Home»Cosumnes River Preserve

Just north of the little valley town of Thornton the Cosumnes River Preserve offers a very user-friendly look at one of the wetlands area that borders Interstate 5. A paved 1 mile loop and a longer, unpaved wetlands walk meander through riparian forest (valley oaks, various willow, Barbara's sedge and elderberry), grasslands (native creeping wild rye) and waterways.

Situated where the Cosumnes River flows into the Mokolumne River, the preserve offers birding (especially during the winter months), kayaking, and critter watching (turtles, otters, herons and nesting ducks in the spring).

Bring your binoculars!