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The San\u00a0Joaquin\u00a0River is one of the longest waterways in all of California<\/a>.\u00a0It runs for more than 360 miles,\u00a0flowing from high up in the Sierra Nevada mountains through the central part of the state and into the\u00a0Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,\u00a0before eventually emptying into the\u00a0San Francisco Bay. If you’re looking for a scenic recreation area to admire the waters, the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge<\/a> is a pretty great place to start.\u00a0As you probably guessed from the name, this patch of wild sits rights along the banks of the San\u00a0Joaquin River.\u00a0<\/p>\n But the refuge also hugs\u00a0two of the waterway’s main\u00a0tributaries\u00a0\u2013 the\u00a0Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers \u2014 as it stretches for about 7,500 acres\u00a0across the San Joaquin Valley.\u00a0The\u00a0nature preserve is quite\u00a0remote, situated in the countryside of Stanislaus County. But it’s still pretty easy to get to, located\u00a0right off State Route 132. The city of Modesto is about 20 miles to the east, while San Francisco is roughly 80 miles in the opposite direction by way of\u00a0Interstate 580.\u00a0<\/p>\n Aside from all the river panoramas, the wildlife refuge’s wetlands make a peaceful getaway for hiking and birdwatching. As one visitor shared in a Tripadvisor<\/a> review, it’s a “beautiful place for people who love nature.” There are even covered picnic tables if you want to enjoy a good meal with a great view.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Trudge along the waters of the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge<\/p>\n Bordered by water, the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge’s\u00a0riparian\u00a0habitats include marshy wetlands, lush grasslands, and thickets of forests. The preserve doesn’t have a very extensive trail network, presumably in an effort to safeguard the\u00a0fragile terrain.\u00a0However, you can still cover some ground with a scenic hike along the Pelican Nature Trail<\/a>. The trailhead’s parking\u00a0area\u00a0is\u00a0right off Dairy Road.\u00a0There, you’ll find a restroom and picnic tables, as well as a little kiosk with a helpful trail map and\u00a0highlights of what you can expect during your romp through the preserve.\u00a0<\/p>\n The trail spans just over 4 miles and features\u00a0three connected looped paths that take you further into the refuge’s beautiful wilds. From the parking lot, you’ll pass the Wetland Loop first, which circles through the marshy landscape for just over half a mile. Just keep in mind that the water levels in the seasonally flooded wetlands can fluctuate throughout the year. Next is the Riparian Loop, which covers about \u00be of a mile along the water\u00a0and surrounding woodlands.\u00a0You can see more of the\u00a0San Joaquin, one of California’s longest rivers<\/a>, via the River Bend and River Loop, which spans over a mile.<\/p>\n The Pelican Nature Trail is incredibly flat, with less than 70 feet of elevation gain, and is partly dirt and gravel. Be sure to dress for the elements and pack ample water, especially during the summertime, when temperatures can soar upward of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. You may also want to spritz on some bug spray, because the mosquitoes around these parts can be vicious and have been known to carry the West Nile virus.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n See the critters of the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge<\/p>\n Keep your eyes peeled above and below as you mosey through\u00a0the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. The preserve could easily rank among the best birdwatching destinations in the United States<\/a>, with more than\u00a0240 kinds of birds recorded in the park, according to\u00a0eBird<\/a>. Some of the previously spotted species include Eastern phoebes,\u00a0Eurasian wigeons,\u00a0roseate spoonbills, short-eared owls, and swamp sparrows. The\u00a0Beckwith wildlife observation area\u00a0on Beckwith Road overlooks the wetlands and is a great place to hunker down and watch the birds. Just note that it’s only open seasonally, typically from around mid-October through the middle of March.<\/p>\n As one visitor shared in a Tripadvisor<\/a> review, the preserve is an especially “spectacular place” for birding in the winter months, when the place teems with a bevy of migratory species.\u00a0Of course, you can see birds throughout the refuge year-round, even during the sweltering summertime. Though, on the warmer days, the best time to spot birds is usually in the cooler hours of the morning or later in the day. A variety of other wildlife call the refuge home, including coyotes, rabbits, turtles, beavers, and snakes. There are more wild critters to see nearby.\u00a0Spot endangered animals at California’s Caswell Memorial State Park<\/a>, which is just north of the\u00a0San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge along the Stanislaus\u00a0River.<\/p>\n
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