Located in Sacramento County near Galt, California, Cosumnes River Preserve protects over 52,000 acres of central California's Central Valley, including the last remaining un-dammed river on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. The preserve encompasses a rich mosaic of permanent and seasonal wetlands, vernal pools, agricultural fields, and rare valley oak riparian forest. Cosumnes River Preserve provides exceptional wintering habitat for hundreds of thousands of migratory waterfowl and waterbirds along the Pacific Flyway, offering mobility-impaired birders wide, smooth boardwalks and flat trails designed for easy access.
Accessible Infrastructure & Preserve Features
Cosumnes River Preserve features thoughtfully designed, flat infrastructure that lets birders using wheelchairs, power chairs, rollators, or strollers navigate deep into marshlands and forest canopies.
Lost Slough Wetlands Walk: This flagship 1-mile loop is entirely flat and fully accessible. It features wide, smoothly paved concrete pathways that transition into expansive, high-grade wooden boardwalks stretching out over the managed wetlands.
River Walk Trail (Paved Section): A portion of the River Walk Trail offers a smooth, paved hard surface leading through the majestic valley oak canopy, providing step-free viewing into the forest understory and river margins.
Barrier-Free Viewing Decks: The boardwalk system includes wide, custom viewing decks built over the open water. These decks feature low-profile safety kick-rails rather than tall walls, giving seated observers clear lines of sight across the water to spot wading birds and roosting cranes.
Visitor Center & Amenities: The main Visitor Center is fully ADA-compliant with gentle access ramps, wide doorways, accessible public restrooms, and educational displays. The surrounding patio area offers shade and direct views over the marsh.
Parking & Accessibility Bays: Paved, van-accessible parking spaces are located right at the Visitor Center trailhead, providing direct, step-free access to both the building and the main loop trails.
Target Birds at Cosumnes River Preserve
The preserve is world-famous as a winter sanctuary (October through March) for massive aggregations of cranes, swans, and ducks, as well as a year-round haven for raptors and songbirds.
Wintering Cranes & Swans: Greater Sandhill Crane, Lesser Sandhill Crane, and Tundra Swan (thousands roost in the shallow wetlands surrounding the boardwalks).
Waterfowl & Dabbling Ducks: Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, and Ring-necked Duck.
Herons, Egrets & Secretive Marsh Birds: Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, White-faced Ibis, American Bittern, Sora, and Virginia Rail.
Raptors & Birds of Prey: Swainson’s Hawk (spring/summer nesting specialty), White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, and Great Horned Owl.
Oak Woodland & Wetland Songbirds: Tree Swallow (nesting in hundreds of boxes along the boardwalk), Marsh Wren, Bewick’s Wren, Bushtit, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, and Yellow-billed Magpie (a California endemic).
Visiting Tips for Accessible Birding
Timing the Crane Fly-In: Visit in late afternoon during late fall or winter. Position yourself on the Lost Slough boardwalk deck to watch thousands of Sandhill Cranes fly overhead to roost in the shallow waters as the sun sets.
Paved Surface Reliability: Unlike dirt trails that soften during rainy California winters, the paved concrete and wooden boardwalk elements of the Lost Slough loop remain clean, firm, and fully navigable year-round.
Sun & Wind Protection: The boardwalks extending over the marsh are completely open with limited shade. Bring sun protection and wind-resistant outer layers during chilly, breezy winter mornings.
