Rio Vista

Rio Vista is a small Solano County city on the Sacramento River in the Delta, about 50 miles south of Sacramento. It was founded in 1858 as Brazos del Rio and moved to higher ground after the floods of 1861 and 1862. Today it is a fishing and boating town, known for striped bass and a long waterfront, and the home port for many Delta boaters.

The bridge

The Helen Madere Memorial Bridge, usually called the Rio Vista Bridge, carries State Route 12 over the Sacramento River at river mile 12.8. It is a Caltrans lift bridge with 17 feet of clearance when closed and 144 feet when open, measured at mean high water. For openings on the Sacramento River, federal rules set seasonal on-signal hours for bridges from Isleton upriver, and outside those hours at least four hours of notice goes to the drawtender at the Rio Vista Bridge.

Ramps and marina

The city's municipal boat launch is behind City Hall at the end of Front Street and has a two-lane ramp, a dock with moorings and trailer parking. Sandy Beach Park, at 2333 Beach Drive, lists a 24-hour boat launch with RV camping. Delta Marina Yacht Harbor, at the south end of Second Street, holds up to 250 boats and about 800 feet of guest dock, and sells 24-hour gas, with diesel and propane in store hours. Brannan Island SRA is a short drive away.

On the river

The river here is tidal, and current can run 2 mph or more. Big ships use the deep-water channel upriver. Plan your timing around the tide and watch for wake from passing traffic.