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    Effie Yeaw Nature Center

    4.8 (82 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Alex L.

    I've returned several times over, now with a kid in tow, and I'm here to say I appreciate this preserve more and more every time. Long winding trails, beautiful river vistas, plenty of wildlife and education for adults and children alike make this a local treasure. I finally got a chance to see inside the visitors center. They have a ton of interesting things going on, from a live owl you can look at upon entering to a bunch of history and interactive exhibits. My 5-year-old son especially loved looking at the snakes and touching anything he could get his hands on. Afterwards, we took a long walk through the paths that lead down to the river. It was a perfectly pleasant winter's evening and we had the chance to spot several animals. We came upon a group of deer and got rather close to them - an experience he still talks about. Unbelievably, this is all in the heart of the suburbs, with a river on one side and houses and businesses on all others. It's nice to see a city so forward thinking to set aside such a large area for people to enjoy. Check hours and make a donation in the visitors center! They are always needing funds and run with the help of volunteers.

    We on our way!
    Leilani Q.

    We hiked this simple piece of peaceful land on New Years Eve 2016 with 4 adults and 8 kids ages ranging from 4-13 years old. Suffice to say we all enjoyed it, it was easy considering none of us are hard core hikers/physically fit. We didn't pay anything to get in. 5 stars for it being mostly flat with a few small ups and downs and big rocks to walk on. The grade here is nothing a 4 year can't handle too bad. There were some hills of rocks the kids really loved to climb on, King-of-the-Hill style. There's also a place where you can skip rocks in the fast moving lake. And if you look carefully along the trail you may see a rope that hangs from a tree where you can swing on like Tarzan. I suggest wearing layers because it gets warm quick. A good eye should be kept on kids, the water moves fast and rough due to all the recent storms. The undertow may sweep the littles away. 4 stars for the bathrooms being open and having toilet paper. 5 stars for the close proximity from parking lot to the hike and the bathrooms. 5 stars for that cool wooden structure in the middle of the grassy area. 5 stars because although there's lots of dogs and owners in the parking lot, I seen zero on the paths. Privacy is nice! I can see myself coming back here for nice picnics and more easy hikes when the rain eases and as it gets warmer. Especially to give the kids a good easy workout. This place is also great for photos. About 4 years ago we took professional family pix here. We spotted 1 homeless tent which made a good opportunity to have a "teaching moment" for the kids.

    Scott D.

    Effie Yeaw Nature Center! What a spectacular place hidden in Carmichael CA. Its inside the Ancil Hoffman park with only a $5 car entrance fee only. The nature center has a lot of stuff for you to do. They have a few local rescued animals inside that you can see and they do take them outside and do some live showings. There is a few exhibits inside as well to see how local animals have lived and how they build stuff. They have a few huts and grinding rocks that they used many many years ago to survive in the area. The water back then would rise and go down depending on the time of year. You can buy shirts, books, flavored cricket pops and flavored dry crickets. Seriously i posted pics!! When you go out in the nature walk, be respectful dont litter, dont touch the flowers they have signs posted because it helps the wildlife on the preserve strive to live. And if you dont know what your touching be careful cause there is poison oak out there. Remember leaves of 3, let it be!!! On our beautiful day we had seen 3 hawks, 3 deers, a handul of turkeys both in the nature area and on the golf course located on your way through the park, also a tiny lizard, a coyote or fox, he was to fast to get a pic but he was beautiful. We heard a few wood peckers pecking away at the trees. The kids absolutely loved it. We packed a small cooler with water and few snacks and kept the trash with us to abide the rules. there is a lot of paths and signs that tell you all about the local trees, animals, and life going on around you. My favorite part was when we got down to the river, you could hear nature, the water rushing by as it went over the rocks, my wife and i could of sat there all day and just relaxed as nature passed us by. There were also a lot of tiny baby fish near the sides of the river bed. So if your up for some adventure, bring the kids and make a day of it, you wont be disappointed! And if you dont have kids, still wont be disappointed. Just a heads up, signs also say no bike riding, horses or dogs aloud in the nature center area, but you can have them in the ancil Hoffman park. Just incase you have any questions dont hesitate to call! Your only $5 away from an amazing learning, nature walking and relaxed day!!

    Michelle L.

