Rancho Seco Recreational Area
Get back to nature at Rancho Seco Recreational Area
Take a 45-minute drive from downtown Sacramento and you’ll find the 400-acre park that makes up the Rancho Seco Recreational Area. Take a short vacation and enjoy bird watching, boating, camping, fishing, hiking and even a sanctuary for rescued exotic animals and wildlife. Camp in comfort with recreation and concession buildings, shade structures, laundry facility, boathouse and newly renovated restrooms and showers.
Trout Derby
April 5 & 6, 2025
Thousands of pounds of trout are up for grabs at our Trout Derby at Rancho Seco Recreational Area.
Registration opening soon.
Hiking opportunities
Self-led hikes
Enjoy an easy seven mile round trip hike at the Howard Ranch Trail. The walk along the lake offers something special in each season – vernal pools in late winter, soft carpets of wildflowers in spring, contented cattle grazing on lush grass. It’s a working cattle ranch, so please leave your canine friends home.
Docent-led hikes
For those who would like to learn from local naturalist volunteers on docent-led hikes, the Cosumnes River Preserve offers springtime hikes on the Howard Ranch Trail. Each hike begins at 8:30 AM, takes 3+ hours and is taken at a casual pace.
More information
For information and reservations, call 1-800-416-6992 (Monday through Friday).