The California Swan Festival
Celebrating the return of tundra swans and other waterfowl to our region — three days of guided tours, presenters, and family activities.
Proudly hosted by Sutter Buttes Land Trust
All festival proceeds directly benefit local land conservation and wildlife habitat protection.
Why we hold the festival
Each winter, tundra swans travel thousands of miles down the Pacific Flyway to winter in the rice fields and wetlands around the Sutter Buttes. The festival exists to celebrate that arrival — and to show why the working farmland they depend on is worth protecting.
It is also our largest annual fundraiser. Proceeds go directly to conserving land and habitat in Sutter, Yuba, and Colusa counties.
Guided tours & field trips
Swan viewing tours
Sutter Buttes hikes
Guided walks into the Buttes — rare access to a privately owned mountain range.
Working lands tours
Visits to rice farms and conserved ranches to see agriculture and habitat side by side.
Tours run rain or shine. Cancellations made more than 14 days before the festival receive a full refund; after that, tickets may be transferred to another guest.
To cancel or transfer, call 530-755-3568 or email info@sutterbutteslandtrust.org.
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Meet your guides
Our guides are naturalists, farmers, and long-time residents who know this landscape intimately.
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Register & liability release
Registration opens ahead of the festival. Tours have limited capacity and typically sell out, so early booking is recommended.
All participants must sign a liability release before joining a tour. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.