    Sacramento has its own Hundred-Acre Wood! No bears, piglets, kangaroos or Tiggers though, but really could pass as bits of Pooh's world based on descriptions: Enchanting Place, A Nice Place for Picnics, An Area with Big Stones and Rocks, Owl's House, Rabbit's House, Thoughtful Spot. Just use your imagination. Had heard about this place from one of the local TV channels. A great place tucked away in Carmichael inside Ancill Hoffman Park. $5 parking, Nature Center opens at 9am, open until 4pm or 5pm depending on the season. The Center itself has a recreated Maidu Village with replica shelters and other structures, which are used in culture heritage programs for schoolkids. The landscaping and butterfly garden is also done with native plants/wildflowers. Inside the center, the American River Natural History Association run the Discovery Shop with apparel, books, games, jewelry and other gifts. There are also a bunch of resident animals. We were able to see the Saw-whet owl, Sophia, the Great Horned Owl, Echo, and the kestrel, Rocky that morning -- they also have two hawks, reptiles and amphibians if you like lizards and frogs. They also have taxidermied animals (turkey, beaver, otter, jays, toads, etc.) and a fun exhibit/interactive display where you can try on a pair of wings that demonstrates the wingspan of a California Condor! This would be a great place for kids to visit and learn about animals. Three self-guided trails (3/4 mile long) in the preserve area with awesome watchable wildlife opportunities. Trails are easy to walk, pedestrians only (no bikes). The trails are indicated by signage, either the Discovery Trail, Observation Trail, and Riverview History Trail as well as signs directing you back to the Center. Map can be found here: http://www.sacnaturecenter.com/images/Nature_trail_map_Effie_Yeaw.pdf. We saw deer drinking out of the pond and grazing (just mere FEET away from you!), including three young bucks! Squirrels and woodpeckers roam the trees, wild turkeys and waterfowl including ducks and egrets, and vultures overhead. There are also coyotes, snakes, and mountain lions to watch out for, and poison oak so keep kids close. When you reach the riverbanks, great views and relaxing sounds of the water passing by await you. Will definitely be back.

    Roooooaaaarrrr!!!!!
    Samuel B.

    Now I must start by admitting I'm impossibly biased here. I'm 35 years old, and I've had a couple of memories of this place from when I was a child, but I couldn't remember the name of this location or where the memories were from. Just two random memories of me holding a tarantula and playing some educational computer games. Imagine my surprise when my mom randomly suggests we visit the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. The second I walked into the center, I recognized the place from my child hood. Very nice to finally be able to itch that memory scratch. Aimed at children/families, the center is essentially a nature walk with a small building containing turtles, birds, snakes, and other fun little creatures. There is an educational room where kids can learn about practices of native American Indians, such as hunting techniques, how they tracked animals, building small huts, basket weaving, ect... Lots of little interactive games/puzzles to play that'll keep the kids entertained for a while. Some stuffed animals that are actually a little scary, very realistic. The staff said they change up the exhibit every couple of years. You can go for a walk down to the river and watch people on paddle boats and canoes go down the stream, or even throw rocks in the river, of which they are in abundance. They had a bunch of turkey's walking around the main path too when we were there. Great place to take your kids for an hour or two, highly recommend. I can tell you that the little kid in me who remembers this place absolutely loved it!

    Rescue peregrine falcon
    Peter F.

    Paradise next to the river We were watching rob on the road on TV and he went to the Effie Yee Yaw nature center we have never been there it is 8 miles from our home in Citrus Heights. Since moving to California from Long Island New York missed the places like Jones beach, mill pond and Seamen's neck park where you could drive to less than 10 miles from the house take a hike and get away from all the hustle and bustle. This place nestled along the American River filled that void. It has miles of trails a nature center and a golf course. Inside the nature center there was a few Birds of prey that have been injured that cannot be returned to the wild also some stuffed animals were there including a huge cougar. This place has no formal admission they request a two dollar donation. Upon entering the preserve we were greeted by wild turkeys must have been fifty birds. Went for a hike, down one of the trails to the river. Along the trails there were several guide posts. Telling of the various animals you might come across. One post that I paid particular attention too was the rattlesnake warning. It said stay on the trail of the trail there were snakes, we did. In conclusion what an empty place so near Sacramento what a great place to bring the family they also have picnic benches.

    Alexis Q.

    We have been enjoying the puddles and trials for a couple years it's always interesting to find something new. It's a family event and solo adventure.

    Trails aren't took long, and are great way to reconnect with nature in the middle of the city.
    Svetlana S.

