California Watchable Wildlife is happy to welcome Kaweah Oaks Preserve as our viewing sit network. A 344-acre nature preserve, it protects one of the last remaining valley oak riparian forests in the San Joaquin Valley.
Step back in time and experience a pristine valley oak woodland like those so common in the Central Valley a century ago. This jungle-like preserve in the floodplain of the Kaweah River has waterways lined with valley oaks, western sycamores, Fremont cottonwoods, and many types of willows. Lianas (climbing vines) of wild grape provide outstanding wildlife corridors by linking trees, blackberries, wild rose, and low-lying shrubs. While you will undoubtedly see coyotes, California ground squirrels, and cottontails, this preserve is a haven for birds.
Located approximately 10 miles from downtown Visalia, Kaweah Oaks Preserve is open to the public year round, sunrise to sunset. Amenities include parking, picnic tables, trail guides and restrooms. Please tread lightly and be respectful of grazing cattle. Remember to bring drinking water and sun protection, wear comfortable shoes, and watch for hazards such as rattlesnakes and ticks. Dogs are welcome on a leash, as long as owners pick up and discard waste. Bicycles are not allowed on any of the preserves except for Dry Creek Preserve.
| When you walk along the trails at Kaweah Oaks Preserve, you can imagine how this area looked before it was settled over 100 years ago. The preserve provides habitat for over 300 plant and animal species, including bobcats, great horned owls, California grapes, willows, and the preserve’s namesake – the majestic Valley Oak. |
