Butte County has no shortage of natural beauty throughout the year, but the landscape absolutely comes alive in the spring. Plants and wildlife run abundant and vibrant, refreshed by the winter rains, and this includes the wildflower blooms the area is so well known for.
Some of the best — and least crowded — wildflower viewing can be had in Upper Bidwell Park. While a variety can be found throughout Upper Bidwell Park generally, the canyon area around Big Chico Creek is especially noteworthy, with different blooms all through the season. North Rim and South Rim in particular showcase great views of the vibrant spring hues.
Heading south, the ever-popular North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is the go-to spot for spring wildflower blooms, but there’s more to be found outside of the famed reserve. The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area features several unexpected locations to spot wildflowers. Rattlesnake Hill at the North Thermalito Forebay is an easy paved path that comes to life with under-the-radar blooms, while several trails up in the foothills showcase both spring lilies — which thrive in the cooler temperatures and shaded areas around the lake — as well as carpets of purple and gold in the sunnier stretches.
What do you do when it starts to heat up in the Sacramento Valley but you still want more wildflowers? Head up into Butte County’s foothill region! Paradise Lake keeps the bloom season going into May and June with forest favorites like lupine, bleeding heart, and flowering dogwood trees.
As a bonus, in early spring (we might even say late winter), you can also experience the beauty of California’s almond blossoms for a couple weeks, usually starting mid-to-late February. Together with Butte County’s incredible wealth of wildflowers, this is a wonderful time to come and experience the best of Northern California’s natural beauty.