Butte County’s wide-open spaces are full of natural splendors, and the outdoor spectacle is amplified in new ways every season.
SPRING
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.
SUMMER
When summer is at its hottest, Butte County offers some of the best outdoor adventures for staying cool. Quiet, shaded walks around Lake Oroville are complemented by fun on the water itself — whether at the lake or on the nearby Sacramento River—from waterskiing, jetskiing, and tubing, to boating and fishing. The Forebay Aquatic Center also offers its own summer thrills, with kayaks, pedal boats, and even stand-up paddleboards for rent. And if a day of fun on the water isn’t enough, you can also have a one-of-a-kind experience sleeping under the stars on a floating campsite literally on Lake Oroville — something you can’t do anywhere else in California.
But camping on the water is far from the only way to cool off. When things are at their most sweltering, Butte County has plenty of higher-elevation retreats for relief from the heat. Paradise Lake features a shady, flat trail, perfect for summer hiking. Butte Meadows is a perfect location in the Sierra Nevada, with lakes and streams, biking trails from the Colby Mountain Lookout Area, and a variety of hiking paths as well. The Jonesville Canyon Trail, which passes near the headwaters of Butte Creek, also offers a wonderful reprieve from the weather with an easy 3.8‑mile, out-and-back hike that’s perfect for summer. And for a cooler evening, the Chico Community Observatory lets you experience the beauty of the night sky for free and away from the rays of the sun.
Summer also features several beloved events, starting with Silver Dollar Fair over Memorial Day weekend; a myriad of Fourth of July celebrations, including the Oroville fireworks show; fresh farmers markets with an abundance of local produce to satisfy your cravings; and the Butte County Fair in August to end the season.
FALL
As summer begins to wane, Butte County experiences some of its most perfect temperatures, making it one of the best times of year to get outside. There are many local events unique to fall. Chico’s annual Tweed Ride happens every November, when folks dress up in vintage attire for a casual bike ride through Lower Bidwell Park. There are many Halloween events too, including Treat Street in Downtown Chico, where kids trick-or-treat at local businesses in a safe and supervised environment. You can also head up to Paradise for Johnny Appleseed Days, a celebration of all things apple — and a tradition that goes back to the harvest of 1888, with face painting, games, and plenty of apple pie.
Fall also serves up a bounty of delicious produce that you can find at local farmers markets. And if you’re looking to take home some fall or Halloween decorations, there’s no better place to pick the perfect pumpkin than at one of the many pumpkin patches that pop up all around the county as the season gets into full swing.
But even with all these great reasons to visit, there’s perhaps none more compelling than the promise of spectacular fall foliage. Between mid-October and mid-November, Upper and Lower Bidwell Park come alive as leaves turn to brilliant colors of orange, red, and yellow. Other prime spots for fall foliage include the Chico Seed Orchard, the Chico State Campus, Downtown Oroville, Paradise Ridge, and many more spots throughout the county.
WINTER
Butte County may sometimes get overshadowed by other winter destinations in California, but it’s packed with cold-weather fun.
Butte Meadows was once a summer resort getaway, but today, its location in the snow-covered Lassen National Forest makes it a popular destination for winter daytrips, including a stop at The Bambi Inn, a local favorite for drinks with friends. Jonesville also lies nearby, boasting hands down the most robust winter recreational opportunities in Butte County, from cross-country skiing in Colby Meadows to snowmobiling through 60 miles of groomed trails at the Jonesville Snowmobile Park. The Colby Mountain Lookout Area, which provides great hiking and mountain biking in the summertime, becomes perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in a picturesque valley, which runs parallel to Colby Creek.
At lower elevations, the North State’s rainy season brings seasonal waterfalls to normally dormant spots across the county, like Bidwell Park and the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve. These places beautifully complement many of Butte County’s scenic winter hikes. Wildlife enjoy the season as well, and birders will find themselves especially well occupied since Butte County’s location along the Pacific Flyway is home to many species of migratory birds each fall and winter at the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. Upper Bidwell Park has its own robust avian population, with more than 100 bird species calling it home. There are even around 200 species at the Chico Seed Orchard, an ideal place for those who need an easy and accessible place to do their birdwatching.