Cosumnes River Preserve, Galt

Amazing place! Quite, full of birds, lush oak forest, plenty of exploring todo on a kayak, nice walks around the water,( can be 10 min to 2 hours) easy parking. Staff lives on site to take care of the reserve. Please expose young children to this marvelous place!

This was my first visit and the parking area was closed and it was pretty obvious that part of the main parking lot was flooded. I was confused, because there was no way of telling if the trail was closed or just the parking lot. The website says open sunrise to sunset. Anyways, there is a short wetland trail with additional parking and a bathroom that leads to the main trail. The trail was great. You get really close to the railroad when it comes by. There are swampy areas, lots of birds, and there is a sidewalk so strollers are okay! I would bring an all-terrain stroller and water proof boots in case of flooding. The most I came across was 1-2 in. There are plenty of ducks and many gnats and a few mosquitoes so bring bug spray. There are plenty of benches. Overall, a great hike!

Good place for a family to visit. No pets permitted, no running potable water. Bring plenty of water, as parts of the trail are exposed, especially the west side of Franklin Blvd, where there is no shade at all. Great place to visit for those looking for a flat area to hike/walk with kids. You'll walk over bridges that cross over wetlands. You'll see plenty of wildflowers, plants, and birds. Beware that rattle snakes are present, as well as mosquitoes (depending on time of year). Also a popular destination for kayakers and canoers, as the water is calm and easy to manage. The visitor center left me wanting more and the person staffing it was more focused on her book/phone than visitors. The bathrooms on site are pit toilets, and as I stated earlier, no running water to wash your hands after. There are 20 parking spots in the main lot, with 2 of them reserved for handicap. There is a smaller parking lot on the other side of the road.

This is a great place for family hikes and picnics. Low impact walking is good for toddlers and strollers. Even on bright sunny days there is a shady trail option and a small interpretive visitor center. Always have an opportunity to see various birds. Last time we went we even were offered microscopes and bird watching scopes by naturalists.

Terrific area for bird watching ...sand hill cranes to black phoebes. Well marked trails lead to delightful hikes. Informative visitor's center and tables for a picnic. Just a few minutes from Highway 5.