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Chico Outdoor Adventurer Hiking State & Regional Parks Trails

Yahi Trail

December 01, 2025 (Originally published January 27, 2021)
Yahi Trail Overlooking Salmon Hole
Ashley Baer

The Yahi Trail is one of the most pop­u­lar hikes in Upper Bid­well Park for good rea­son. This pedes­tri­an-only path fea­tures a vari­ety of micro-envi­ron­ments, with large shady sycamores, Big Chico Creek run­ning next to it, and beau­ti­ful spring wild­flower blooms.

The trail most­ly fol­lows the creek, offer­ing ample shade and gor­geous wild­flow­ers, par­tic­u­lar­ly in late March. Along the way, you’ll find ide­al spots for pic­nics, relax­ing, and tak­ing a dip in the water.

Tip for Creek Access: Make sure to bring a swim­suit and water shoes for enjoy­ing a dip in one of the many nat­ur­al swim­ming holes you’ll pass.

Alter­nate Return: If you’re look­ing for a change of scenery on the way back, walk back along Upper Park Road instead of return­ing along the creek.

Quick Trip Option: If you don’t have time for the full Yahi Trail expe­ri­ence, it’s only about 1.5 miles to the icon­ic Bear Hole swim­ming area from the trail’s start­ing point.

Key Trail Info

Loca­tion: Upper Bid­well Park

Trail Dif­fi­cul­ty: Easy

Trail Length & Type: 7.9 mile out-and-back

Best Used: Acces­si­ble year-round

Dogs: Allowed on leash

Trail Map: Upper Bid­well Park Trail map

Trail­head Direc­tions and Parking

The offi­cial trail­head starts just past Park­ing Lot E on Upper Park Road.

  • From High­way 99: Take the East Ave. exit east to the round­about. Take the sec­ond exit onto Wild­wood Ave.
  • Con­tin­ue: Fol­low Wild­wood Ave. until it turns into Upper Park Road.
  • Park­ing: Turn left into Park­ing Lot E, locat­ed just past the Chico Rod and Gun Club.
  • Alter­na­tive Park­ing: If Lot E is full, addi­tion­al park­ing is avail­able in the Gun and Rod park­ing area as well as Lots C and D.

Trail Access: Walk back toward Upper Park Road to the gate. (Note: This gate is closed to cars on Sun­days and Mon­days.) Walk through the gate and con­tin­ue along the road until you see the sign for the Yahi Trail on your right.