About Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area
The Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area was established in 1991 with the primary purpose of preserving wetland habitat for wintering waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species. It has an acquisition boundary which includes 11 counties (Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Glenn, Placer, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba) and encompasses most of the Sacramento Valley floor from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Red Bluff, California. It includes 28 conservation easements on approximately 14,740 acres of privately-owned wetlands, but also includes the 1,732 acre fee-title property known as the Llano Seco Unit. The landscape is very flat, bordered by the Sierra and Coast ranges and is surrounded by intensive agriculture. Most of the Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA's conservation easements lie within the Butte, Yolo and Sutter Basins. Made up of mostly managed wetlands, these easements support hundreds of thousands of wintering waterfowl, as well as tens of thousands of migrating and wintering shorebirds and large numbers of State-listed as threatened greater sandhill cranes. Included in these easements are some of the most important privately-owned waterfowl sanctuaries in the Central Valley. The Llano Seco Unit was established in 1989 as part of the Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area. It is part of the historic Llano Seco Rancho, the last intact Mexican land grant in California. This historic area is bounded by the Sacramento River to the west and is bisected by Angel Slough in the center and Little Chico Creek to the east. This diverse landscape includes riparian floodplains, uplands and wetland basins. The Llano Seco Unit consists of two distinct areas: Sanctuary I (967 acres) and Sanctuary II (765 acres). Managed wetlands comprise nearly half of the total acreage, and consist mostly of seasonally flooded wetlands, with some semi-permanent and permanent wetlands. The remaining acreage is compri
How to Get There
exit at Hwy 32 at Orlandgo 10 miles east on Hwy 32go 8 miles south on Hwy 45go 5.7 miles east on Ord Ferry Rdgo 2.1 miles south on Seven Mile Lnturn right into Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA/ Llano Seco Unit parking lotClick here for a map with directionsexit at Road 68 (9.1 miles north of Maxwell)go 4 miles north on Hwy 99Wgo 9.6 miles east on Road 60/61 to Four Cornerscontinue 5 miles east on Hwy 162go 10.8 miles north on County Rd Z/Seven Mile Lnturn left into Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA/ Llano Seco Unit parking lotClick here for a map with directions
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area
Heading to Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area?
No central reservation system listed for Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/3935) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area?
exit at Hwy 32 at Orlandgo 10 miles east on Hwy 32go 8 miles south on Hwy 45go 5.7 miles east on Ord Ferry Rdgo 2.1 miles south on Seven Mile Lnturn right into Steve Thompson North Central Valley WMA/ Llano Seco Unit parking lotClick here for a map with directionsexit at Road 68 (9.1 miles north of Maxwell)go 4 miles north on Hwy 99Wgo 9.6 miles east on Road 60/61 to Four Cornerscontinue 5 miles e…
How do I contact Steve Thompson North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area?
You can reach the park at phone: 530-934-2801 or email: sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
