Places to Visit

NEW: 2020 CDFW Wildlife Area Operational Changes due to COVID-19
The Department plans to operate wildlife areas and refuges to provide recreational opportunities for the upcoming waterfowl season while keeping hunters and department staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please continue to check the Department’s website for updates. You may consult the Department’s Closure Page for the most up to date information.

Consistent with the Governor’s Regional Stay Home Order updated December 6, 2020, ALL camping activities on Fish and Wildlife lands are suspended once a Region, as defined in the Order, reaches the 15% ICU bed capacity as directed in the Order. Camping will remain suspended for a minimum of three weeks.

NOTICE: Campfire/BBQ Restrictions on CDFW’s Northern Region Wildlife Areas

Until further notice, in CDFW’s Northern Region, no fires or barbeques are allowed on wildlife areas with designated camp sites or camping areas. Portable gas stoves are allowed. Current regulations that prohibit all fires and stoves on all other CDFW lands continue to apply.

Ecological Reserves and Wildlife Areas of California

Browse records in that Search

PROPERTY NAME	CATEGORY	REGION	COUNTY
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Albany Mudflats Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Alameda
Alkali Sink Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Fresno
Allensworth Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Tulare
Antelope Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Sierra
Ash Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Lassen
Atascadero Creek Marsh Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Sonoma
Bair Island Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	San Mateo
Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	San Bernardino
Bass Hill Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Lassen
Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Battle Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Tehama
Big Lagoon Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Humboldt
Big Sandy Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	San Luis Obispo
Big Table Mountain Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Fresno
Biscar Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Lassen
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Boden Canyon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Boggs Lake Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	2	Lake
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	Orange
Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Santa Cruz
Buena Vista Creek Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Burcham and Wheeler Flats Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Mono County
Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	Santa Barbara
Butler Slough Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	1	Tehama
Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	2	Butte
Butte Creek House Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	2	Butte
Buttermilk Country Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Inyo
Butte Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Siskiyou
Buttonwillow Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Kern
By Day Creek Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Mono
Cache Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Lake
Calhoun Cut Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Solano
Camp Cady Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	San Bernardino
Canada de los Osos Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Santa Clara
Canebrake Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Kern
Cantara-Ney Springs Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Siskiyou
Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Carrizo Canyon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
Carrizo Plains Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	San Luis Obispo
Cartago Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Inyo
Cedar Roughs Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Napa
Cinder Flats Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Shasta
Clear Lake Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Lake
Coachella Valley Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	Orange
Colusa Bypass Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Colusa
Coon Hollow Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Butte
Corte Madera Marsh Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Marin
Cosumnes River Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	2	Sacramento
Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Merced
Crestridge Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Crocker Meadows Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Plumas
Dales Lake Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	1	Tehama
Daugherty Hill Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Yuba
Decker Island Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Solano
Deep Springs Lake Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Inyo
Doyle Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Lassen
Dutch Flat Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Modoc
East Walker River Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Mono
Eden Landing Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Alameda
Eel River Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Humboldt
Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Monterey
Elk River Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Humboldt
Fall River Mills Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	1	Shasta
Fay Slough Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Humboldt
Feather River Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Yuba
Fish Slough Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Inyo
Fitzhugh Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Modoc
Fremont Valley Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Kern
Fremont Weir Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Yolo
French Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Riverside
Goleta Slough Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	Santa Barbara
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Butte
Green Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Mono
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Solano
Hallelujah Junction Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Sierra
Headwaters Forest Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	1	Humboldt
Heenan Lake Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Alpine
Hill Slough Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Solano
Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	5	San Diego
Honey Lake Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Lassen
Hope Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Alpine
Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Siskiyou
Imperial Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Imperial
Indian Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Lake
Kelso Peak & Old Dad Mountains Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	San Bernardino
Kerman Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Fresno
King Clone Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	San Bernardino
Kinsman Flat Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Madera
Knoxville Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Napa
Laguna Laurel Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	Orange
Laguna Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Sonoma
Lake Earl Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Del Norte
Lake Sonoma Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Sonoma
