The Record, Stockton, Calif., Peter Ottesen Column: Hot Spots to Experience
By Peter Ottesen, The Record, Stockton, Calif.
Jan. 17–Freezing cold mornings, be damned. Once the mid-day sun kicks in the weather is perfect for an outdoors adventure.
It’s a prime time for grand vistas, flocks of migratory waterfowl and snooping around numerous close-to-home natural habitats, where bringing warm clothes, field glasses and a picnic lunch are the only requisities.
I visited the Cosumnes River Preserve this week and practically had the whole place to myself, except for thousands of ducks and geese and the magnificent riparian forest. Located 22 miles north of Stockton off Interstate 5, the preserve has three trails that are open daily without a fee. The riparian trail meanders through old-growth oaks and cottonwoods and a boardwalk trail — handicapped accessible — leads to the seasonal marsh that is teeming with birds and the Lost Slough Wetlands trail.
If you go on weekends between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. a visitor center staffed with volunteer docents is welcoming and very educational for folks who wish to learn about flood plains and the last major undammed river on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. For the less active, there also are driving tours that give glimpses inside the 40,000-acre preserve. Information: (916) 684-2816; www.cosumnes.org.
Here are five of my other favorite winter destinations:
–Van Assen Park — Located on the Mokelumne River just below Camanche Dam, you’ll find a 47-acre riparian forest filled with wildlife such as raptors, waterfowl, upland birds and neotropicals. East Bay Municipal Utilities District has provided trails, picnic tables, fire pits and vault toilets. Admission is free. You might see steelhead, the run is particularly good this year, and take time to visit the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery and feed the fish. Take Highway 12 east of Lodi and turn north on McIntire Road to reach the park. Information: www.ebmud.com/services/recreation/sierra/mokelumne_day_use/default.htm
–Brannan Island State Recreation Area — Set next to the Sacramento River, this site gives visitors a true Delta feel. It is reached off Highway 160, about three miles south of Rio Vista. Ducks, geese and tundra swans take precedence right now, but self-guided trails will reveal all sorts of wading and shore birds, as well as native plants indiginous to the region. There are day-use and camping areas and a wonderful visitor center with well-appointed exhibits that operates daily. The area encompasses approximately 330 acres. There’s a small admission fee. Information: www.stateparks.ca.gov
–Calaveras Big Trees State Park — Normally shrouded in snow, the giant redwoods radiate their green bows in the bright sunlight. Trails to the various groves are open and easily traversed, though having shoes that are waterproof is a good idea. All the amenities expected of a state park can be found here, including trail maps and guides to interpretation that offer the natural and cultural history of the redwoods. A small fee per vehicle is required. The entrance is off Highway 4, just east of Arnold. Information: www.stateparks.ca.gov
–Mount Diablo State Park — On a crisp clear day you can see for a long way — Farallon Islands to the west, the Sierra to the east and mighty Mount Lassen to the north. There are hiking trails, interpretive panels and places to picnic. For the less ambitious, simply find a spot in a lofty parking lot and sit. The vistas are so grand. A small entry fee applies. Access is off Interstate 680 from Danville and Walnut Creek. Information: www.stateprks.ca.gov
–Grasslands Ecological Area — If you like to drive and enjoy seeing what the northern San Joaquin Valley looked like 150 years ago, this 180,000-acre contiguous wetland/upland complex is unique and gives visitors a real chance to “go wild.” There are many destinations within the Grasslands, such as touring secret county roads or more well-known San Luis, Merced and West Bear Creek national wildlife areas. There are no fees. You’ll have the chance of encountering bald and golden eagles, raptors, shorebirds, sandhill cranes, tule elk and countless flocks of ducks and geese. There are more than 1 million birds wintering here right now. To obtain a free map and brochure, call the Grassland Water District, (209) 826-5188, or the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, (209) 826-3508. The GEA is located within Merced County, about 70 miles south of Stockton. The hub is Los Banos. Information: www.fws.gov/sanluis/; www.grasslandwetlands.com
Contact outdoors columnist Peter Ottesen at pottesen@recordnet.com
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Record, Stockton, Calif.
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