Grizzly Island Closes To Walkers Through Early February. Suisun City's Winter Marsh Starts Two Miles Out.

Every winter, more than 100,000 waterfowl settle on Grizzly Island. They feed on more than 12,000 acres of seasonal ponds that California Department of Fish and Wildlife crews fill with a network of waterways and pumps. The wildlife area covers roughly 12,900 acres of the Suisun Marsh. CDFW calls the marsh, at 88,000 acres, the largest contiguous estuarine marsh in the United States.

The birds arrive during the months when the island's gate is closed to anyone who isn't hunting. Until it reopens in early February, a Suisun City resident's winter marsh is the stretch of Grizzly Island Road that starts at the Sunset Shopping Center stoplight. That stretch takes in Hill Slough, Rush Ranch and the boat launch at the foot of Kellogg Street. All of them are within a few miles of town, and all of them stay open while the big island is closed.

Why The Big Gate Stays Shut All Winter

CDFW's Grizzly Island Wildlife Area page says the area "is closed to all non-hunting uses beginning in late July for the tule elk hunt through the end of waterfowl hunt season in early February." The closure isn't limited to hunt days or weekends. Birding, walking and elk viewing are all off the table for about six months, and those six months include the entire peak of the wintering flocks.

The Balance of State zone dates on CDFW's waterfowl page explain why the closure runs so long. Regular duck and goose seasons close January 31, and the calendar adds youth, special-management and late goose days later in February:

• Ducks and regular geese: October 24 through January 31
• Scaup: November 7 through January 31
• Youth waterfowl days: February 6 and 7
• Special-management days: February 13 and 14
• Late Canada geese: February 20 and 21
• Late white-fronted and white geese: February 20 through 24

With hunt days that late in February, the exact reopening day matters, and CDFW doesn't post one. It asks visitors to call (707) 425-3828 or email [email protected] for exact closure dates. Make that call even after the season ends, because CDFW also warns that Grizzly Island sometimes closes in winter due to flooding.

The Marsh That Stays Open, Mile By Mile From Town

CDFW names three alternatives within the Suisun Marsh to use during the annual closure: Hill Slough Wildlife Area, Peytonia Slough Ecological Reserve and Belden's Landing. Rush Ranch isn't on CDFW's list because the Solano Land Trust runs it, but it sits on the same road and is open every day. Here's the drive in order, starting from downtown:

The order matters. The closest marsh access is the boat launch at the end of Kellogg Street, near the marina downtown. CDFW's Peytonia Slough page describes the reserve as tidal marsh reached by boat from Suisun Slough, so a kayak or canoe opens up more of it than a pair of boots does.

Hill Slough Wildlife Area begins as soon as you turn off Highway 12. It runs about two miles south along Grizzly Island Road and is managed for wildlife viewing and hiking. CDFW lists no facilities there, so plan on Rush Ranch for restrooms. Belden's Landing is a fishing access point and boat ramp. CDFW notes that fishing there stays possible while the wildlife area is closed.

Rush Ranch Carries The Winter Season

For anyone who wants to walk, Rush Ranch is the main winter option. It has posted hours, restrooms, marked trails and a monthly program. The Solano Land Trust's Rush Ranch page lists the property as open seven days a week year-round. Winter hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. run November 1 through February 28. On March 1, closing time moves to 7 p.m.

Rush Ranch's rules are different from Grizzly Island's. Hunting and fishing aren't allowed at all, and neither are off-road vehicles or drones. That's why a family can walk here on a January Saturday while the duck season goes on down the road. Dogs are welcome on leash only on the Suisun Hill Trail, on the entrance road and around the ranch buildings. They aren't allowed on the Marsh Trail or the South Pasture Trail. A dog walk and a marsh walk end up being two separate outings.

The monthly anchor is Get the Rush!, a free family program held on the third Saturday of every month. Guests can visit the Blacksmith shop, the Rush Ranch Outfitter's shop and exhibit tables from 10 a.m. to noon, and a guided marsh walk starts at 10:30 a.m. The Land Trust recommends registering for the walk, and rain cancels the event. The event calendar blocks off 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wagon rides ran through October 2026 and aren't part of the winter lineup.

The ranch also has some history behind it. As the Daily Republic reported in March, Rush Ranch was the Land Trust's first property, bought in May 1988, and the nonprofit is marking its 40th anniversary this year.

The Trail You Can't Finish Yet

One stretch of Rush Ranch is closed too. The Marsh Trail is closed where it crosses the levee to Goat Island. The Land Trust says the levee "has become degraded in multiple places and is beyond typical small-scale repairs."

This year brought the funding to fix it. The Daily Republic reported that the Land Trust has secured $7 million for the Goat Island Restoration and Public Access Improvement project. That total is a $4 million grant from the state Environmental Protection Agency plus $3 million from the California State Coastal Conservancy. The Conservancy's June 18, 2026 board minutes show the members present voting unanimously to authorize up to $3,095,000. The Conservancy's staff recommendation describes 89 acres of marsh, transition and seasonal wetland work and 1.36 miles of Rush Ranch trails and amenities.

According to the Daily Republic, the finished project will let tides flow back into Goat Island and add a trail with a boardwalk into the marsh. The paper quoted Land Trust chief executive Nicole Braddock on the timing: "If we don't get the permits, it will push us back a year. But if we get the permits, construction will begin in 2027, 2028." The work is a partnership with the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Rush Ranch and China Camp State Park are part of the same reserve site.

For this winter, the Marsh Trail stops at the levee, and walks into Goat Island are planned for after construction.

Dates To Plan Around Before The Gate Reopens

The closure runs through the busiest bird months, and Land Trust events fill in that stretch. These are the dated outings on the calendar between now and the end of the year:

1. Saturday, November 21: Get the Rush! at Rush Ranch, 3521 Grizzly Island Road. Shops and exhibit tables from 10 a.m. and a free marsh walk at 10:30 a.m. Rain cancels.
2. Saturday, December 5: A bird-of-prey hike at Lynch Canyon with West County Hawkwatch, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hike is free and parking costs $5.
3. Saturday, December 19: The December Get the Rush!, same format, with the free 10:30 a.m. marsh walk.

The January Get the Rush! falls on the third Saturday, January 16. Regular duck season closes January 31, but CDFW's calendar runs youth, special-management and late goose days into late February. CDFW describes the closure as lasting through the end of waterfowl hunt season in early February, so call (707) 425-3828 before planning a Grizzly Island trip. Until then, the open marsh starts at the Sunset Shopping Center stoplight and runs about two miles to the Rush Ranch gate, with the Kellogg Street boat launch back in town.

If you love being this close to the marsh and want to talk about homes near Grizzly Island Road or the downtown waterfront, Carla Shaheed knows Suisun City block by block and is happy to help. Work With Carla.