6 Spring Things to Do Outdoors in Butte County

Take a Hike

David Little, the longtime editor of the Chico Enterprise-Record newspaper, is well-known in the region for his vast outdoors knowledge. An avid hunter, fisherman, and explorer in general, Little knows the places to go.

“We’re in that short-lived sweet spot where a drive to some place like Cherokee or Black Butte leaves you awestruck—you almost don’t even need to get out and hike,” he says. “But it’s sure rewarding to do so.”

Local favorites include the mild-but-beautiful Yahi Trail (one of the Butte County's trails worth traveling for), and the more moderately challenging Annie Bidwell Trail and South Rim Trail in Bidwell Park. If you fancy a short drive, just outside of county limits is the eponymous Black Butte Lake Trail. But Little’s favorite—like many other Chicoans—is the North Rim Trail, which starts at Horseshoe Lake and meanders to the park boundary, where you can walk among the flowers come springtime.

“Hard to believe something like that sits in Chico,” he says. “The farther you get from the parking lot, the more alone you are. Most good trails are like that.”

Tour a Winery or Brewery

If you’re looking for a tasting or a brewery tour, Butte County will spoil you for choice, and it’s well worth extending beyond Chico city limits for that particular voyage (Sierra Nevada Brewery isn't going anywhere, after all).

Durham's Almendra Winery & Distillery boasts and excellent restaurant, with a tasteful and intimate venue, terrific Almendra and Bertagna vintages, and local spirits. And in Oroville, Live Vine overlooks the Thermalito Afterbay between Oroville and Richvale. Live Vine offers tours by appointment only, which gives you the opportunity to get a highly personalized walk of the vineyard and “micro-winery.”

If beer is your preference, a great area to wrap up your night with a group of friends, or to grab a bite and a brew before moving on, you’ve got options in South Chico. Check out both the taproom and the brewery at Secret Trail, which always offers fun events to pair with delicious beer tastings, along with The Commons, featuring 24 delicious and frequently changing taps.

Take a Bike Ride

Cycling of all varieties, by both locals and out-of-towners, really starts to come to life in the area with the arrival of spring as trails get a chance to dry out and we get more daylight. The county has ample natural offerings for rides both casual and challenging. The epicenter of Butte County cycling, of course, is Chico’s Upper Park, with a wide range of trails varying in difficulty.

Road cyclists can find a good ride anywhere, from the orchard-lined thoroughfares of Durham all the way up Centerville Road toward Magalia (mostly once the snow starts melting, of course).

Dine Outside

Chico’s the most versatile place in Butte County for a range of patio dining, and it’s not limited to downtown options: Fine diners will want to head down the Esplanade to the Red Tavern, where live music may accompany your meal if you choose the right evening. The patio at The Allies Pub provides a spacious area to nosh British-inspired dishes paired with their take on classic British ales.

Those wanting to spend an afternoon or evening on the north side of town still have a patio dining option, and an inexpensive one at that, in the form of Sol Mexican Grill. A Mexican beer, a SoCal burrito and some fresh spring air form a tough combo to beat.

Outside of Chico, Oroville boasts the Union Patio Bar & Grill, with California-inspired dishes that you can enjoy on an expansive outdoor patio (along with live music on the weekend), and Provisions, with a beautiful and cozy patio dining area that backs up to the historic Miners Alley.

Catch Some Fish

Few sources are as knowledgeable as Little when it comes to this particular species in this particular region; he’s scoured every body of water in every season over the years. Some of the area’s mountain streams that peter out in the summer have abundant water in the spring, and that makes them excellent fishing spots.

Lake Oroville is a great bass fishing spot, while Butte Creek, Deer Creek, Oroville’s West Branch of the Feather River, and stretches of the Yuba and American rivers are all spots to check out for trout fishing, Little says. You’ll probably have some peace and quiet, and you stand a good chance to get some bites.

“One time in the spring, I went to a branch of Cottonwood Creek and caught and released 20 little trout on a stretch of the stream that would be dry two months later,” he recalls. “I have no idea where those fish went when the water dried up, but obviously it was a self-sustaining native population. It didn't matter where they came from or where they went. All that mattered was that they were there.”

Fill Your Camera With Table Mountain Glory

Arguably the region’s most stunning array of natural flora, the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve explodes each spring with a wildflower bloom that can leave you breathless. Bring an extra SD card, or clear some space on your smartphone—you’ll want to leave with plenty of photos. Deep oranges, vibrant violet and eye-popping yellows roll over the hillsides here. Don’t just accept someone else’s account; you’ve got to see it for yourself. The fact that this all happens in the spring, well before the sweltering summer heat bakes the valley, adds to the sublime experience of a Table Mountain stroll.

“This is the time of year,” Little remarked, “when you get out and say, ‘I should hike more often.’”

When you visit, make sure to do your part to keep Table Mountain as beautiful as it was when you went by following all posted rules and following Leave No Trace principles. Parking is available only in the official gravel lot on the west side of Cherokee Road.