Tuolumne River at Dos Rios National Park

California officials will formally open the state’s 281st state park on June 12 as Cal Parks kick off the Third Annual State Parks Week June 12-16.  Where ranch life meets nature, Dos Rios is the largest and most unique floodplain restoration project in California completed by River Partners. Dos Rios is located on the confluence of the Tuolumne River and the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley.

The 1,600-acre property, eight miles west of Modesto for decades housed dairy farms and almond orchards. It has now been restored to a broad natural floodplain, where visitors will be able to hike, watch birds and other wildlife, and have a picnic along the riverbanks. Officials hope to eventually add trails for bicycling and more river access for swimming, angling and boating.

Once farmland now restored floodplain, Dos Rios provides the perfect habitat for several protected species such as, the riparian brush rabbit, riparian woodrat, Swainson’s hawk, Central Valley Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, least Bell’s vireo, and the greater Sandhill crane. Dos Rios is also a destination for migratory birds along the pacific flyway. 

As part of the planning process, the official name and park classification of Dos Rios will be determined and approved by the California State Park and Recreation Commission soon. State Parks will be providing more updates about the opening of Dos Rios in the weeks to come.

“It’s a great addition to the state parks system in a part of the state that’s somewhat park-poor,” Rachel Norton, executive director of the California State Parks Foundation, told me. “If you look at a map of California, you see tons of parks going up the coast. You see tons of parks in the Sierra Nevada and in the desert. There’s a lot along the edges. But in the center of the state, there’s just not a lot.”

“The benefits don’t just stop at recreation,” he said in a statement. “This park is a key asset to fighting the climate crisis, home to the state’s largest floodplain restoration project. We’re not just protecting these spaces, we’re restoring them for future generations,” said Governor Gavin Newsom about the park’s opening.

Park Information

Address: 3599 Shiloh Rd, Modesto, CA 95358

No entrance fees during the initial opening phase; future fees to be determined.

Go for a hike. There are several guided walks offered with a park Interpreter. You can choose your adventure. Look for posted hikes on birding, endangered species, floodplain forests, water management, climate resiliency and so much more. 

Have a picnic. Our ramadas are along the waters edge. Bring a lunch and spend some quiet time next to the pond.

Enjoy bird watching. Dos Rios is home to some incredible bird species. Bring your binoculars and see how many species you can locate. 

Visit parks.ca.gov for more information.