you.

Bathrooms were clean, and everyone we passed by was friendly and happy to be there, including a couple of volunteers on the path.

We're definitely coming back to walk the other trail. Will also bring binoculars.

Cosumnes River Preserve is tucked way out in Galt, but not a bad drive you're out in the delta area. Came here twice-once in November when some fall colors welcomed me and then again in late December when the preserve was cold and foggy. Parking is free and you can opt for a short stroll on paved trails through the wetlands or try some of the wooded trails near the river. During certain months, it's also known for a viewing area of Sandhill Cranes.
Trails are flat and it's more of a walk, than a hike but still a fun outdoor adventure.
Check out their website, as they do offer docent led walks for birders. Bring binoculars if you're going to explore the wetland trails-lots of migrating birds to see during the colder months!

What a beautiful nature reserve so close to home. Well maintained, marked walking trails with QR codes along the way to learn about landscape, wildlife & history.

A lot of areas to walk! The bridges to walk across were nice. Just a note that it is not dog friendly.
Lots of parking spots available. Great view of nature with birds and ducks, a very peaceful walk for anyone. I'm glad to have found this place

This is California's largest remaining valley oak riparian forest and one of the few protected wetland habitat areas in the state.

It was lovely here in April (once everything was no longer muddy from the torrential 2023 rains) and we saw a lot of local and migratory birds. There are a few different trails, and it was busy but not crowded in the late morning.

I came around 8:30 am for a peaceful walk. It was bright and slightly windy out. I honestly felt like I was in South Carolina and not in Galt although it was much cooler in temperature and less humid. They keep the grounds pretty neat and I was lucky to see many different species of birds. The path seemed short to me. I was able to walk a full circle while also having to cross the road in no time. There were also a lot more bugs than I expected. I think this would be a great place to get some nice family photos.

Had a great time with a group from Meet Up 9/17/23. Flat water and free parking. Paved walkway to the boat dock for water starts. Very peaceful

If you're looking to take an afternoon stroll surrounded by peaceful, serene nature, the "Cosumnes River Preserve" just might be the place for you. Having lived in the Sacramento area since the early-2000's, it took me just over 20 years to pay a visit to this place. Located in an unincorporated area of southern Sacramento County, the easiest way to find this place is by taking I-5 to Twin Cities Road and then Franklin Blvd south. The area itself is east of Walnut Grove, west of Galt, and south of Elk Grove.

I came here during the afternoon of Saturday June 4, 2022 at around 3:00pm. Since it was an overcast day, I felt it would be ideal conditions to go on a 2-hour hike to get my daily steps and calories in. What is really great about this place is that the main parking lot is absolutely FREE while offering an abundance of available spots that make this one of the easiest places to enjoy a scenic walk. Additionally, there are two public restrooms, a visitor center, and plenty of maps at the entrance exactly showing you where to go. They also include detailed signs directing you to various destinations including the Wetlands Walk, River Walk, and Visitor Center. Keep in mind that since this is a preserve, pets are not allowed so make sure to leave your four-legged pooch at home.

I particularly liked this trail area since there wasn't a whole lot of people, even on a Saturday afternoon. There are paved roads to walk on as well as many dirt trails that can go in different directions. The entire roundabout of the trail area covers about 4 miles of walking distance. During this outdoor adventure, I was able to see several bird species (including a white egret, sparrow, and a goose), rabbits, squirrels, lizards, butterflies, and even a snake. The area that covers the actual Cosumnes River as well as the marshland swamp area usually has lots of ducks in a row.

This is also a very popular destination to go kayaking and canoeing. Much of the water is very murky so it may not be the cleanest. I would also recommend coming here during the earlier spring months as many of us know how little amount of rain California receives to fill up its rivers and creeks. All in all, the "Cosumnes River Preserve" is a relaxing, tranquil, and peaceful way to bring out the nature in anyone. And if you're looking to capture that perfect sunset, make sure to come during the right time in the evening. My rating, an above average four stars.

We loved this preserve me my 4 year old & my grandma went on a nice little hike. We spotted a few different types of birds we really enjoyed exploring here together.

Nice small getaway from the urban Sac area. The place has two main "Walks": the Wetlands Walk and the River Walk.

The views from the Wetlands Walk make up pretty much the majority of the photos posted here. Birds chilling on large bodies of water (I visited back in October last year a few days after that one infamous storm and the birds were having a field day with all of the accumulated water!). Very easy to reach this particular vista spot as it's right across the street from the parking lot that's off of Franklin Blvd.

The River Walk is a way to get a close-up, base-level look at Cosumnes River. It also makes a good little outdoor stroll/beginner-friendly hike as it's of decent length (took me about 40 min to reach the river but I was reeeally taking my time), has multiple pathways (it's hard to get lost though as there are guide points throughout the area), and doesn't have much elevation changes at all. Most of the trail is spacious, but there are spots that are narrow and that do have some poison ivy (should be fine as long as you stick closely to the trail, but wear long pants/sleeves if you want to be extra careful).

Overall nice place if you want to take pretty nature photos and get some fresh air.