Liberty Island Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Solano
Little Panoche Reservoir Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Fresno
Loch Lomond Vernal Pool Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	2	Lake
Lokern Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Kern
Los Banos Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Merced
Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Sacramento
Mad River Slough Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Humboldt
Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
Marble Mountains Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	San Bernardino
Marin Islands Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Marin
Mattole River Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	1	Mendocino
McGinty Mountain Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Meadowbrook Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Mendota Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Fresno
Merrill's Landing Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Tehama
Miner Slough Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Solano
Monache Meadows Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Tulare
Morro Bay Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	San Luis Obispo
Morro Dunes Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	San Luis Obispo
Moss Landing Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Monterey
Mouth of Cottonwood Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Shasta
Napa River Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Napa
Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Napa
North Grasslands Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Merced
North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	2	Butte
Oasis Spring Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Merced
Oroville Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Butte
Otay Mountain Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Palo Verde Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
Panoche Hills Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Fresno
Peninsular Ranges Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
Petaluma Marsh Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Sonoma
Peytonia Slough Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Solano
Pickel Meadow Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Mono
Pilgrim Creek Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Pine Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Modoc
Pine Hill Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	2	El Dorado
Piute Creek Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	San Bernardino
Pleasant Valley Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Fresno
Point Edith Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Contra Costa
Putah Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Solano
Quail Hollow Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Santa Cruz
Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Rector Reservoir Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Napa
Red Lake Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Alpine
Redwood Shores Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	San Mateo
Rhode Island Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Contra Costa
River Spring Lakes Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Mono
Round Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Mono
Sacramento Bypass Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Yolo
Sacramento River Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Glenn
Saline Valley Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Inyo
San Bruno Mountain Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	San Mateo
San Dieguito Lagoon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
San Felipe Creek Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Imperial
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	5	San Diego
San Jacinto Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Riverside
San Joaquin River Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Fresno
San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	San Luis Obispo
San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Merced
San Pablo Bay Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Marin
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
Santa Rosa Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Riverside
Section 630(b)63, Title 14, California Code of Regulations* Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Inyo
Semitropic Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Kern
Shasta Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Siskiyou
Silver Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Lassen
Sky Valley Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
Slinkard / Little Antelope Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Mono
Smithneck Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Sierra
South Spit Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Humboldt
Spenceville Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Yuba
Stone Corral Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	4	Tulare
Surprise Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Modoc
Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Sutter
Sycamore Canyon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Riverside
Sycuan Peak Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Tecopa Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	Inyo
Tehama Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Tehama
Tomales Bay Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Marin
Truckee River Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Nevada
Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Butte
Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	Orange
Volta Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Merced
Walker Canyon Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	5	San Diego
Warner Valley Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	2	Plumas
Watsonville Slough Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	Santa Cruz
Waukell Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Del Norte
West Hilmar Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	4	Merced
West Mojave Desert Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	6	San Bernardino
West Walker River Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	6	Mono
Willow Creek Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	1	Lassen
Woodbridge Ecological Reserve	Ecological Reserve	3	San Joaquin
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area	Wildlife Area	3	Yolo

Lands Viewer

The CDFW Lands Viewer provides geospatial data about the CDFW's lands and facilities. The department manages over 1,100,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat and these properties provide many opportunities for the public to hunt, fish, watch wildlife and learn about nature. Come visit and explore a wildlife area or ecological reserve near you!

Note: the Lands Viewer is best accessed with a full-size display (13" or larger).

CDFW Lands Viewer

PDF Maps

Northern Region (1) Maps

Northern Region Wildlife Areas & Ecological Reserves

North Central Region (2) Maps

Bay Delta Region (3) Maps

Bay Delta Region Wildlife Areas & Ecological Reserves

Central Region (4) Maps

South Coast Region (5) Maps

South Coast Wildlife Areas & Ecological Reserves

Inland Deserts Region (6) Maps

Inland Deserts Wildlife Areas & Ecological Reserves

*The Department is evaluating the name of the property listed in Section 630(b)63, Title 14, California Code of Regulations for an update through the regulatory process.