Colusa County: Nature Reserves, Riverfront and History

One mile southwest of the city of Colusa lies the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge in Colusa County. The Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is also in the county, four miles east of Maxwell. The two protected areas are easy to distinguish by their different reference points: Colusa on one side, Maxwell on the other.

Public access to the Delevan National Wildlife Refuge is restricted: it is open exclusively for hunting and, with advance reservations, for access to photo blinds. If you are planning a visit, check reservations for the photo blinds and visitor conditions in advance.

Riverfront and Outdoor Activities

The Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area is located near the city of Colusa on the west bank of the Sacramento River. The area includes campsites, picnic areas and a boat launch for small boats. The entrance is in Colusa, north of the intersection of Levee Street and 10th Street; check local road conditions before setting out. This will help you take the precise location of the entrance into account when planning your visit.

Fishing is also possible at the Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area. The fish species mentioned include Chinook salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout and striped bass. Conditions and regulations can vary seasonally, so check the applicable rules before fishing. The small-boat launch and fishing opportunities are different features of the area that you can consider depending on your plans.

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument extends through Colusa County. It has hiking trails, equestrian trails and designated routes for off-highway vehicles. These types of trails offer different options for outdoor activities. Check current trail conditions and possible closures before setting out.

History and Architecture

The Sacramento Valley Museum presents the history of the Sacramento Valley through artifacts, textiles and documents dating from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. Its building served as a high school for the city of Williams from 1911 to 1956. The museum therefore showcases both its regional collection and the building’s former use.

A featured exhibit at the Stonyford Museum is dedicated to the Stonyford Rodeo. It covers the rodeo’s history, photographs and memorabilia from all aspects of the event. Its focus differs from the broader regional history at the Sacramento Valley Museum: here, a single local event takes center stage.

Other historic sites tell stories of settlement, ranching and buildings. Granville P. Swift began ranching in Stone Creek Valley in Colusa County in 1847. In 1850, he and his partner Frank Sears built Swift’s Stone Corral from flat stones because there was no timber in the surrounding area. The building material thus directly reflects the reason for this unusual construction method.

The Cecil Ranch includes a main house dating from 1909, seven agricultural outbuildings and one additional structure. The buildings were constructed over a period that continued through 1945. At the local level, the ranch is listed as an outstanding example of early 20th-century residential architecture; its architecture combines Craftsman and Colonial Revival styles. The buildings and styles mentioned offer specific points of reference if you are interested in historic architecture.

Letts Valley was settled by Jack and David Lett in 1855. The lake’s present-day outlet in the valley is located at the site of a tunnel the brothers built for drainage. Together, these details show two different aspects of the area’s history: the valley’s early settlement and the later use of a structure for drainage.

Discover more destinations: Stonyford, Colusa, Williams, Tuolumne, San Mateo, Modoc, Alameda, Sierra County.

For the main travel overview: California.