Colusa-Sacramento River SRA

State Recreation Area

This area offers visitors campsites, picnic sites, and a launch ramp for small boats.

Riverbank cottonwoods and willows shelter one of the finest fishing stretches in California, with king salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout and striped bass some of the catches.

The river is on a major migratory route for birds of the Pacific flyway and provides home to an amazing number of species.

The River Patwin Indian tribe once lived nearby the area and in 1872 John Muir camped near what is now the park.

Locations - Directions
The park is near downtown Colusa, nine miles east of I-5 on Highway 20, north of Sacramento.
Colusa Latitude/Longitude: 39.2144 / -122.0083

Fishing
Fishing for king salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout and striped bass is excellent in this stretch of California's largest river. Anglers also take consistent catches of catfish, shad, carp and sturgeon.

The fall run of salmon comes in September and October. You can also catch them from November through January, though the fishing during high water isn't as satisfying. The spring run is April through June. The steelhead run is from late August to end of October; striped bass from April through June; and shad from mid-May to mid-June.

Bank fishing is easiest from the river's northwest bank, outside the park, or you can take the trail to the parks gravel bar-beach area. You'll be most successful if you fish by boat, searching out the deep holes in the river bed.

Seasons/Climate Recommended Clothing
Summer and spring are warm; fall and winter can be cool. Layered clothing is advised.

Wi-Fi Service
Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area now offers AT&T Wi-Fi Service!
This service enables park visitors with wireless enabled laptop computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) to access the Internet. Park visitors will be able to gain Wi-Fi access when they use a wireless device within about 150 to 200 feet of the main kiosk in the park. For more information about this service please see January 19, 2005, News Release.

January 19, 2005, News Release (pdf)

Other parks with WiFi access...