# Cosumnes River Preserve Winter Sandhill Crane & Waterfowl Boardwalk Trails

> Place to go for families in the Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom area (CA). Times are Pacific Time.

- When: Open on its own schedule
- Where: Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center, 13501 Franklin Blvd, Galt, CA 95632
- Ages: All ages (Free admission and free parking)
- Price: Free admission and free parking; donations welcomed
- Organizer: Cosumnes River Preserve & Bureau of Land Management
- Official page: https://www.cosumnes.org/
- Last checked: Thu, Nov 5

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/sacramento/activities/cosumnes-river-preserve-winter-sandhill-crane-and-waterfowl-boardwalk--listing-876e65442ab3668ddbb6106b

## About

Located just 25 minutes south of Sacramento in Galt, the Cosumnes River Preserve protects more than 50,000 acres of pristine Central Valley wetlands, vernal pools, and riparian forests. Winter is the preserve's most spectacular season, when tens of thousands of migratory waterfowl, tundra swans, and magnificent Sandhill Cranes—standing nearly five feet tall with six-foot wingspans—overwinter in the flooded fields. Families can embark on the universally accessible 1-mile River Walk and Lost Slough Boardwalk, which extends out over shallow marshlands allowing children to observe cranes feeding, preening, and performing their dramatic leaping courtship dances up close. The visitor center offers free loaner binoculars for kids, wildlife guides, and interpretive displays.

Family Experience & Accessibility:
• Stroller Accessibility: The Lost Slough Boardwalk is flat, wide, and fully wheelchair/stroller accessible with wooden guardrails; packed gravel paths around the visitor center.
• Nursing & Rest Spots: Benches positioned at scenic boardwalk viewing overlooks; covered picnic pavilion and modern restrooms at the Visitor Center.
• Age Suitability: All ages; children are captivated by the sheer size, trumpeting calls, and numbers of cranes.
• Sensory Tips: Natural acoustic spectacle of thousands of trumpeting cranes calling at dusk; bring a warm fleece jacket, binoculars, and a camera.

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