    I can't explain exactly why this place is so special to me...if you look at the simple facts this place doesn't excite the children as a trip to an amusement park or fancy vacation spot would. But it's a little bit of home. I grew up on 5 acres of land and had the privilege of growing up in the countryside where I spent hours on end in the outdoors. Particularly during the spring months when Northern California's native wild flowers come into bloom. Now that I live in the city, and so do my children, it is difficult to find or afford that kind of lifestyle. The nature walks around Effie Yeaw center allow me to share that with my kids and my daycare kids right here in the middle of the city. Effie Yeaw was a preschool/kindergarten teacher who had a vision for the future. She saw how urban sprawl was taking over the land, and fought to preserve this area for future generations to enjoy as she did with her students. What an amazing woman to have known. I wish I could've spoken to her in person. I would tell her thank you for being so proactive and how I much fun people have coming here. Effie Yeaw has a building that hosts animals that needed rescuing, a small gift shop, and a display room with information that is both interesting for adults and smaller children. However, the real fun is when you take a map and start exploring the trails. The main trail is easy to follow and takes you in a short circle. But there's some interesting side trails that take you outside of the main area. You will see and hear many animals along the way including birds, squirrels, wild turkey, and deer. I also immensely enjoy the events that they continually put on. Effie Yeaw has two or three naturalist on staff. They lead nature walks with cool information and activities. Check the calendar on their website before you go for the times. It's a much more fun trip when you schedule around these events. On a side note: parking is $5 for a daily pass. You may purchase this pass at the ranger station on your way into the county park- Ancil Hoffman (bring exact change to put in an envelope if ranger not there). Or you can park at the Effie Yeaw center and purchase a pass at the gift shop. $50 for a 12 month pass will give you unlimited parking passes to all County parks. Or if you plan on only really coming to this park, I recommend becoming a member for $40 and the proceeds go towards helping keep the park open. It also provides daily parking passes for free for a year and discounts on classes.

    Rinky N.

    We visited Effie Yeaw recently and were simply delighted. It is not fancy or glitzy---just down-to-earth and fun. As you enter the preserve there is a recreation of a Maidu summer village. You can imagine why the Maidu chose to live on this beautiful spot along the American river. There is a small nature center which houses a museum with several Hanson exhibit plus 3-4 rescue birds. The helpful docents and naturalist are happy to dispense information. There are nature trails which are great for families. Hard core hikers might find these trails too tame. During our short walk we saw deer, squirrels, egrets, ducks, wild turkeys, woodpeckers and more We visited on a perfect Spring day but a typical summer day might be too hot for us "delicate" (IE. wimpy ) Bay Area folks. Let my pix convince you.

    Beautiful trails!
    Nicole B.

    Gorgeous!!! Amazing!!! Completely worth it! Who knew that Sacramento housed such a beautiful gem. Parking is easy, $5 and you're good to go. The staff is greatly helpful, they offer tips and maps before you venture off into the beautiful little habitat of Effie Yeaw Nature center. I read another girl's review saying that she had never been on a hike before and she was looking on yelp for a place to go when she came across this place and ended up having a great time (Monica C). I am so glad she mentioned that because this is the perfect place for beginners. There are some easy trails that you can finish in less than 2 hours and the map will guide you through it. The trails are perfect for introducing children to nature because they are not long enough for them to get restless and there are plenty of creatures around for them to keep their minds busy. Speaking of creatures! We saw beautiful white birds, turkeys, and deer. It was so neat to be so up close and personal with he animals here! We also made our way to the river where we spend some time skipping rocks, beautiful scenery. Overall, I can't wait to come back! This place was awesome and I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a quick hike in a truly breathtaking setting. You'll forget you're surrounded by a big city for a minute and be rejuvenated by the fresh air.

    Lots of signage everywhere. Want to know about grasses? You have found your heaven

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    We bought our house to be near this park. The nature center is great. Run by volunteers with a variety of rescued animals.

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    Nice accessible trails. It seems fairly used. Not super crowded but people around. The center has some great stuff to check out.

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    Ask the Community - Effie Yeaw Nature Center

    Do they take cards to pay for the $5 parking fee?

    Yes they do. They accept cash & all major credit cards

    Is entrance free?

    There is no fee to use Effie Yeaw Nature Center or the trails surrounding it. Though donations are always welcome!… Read more

    Can i do fishing in the river?

    Yes! Fishing is allowed within the the American River Parkway (where the Nature Center is located) during fishing season, in accordance with County and State laws. Check the Sacramento County Regional Parks webpage… Read more

    Is Effie Yeaw dog friendly?

    Hi Katie, Thank you for your interest in visiting the Nature Center. Although we all love animals, the Nature Center is a wildlife preserve so dogs are not permitted on the… Read more

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - Effie Yeaw Nature Center

    You'll read about deer, owls, snakes, etc which are all amazing and cool, but this place is more than nature.

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