Old Chico Canyon Rd
Chico, CA

If you’re a lover of the outdoors looking to get on the road to adventure, let a Butte County local do the hard work for you and take you on a road trip to #HikeButteCA that will give you everything you need, including the best places to hike and great stops along the way. You’ll start at Gray Lodge and go on a 3-day counterclockwise trip through Lake Oroville, Paradise Ridge, Bidwell Park, and more

3207 Rutherford Rd
Gridley, CA

Located midway in Gridley, this California Department of Fish and Wildlife area is not only a must-visit, but a perfect spot to start any adventure. While there’s never a bad time to visit, the November through January season is a particularly good time to head out along its wetland loop, which offers a great on-foot experience and also the option to tour by car. Even if you can’t manage to go during the season, however, there’s no bad time to walk around Gray Lodge’s picturesque loop of 2 miles, which also has a paved side path to a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform.

917 Kelly Ridge Rd
Oroville, CA

From Gridley, there are a number of excellent hiking options at the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, none of which are far from each other, so you could even do more than one if you felt particularly ambitious. But if you have to pick one from the group, our local's personal favorite is taking the Bidwell Canyon Trail from the Saddle Dam Day Use Area through Kelly Ridge Point (which offers breathtaking lakeside vistas) and to the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Some other easy options not far from the lake include the Feather River Trail, the Rattlesnake Hill Trail by the forebay, or the Thermalito Diversion Pool Trail, all of which provide scenic views without being overly taxing.

2053 Montgomery St
Oroville, CA

Once you’ve finished your day’s hiking, head into Downtown Oroville for some fantastic dining options, including The Union in the heart of downtown, where you'll also be able to enjoy live music on the weekends.

Butte County, CA

Start day two up in Paradise. If you’re a history buff, the perfect walk starts at the famous Joy Lyn’s Candies (which is absolutely a required stop any time you go through town) and heads along Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail, where placards detail much of Paradise’s colorful history and the families who made it what it is today. If you’d prefer a leisurely stroll along a small, out-of-the-way lake, Paradise Lake has 9 miles of family-friendly walking with plenty of shade—just remember that the lake feeds the local water supply, so you can’t go swimming!

Colby Mountain Lookout Road

California, United States

After grabbing lunch in Paradise, head deep into the high country to do the most rigorous hiking you’ll likely do in your three days. There are several excellent options, from the 6.8 mile (shuttle required) Humboldt Peak to Cold Springs hike, which offers gorgeous views from the highest ridge in the county to longer loops (7.3 to 9.6 miles) available at Colby Mountain Lookout and Colby Meadows. Just be sure to check the conditions before you head into the high country, as during the colder months they can be inaccessible due to snow.

100 Broadway St
Chico, CA

After you’ve finished your physical activity for the day, head into Chico for dinner and an evening’s entertainment. Chico has no shortage of fantastic dining, which means there’s something for everyone, including Tres Hombres, which features one of the best Downtown Chico patio spaces around and popular margaritas.

Old Chico Canyon Rd
Chico, CA

There's no shortage of places to hike in Chico! The options are too numerous to list for our purposes here, but any trip should include a hike in Upper and Lower Bidwell Park. Outside of Lower Park but not too far away, the Chico Seed Orchard (a 1-mile loop) and Chico State University Campus Arboretum (about 1.2 miles out and back) also offer beautiful spaces year round. Even more spaces await, so read the full article to see what else is available!

Old Chico Canyon Rd
Chico, CA

Whether you end your trip on a hike or decide to check out a delicious local restaurant, you should be leaving with new memories made in Butte County. So hit the road and come discover what awaits you on Butte County's trails!

Old Chico Canyon Rd
Chico, CA

Hiking enthusiasts should start planning their Northern California road trip today!