Camp on the California Delta and nature will take you on an adventure. The Delta houses an abundance of wildlife. Its over 1,000 miles of waterways, running from Stockton north to Sacramento, provide numerous pathways for water sports, such as waterskiing, jetskiing, wakeboarding, paddling and windsurfing. More relaxed activities include birdwatching and picking wild blackberries. Campers have access to over 50 campgrounds, many of which offer direct access to the water.
Waterskiing and Jetskiing
Year round adventure sports in the California Delta region include wakeboarding, water skiing and jetskiing. In the Delta there are water-skiing clubs, some with slalom courses and ski jumps. The Discovery Bay Area is a popular water-skiing area, home to some of the world's best skiers. For waterskiiers, California Delta Chambers and Visitor's Bureau recommends the KOA Brannan Island campground located on West Brannan Island Road in Isleton. It has its own marina, offering boaters the best of the waterways. No tent camping is allowed. Instead this site offers cabins and 120 full hookup sites for RV campers. If you are looking for tent camping, try Brannan Island State Park which has both RV and tent sites and boat-in camping. Surrounding trees offer shade, and it's the perfect place to access the Sacramento River for boat launching.
Windsurfing
From the Rio Vista area down the Sacramento River towards lower Sherman Island is said to be one of the best windsurfing places in the world. If you launch at the lower edge of Sherman Island you can ride six miles to Rio Vista's lift bridge. Rio Viento R.V. Park, on Sherman Island, is a great location for campers ready to take sail. Providing 71 RV sites with full hookup, 35 by 50 foot campsites and hot showers, this campground offers the best of both worlds.
Picking Wild Blackberries
A plethora of wild blackberry bushes grow on the California Delta's waterway banks. When picking wild blackberries be sure to wear pants, long-sleeve shirts and gloves. You can either drive your car to where the blackberry bushes are, get out and pick them on foot or you can pull up a boat alongside the bushes and pick them from the boat. Two of the most popular spots for blackberry picking are The Meadows and Lost Slough anchorage areas. The Delta Meadows State Recreation Area near the Mokelumne and Sacramento Rivers is known to have hiking trails lined with blackberry bushes in the summertime. Nearby is Brannan Island State Park campground. Canoe trips to the meadows can be arranged through the Brannan Island State Recreation Area. Hike or canoe along the Railroad Slough and enjoy a summertime treat picking wild blackberries.
Kayaking & Canoeing
Summer weekends can mean a lot of boat traffic, making canoeing and kayaking a bit difficult. The California Delta Chambers and Visitor's Bureau suggests paddling on Delta waterways where powerboats are less common. These areas include Seven Mile Slough, Old River, Middle River, Mokelumne, Lost Slough and Cosumnes River. Brannan Island State Park offers guided canoe trips. Brannan Island State Park is a great campground for paddlers, with boat-in camping, RV sites and tent sites. Located on Three Mile Slough, these waters are more protected making it the perfect place to camp, wake up and launch your canoe or kayak.
Bird Watching
The California Delta attracts an estimated 200 species of birds every year, including sandhill cranes, pelicans, blue herons, tule berm, great white swans, snow geese, hawks and of course ducks. The diversity and abundance of shorebirds makes for excellent bird watching in the Delta region. Despite the large number of birds still flocking to this area, land development has encroached on the natural habitat of the Swainson's hawk. The population of Swainson's hawk has lessened and the animal is now being protected. It is listed as a threatened species by the California Department of Fish and Game. Consumnes River Preserve is one of many excellent spots for birdwatching, attracting cranes and waterfowl. While camping is not allowed on the preserve, nearby KOA Stockton in Lodi offers full RV hookup, cabins, shady tent sites and covered boat slips.
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