I have driven past this at least 20 times. We finally pulled off to stop and why would a treat the…read moreviews are breathtaking and the visitor center is modern it has a fun 3-D interactive tour of the damn very clean restrooms and lots of information written on walls for people who like to read that. It was warm, but there are lots of shady spots under the trees and a nice set of benches to just sit and take in the reservoir. Kid friendly. Not pet friendly.

If you want to have a newly experience in nature, put this on your lists…read more They got a mini theater for the public information. So nice about it i saw Pres. Kennedy speech did a speech . Try it! Be ready to have your jacket, it's kinda cold and windy too. So come a have a day tour with your friends and families.

The Waterfowl Management Area located at 18110 Henry Miller Avenue, on the left, one can't miss it,…read morealthough it's blessedly unlikely that anyone will be in office to greet you, though there are portable restroom accommodations, is in my opinion, the rarest and most precious part of the wildlife refuge complex, one of the nation's true, understated, and relatively unknown treasures. Los Banos, advertises itself as "the crossroads of California". Exactly what is crossing there and from where I have yet to figure out. To my eye, it's a generally hotter than blazes agricultural area far, far to the east of Monterrey, far, far to the north of Fresno, and far enough from the Sierras to the east, and south enough of the endless wastelands of Stanislaus County, as to be somewhere out in the middle of the crossroads of nowhere. There is housing for ag workers, planters and harvesters, who sought a better life in el norte, and found what we got, and religiously send checks home to their families. One thinks that rent might be reasonable here. Follow 165 north of Los Banos only a little past (maybe a few miles) the intersection with 33 and, Henry Miller Drive comes up on your right. That being said, the waterfowl refuge is a lonely place, and a certain pathos accrues with that feeling. The area is comprised of a series of interconnected canals, and the regularity of these, the symmetry and almost manicured clean lines of the shores which indicate the involvement of humanity. The park is dedicated to the preservation of the remarkably intricate and refined habitat, the wetlands. Dawn and sunset are simply magnificent. Look hard and many species of bird life will be revealed to you. Absolutely, bring binoculars. I was particularly fortunate to be able to observe a flock or large family of egrets, and to be able to meditate on much else, within, and somewhat beyond cognition, in these turbulent times, inspired by this rare environment.

There is an office, but it wasn't open when I went (but it was late). If you have a California…read morehunting or fishing license, then there isn't a fee for you, otheriwse is was just a couple dollars or so. I got some good wildlife viewing in (mostly birds).

All the animals are clearly not taken care of well and there is little to no animals. The black…read morebear looked depressed and dead super skinny.

DO NOT SUPPORT! Animals were clearly stressed pacing back and forth due to the loud music and water…read morepark theme they are too busy running for the children. This is no longer a zoo and it's clear the animals aren't being taken cared for and are on sedatives to keep them drowsed until the water party is over. ABSOLUTELY INHUMANE AND THIS PLACE NEEDS TO BE REEVALUATED IF IT REALLY WANTS TO BE A ZOO OR A WATER PARK FOR KIDS.

Nice bbq area. Excellent striped bass fishing. You can see elk, deer,boar and other wildlife.read more

Excited to spend a day with my boy and girl and fish for the first ti…read moreme.

Lots of green grass and wide open field! Has a playground and other play areas. Palm tree along the…read moreperimeter of park gives an island feel.

My family has been coming to this spot for Easter since I can remember. They have the same spot and…read morewe bbq, we play games, the bathrooms are near by, the parking is easy, the view of the water is great. The park is very clean and well kept, as well as the picnic areas. This has been our go-to for years and there have been no issues yet!

Went camping for the night. Paid for parking, taped it to the windshield, and parked at a mark…read moreparking lot. I got a ticket though it was a scammer. I went to show the parking attendant. It was real, showed the attendant my receipt for paid parking he couldn't do anything about it. He said to talk to the sheriff. The sheriff would be coming in 2hr. So to fight the ticket I have to wait 2hrs. I cannot wait 2 hrs that is crazy, my drive back home is 3hrs. Bye Bye my $100

since moving back from the bay area, places to walk and enjoy nature are few and far between…read more well, so i thought. as one of the few state parks to remain open year round due to the budget shortfalls of this state, great valley is an exciting and educational experience located off the 165 toward los banos. passing this refuge these past years without even stopping boggles me that I never did. driving through and between what seems to be never-ending native grasslands makes me appreciate the fact this park is part of the very few, native areas existing in the area and California. when people first hear i am from the great central valley, responses teeter between a cringe worthy squint of the face or a response such as "i'm sorry". well, I AM sorry that you're short sighted and not too knowledgeable about the area aside from what you seem to know exists in the great valley. while growing up in the valley, i have had the luxury of the merced river running through the town and just a few miles from the farm where growing up we shot videos and drank in the dark to avoid the canal banks where we always got our high school parties busted. adding the joy of observing bird flocks cruising overhead during migration season makes knowing the area a great destination for bird watchers. i believe i'm sorta lucky. the past couple of these years, on a whim, i decided to pull over to gander and enjoy the beauty of the great valley grasslands. i must agree with patrick d. (though find some offense in his yokel statement but believe me the sport hunters who are offered most of the open space deserve such titles); wonderful on the no-entry fee, but that those areas that are inaccessible to the general public seem much more exciting then the 1.5 mile automobile route (hint: i never go on auto, it is much more pleasurable to go for a run or walk on this path) because I have had the luxury of coming across a pack of black tail deer, jackrabbits and even once (twice seen on one visit) a rather large male coyote and a couple snakes. aside from the inaccessible area (i suggest just to keep going past the no cross zone) you'll see birds overhead and flocks nesting in the wetlands. unfortunately, most of the area is marked off for sport hunting (disgusting if you ask me; such a white man's "sport") while the rest of us only get the opportunity for the aforementioned 1.5 track. it is definitely a place very dry during the summer months (I suggest going on those non-public routes to get near flooded areas to see avian wildlife) but even more gorgeous when the rain season comes around (also disgusting hunting season) because it's an opportunity to see a variety of migrating birds. all in all, a great place to visit for the day to get fresh air on a walk, a run, or if you're american lazy, keep yourself locked behind the wheel to enjoy nature (somehow that concept seems rather odd; to sit in a car for a five-minute safari-like moment).

At least there wasn't an entry fee. The public access seemed to be the hang-out area for the local…read moreyokels, as well as their beer can dumping grounds. The areas that aren't exactly accessible looked good from a distance. You're better off doing any wildlife viewing from the road. No services at this park, at least not where I was when I went in.

Thus park is huge and so so beautiful! Love walking here every morning and evening. Everyone I've…read morecome across here has been soo friendly! The grass is always so well maintained! The bathroom clean. I love this whole neighborhood