Looking For a Fresh Place To Hike? New State Park Opening In San Joaquin Valley

Dos Rios, California’s newest state park, will open Wednesday in the San Joaquin Valley.

The 1,600-acre property, which is about 8 miles west of Modesto along the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers, will help restore habitat for several protected species and connect Stanislaus County communities to hiking and picnicking right in their backyard.

It’s also the state’s largest public-private floodplain restoration project, taking $40 million from nearly a dozen different sources, 280,000 trees planted, and a decade to complete.

Wade Crowfoot, California’s Natural Resources Secretary, described Dos Rios as a game changer.

“It provides a beautiful riverfront destination for San Joaquin Valley residents to get outside and recreate, in a part of the state with few such places,” Crowfoot said in a statement. “It also provides a new model of a multi-benefit park that also reduces flood risk for local communities, provides a refuge for local residents during worsening heat waves, and restores the natural environment of the Central Valley to benefit local wildlife.”

What to expect

You can take a hike through parts of the park, set up a picnic at ramadas along the water, and go bird watching for the many migratory species that like to make a pitstop in the area.

Swimming, boating, fishing, biking, and more recreational activities could be created, but that’ll involve a public engagement process and consultation with tribes in the area. You can help shape the park’s future and learn more about the planning here.

The best part is it won’t cost you a dime to visit Dos Rios during the initial opening phase.

But California State Parks will be working on a name and park classification, which helps decide the range of activities and conservation that are appropriate for the property, so don’t be surprised if fees pop up in the future. The process, which includes a general plan and environmental impact report, is expected to take three to five years.

“The vision for Dos Rios is a journey into the past, revealing a lush Central Valley and a local escape – adjacent to two rivers and a wildlife refuge,” Armando Quintero, California State Parks director, said in a statement. “State Parks is committed to ensuring access for all Californians as we collaboratively craft this park alongside the public, tribal partners, and stakeholders for a healthier natural environment close to home.”

In the meantime, Dos Rios plans to host stargazing, nature walks, campfire events, and even more events.

The backstory

Dos Rios’ restoration was done in partnership with River Partners, a nonprofit founded in the Central Valley.

According to the organization, the park is designed to balance the habitat of an entire ecosystem, including species like Swainson’s hawk, steelhead trout, and the riparian brush rabbit.

“This ‘park of the future’ connects underserved Central Valley communities with an actionable model of scalable multi-benefit water solutions, where restored floodplains support water resilience for a hotter, drier future and flood safety for the nation’s most imperiled communities—all while bringing back wildlife from the brink of extinction,” Julie Rentner, River Partners president, said in a statement.

Dos Rios, which fittingly means “two rivers” in Spanish, is the first new state park since the Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area in Kern County was created in November 2014.