The Sutter Buttes are 1500 to 2000 foot high volcanic mountains in the central Valley. You probably noticed them east of Interstate 5 as you drive north near Williams. It is near prime birding area as there are nearby rice fields and marshes.
Although the land is private it is possible to visit by going on guided hikes through the Middle Mountain. The hikes take place from February to the middle of May. There are still several scheduled for this season: http://www.middlemountain.org/body/hikes/schedule.html
The Yuba Historical Society has an article about the mountain was considered sacred by the native peoples of this area. http://www.yubahistory.com/Sutter-Buttes-Preservation
Article about the Sutter Buttes in the S.F. Chronicle by Tom Stienstra that includes drives around the Sutter Buttes: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/21/SP8C1CHCFG.DTL&feed=rss.outdoors
Natural History Wanderings 
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