Rancho Seco Recreational Area
Get back to nature at Rancho Seco Recreational Area
A short 25-minute drive from downtown Sacramento, 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.
Your health, well-being and safety are our top priority.
As we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic together, we continue to make ongoing changes to restrictions at our Rancho Seco Recreational Area to comply with the Sacramento County Public Health Officers new Public Health Order. These actions are to continue to maintain a reduced risk to the public and the park operators’ employees. We’re asking guests actively ill with COVID symptoms or exposures within the last 10 days to not visit the recreational area.
The following measures have been put in place.
- Park hours 7 AM – 6 PM (Monday – Sunday)
- Social distancing is encouraged. Maintain 6 feet between you and others if not vaccinated or boosted.
All the following activities are permitted at this time:
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Kayaking/boating
- Dog park
- Picnicking (BBQ)
- Tent camping
- RV sites are active with reservations
Our park operator has the authority to close or limit park access at any time.
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).