Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area. This is the view from the Flyway Trail, looking south toward the Sutter Buttes. Photo by queerbychoice.
| Location |
| 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley, CA 95948-9332 |
| Hours |
| Every day from sunrise to sunset |
| Phone |
| (530) 846-7500 |
| Website |
| http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region2/graylodge/ |
Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area is 9,182 acres of riparian forest and freshwater marsh, including vernal pools, permanent ponds, and watergrass where more than a million waterfowl (including more than 100,000 geese) spend each winter.1 It is located directly north of the Sutter Buttes. Most of it is in Butte County, but the southeastern tip of it extends into Sutter County.
Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area includes more than 80 miles of roads and more than 50 miles of trails for hiking and bicycling. All main roadways terminate in parking areas. The wildlife museum features taxidermied bird and mammal species. There are picnic tables near parking lot 14. Also near parking lot 14 are a 2.5-mile (round trip) graveled levee trail and an 0.6-mile (round trip) self-guided, wheelchair accessible Wetland Discovery Trail, which features an informational booklet and leads to a platform for bird watching and other wildlife viewing. Near parking lot 18, there is a wheelchair accessible wildlife observation hide, overlooking a seasonal pond. A second wildlife observation hide is located a short walk down the Flyway Trail (not wheelchair accessible) and also overlooks a seasonal pond.
About 60% of the waterfowl population in the Pacific Flyway and 20% of the waterfowl population in North America spend the winter in California's Central Valley.2 Because 95% of Central Valley wetlands have been drained or filled in over the past 100 years,3 native waterfowl have become increasingly dependent upon refuges such as this one.
Events
January: Snow Goose Festival March: Wood Duck Nest Box Program Workshop April: Bikes 'n' Birds May: Gray Lodge Kids' Fishing Derby October: Gray Lodge Docent Clinic Waterfowl Season: Gray Lodge Weekend Wildlife Walks
Rules
Canals along the Wetland Discovery Trail at Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area. Photo by queerbychoice. There is an entrance charge of $2.50 per person for a day use pass, paid mostly on the honor system: each parking lot has envelopes to place your money in (with numbered tear-off stubs to carry with you as proof of payment) and a slot to deposit your envelope into. Children under age 16 get in free. Visitors displaying a valid California hunting, trapping or fishing license also get a free day use pass; however, they must pay daily permit fees to hunt, trap, or fish. Organized youth or school groups may call to request free guided tours.
All visitors must stay on the roadways and trails; the fields and ponds are for the wildlife. To preserve the health of Gray Lodge wildlife, please don't feed the animals.
Bicycling is allowed on most roadways, but on Rutherford Road, bicycling is only allowed during waterfowl season.
Pets are allowed in motor vehicles or on a leash less than 10 feet in length, except where prohibited.
Insect repellent and sunscreen are highly recommended.
Waterfowl Season
Birds at Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area. Seen from the Flyway Trail, February 2010. Photo by queerbychoice. Waterfowl season is generally designated as October through mid-February, when waterfowl populations are typically highest. From two weeks before waterfowl season until one week after waterfowl season, the majority of Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area is closed to all non-hunting activities. During this closure period, wildlife viewing is restricted to designated areas of the sanctuary, all visitors on the 3-mile auto loop must remain in their cars, bicycling is allowed only on Rutherford Road, and fishing is restricted to the Avis Access only.
Gray Lodge Weekend Wildlife Walks are offered on Saturdays and Sundays throughout waterfowl season.
Camping and trailers are allowed only during waterfowl season. Trailers may be placed no sooner than one week before the beginning of waterfowl season on the area and must be removed no later than one week after the close of waterfowl season on the area. All trailers must be registered at the checking station within one week of placement. Cab-over campers cannot be left without a vehicle attached.
Hunting
Hunting is allowed only during the designated waterfowl season, and only with a valid hunting or trapping license from the California Department of Fish and Game. Hunters must not possess more than 25 shotgun shells while in the field.
Waterfowl/Coot/Moorhen/Snipe: Hunt days are Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays during open seasons.
Pheasant/Quail/Rabbit: Hunt days are daily during the first nine days of the pheasant season. Thereafter, during the regular pheasant season, pheasant hunting is allowed only on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays. Rabbit and quail hunting are only allowed on pheasant hunt days.
Dove: Hunt days are daily during the September dove season and only on waterfowl or pheasant hunt days during the late dove season. Dove hunting is allowed only in designated portions of the wildlife area.
Deer: Hunt days are only during the Gray Lodge Deer Hunt under special permit, zone G-12, issued by drawing.
Falconry: Hunting with falcons is restricted to the east side of the area. Hunt days are Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays during falconry season.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed only from the shore and only with a valid fishing license from the California Department of Fish and Game. Fishing is allowed seven days a week all year long. From two weeks before waterfowl season to one week after waterfowl season, fishing is restricted to the Avis Access only. The ponds and canals support black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, channel catfish, common carp, golden shiner, green sunfish, largemouth bass, logperch, mosquitofish, Sacramento blackfish, Sacramento sucker, silver goldfish, threadfin shad, and warmouth.
Wildlife Viewing
Birds
The California Department of Fish and Game provides a list of bird species that can be seen at Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area.
Mammals
Native bats in the wildlife area include the California myotis, Mexican free-tailed bat, pallid bat, and Western red bat.
Native rodents in the wildlife area include the Botta's pocket gopher, California ground squirrel, California vole, common muskrat, and North American deermouse.
Other native mammals in the wildlife area include the American badger, American mink, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, broad-footed mole, coyote, desert cottontail, gray fox, mountain lion, mule deer, North American porcupine, North American river otter, ornate shrew, raccoon, red fox, ring-tailed cat, striped skunk, Western harvest mouse, Western spotted skunk. The vagrant shrew has also been reported there, although this is not in its normal geographic range.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Native snakes in the wildlife area include the coachwhip, common garter snake, common kingsnake, giant garter snake, gopher snake, longnose snake, night snake, racer, ringneck snake, sharptail snake, Western rattlesnake, and Western terrestrial garter snake.
Native lizards in the wildlife area include the Coast horned lizard, Gilbert's skink, Southern alligator lizard, Western fence lizard, Western skink, and Western whiptail.
Other native reptiles in the wildlife area include the Western pond turtle.
Native amphibians in the wildlife area include the California slender salamander, Pacific tree frog, Western spadefoot toad, and Western toad. The tiger salamander has also been reported there, although this is not in its normal geographic range.
Links
California Department of Fish and Game: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Bird Watcher's Digest: "Where the Wild Ones Go: Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge" by Pamela Biery MarshWorks (Jason Marsh's Journal): Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge Wikimapia: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
Comments
Footnotes
1. California Department of Fish and Game: Gray Lodge Wildlife Area: Plants/Animals/Natural Communities
2. Ducks Unlimited: Butte Basin NAWCA II: Butte Sink NWR Enhancement
3. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area
