![]() | Bidwell-Sacramento RiverBrochure |
Brochure of Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park (SP) in California. Published by California Department of Parks and Recreation.
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BidwellSacramento River
State Park
Our Mission
The mission of California State Parks is
to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping
to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological
diversity, protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
At Bidwell-Sacramento
River State Park,
“cruising down the river”
on rafts or inner tubes
is second only to fishing
for salmon, steelhead,
California State Parks supports equal access.
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park
at (530) 342-5185. This publication can be
made available in alternate formats. Contact
interp@parks.ca.gov or call (916) 654-2249.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
Discover the many states of California.™
Bidwell-Sacramento River
State Park
12105 River Road
Chico, CA 95926
(530) 342-5185
© 2013 California State Parks
stripers and shad
along its tree-lined,
ever-changing banks.
A
bout six miles west of Chico, BidwellSacramento River State Park stretches
along a river whose banks are still relatively
untouched by development. A classic
landscape of riparian habitat, the river is
lined with trees and wild vegetation.
Visitors enjoy kayaking, canoeing, tubing
(floating downstream on inner tubes),
fishing, picnicking, hiking and watching the
abundant wildlife.
PARK HISTORY
Native California Indians
The indigenous people of this area are known
today as Northwestern Maidu (including
Mechoopda Maidu). For about 4,500 years,
they lived in a portion of the Sacramento
Valley, from west of the Sacramento River into
the foothills above today’s Oroville and Chico.
The oxbow lake along the river held a weir
built by native people to trap fish. Today the
area is called Indian Fishery.
The Bidwells
In 1849, John Bidwell acquired the Rancho
del Arroyo Chico, a Mexican land grant that
encompassed parts of today’s park. General
Bidwell employed the local Mechoopda to
operate his farm, orchard and ranch. Most of
the Mechoopda workers, and some from other
local villages, lived on the rancho.
When local citizens threatened the Indians
of Butte County with violence and removal,
General Bidwell used a company of soldiers
under his command to keep the Indians safe
from hostile vigilantes. Native people due to
be removed by the government also sought
refuge at Rancho del Arroyo Chico.
In 1868, John Bidwell married
Annie Ellicott Kennedy, who
became an advocate for the
native people, including
building them a church and
encouraging their education.
She eventually became a
vice-president of the
National Woman’s
Indian Association
(now the National
Indian Association).
John Bidwell died in
Osprey
1900, leaving his widow to
river. Gravel bars are used by foraging water
birds, nesting killdeer, spotted sandpipers
and lesser nighthawks. Endangered yellowbilled cuckoos, nesting eagles, ospreys
and Swainson’s hawks prefer Fremont’s
cottonwood trees and the open grassland
habitats. Threatened bank swallows nest in
burrows along eroded riverbanks.
Valley oak woodlands shelter owls,
woodpeckers and bluebirds. Along shaded
banks, juvenile salmon, beavers and river
otters hide. Blue grosbeaks build nests in
willow scrub. Water birds feed in the wetland
areas, while sloughs and side channels
provide shelter for nesting egrets and herons,
as well as basking western pond turtles.
Indian Fishery Nature Trail
oversee the rancho. In 1908, Annie Bidwell
deeded several small portions of land along
the Sacramento River to the State to preserve
the trees on its banks, to prevent the
diversion of water for private purposes, and
to maintain the natural beauty of the river’s
feeder streams.
Before her death, Mrs. Bidwell provided for
the rancho’s village residents by placing the
land into trust for their occupation.
NATURAL HISTORY
Flora and Fauna
Willow and white alder stand among other
native riparian trees. Button bush and wild
blackberry hug the edges of the meandering
Day Use River Access Points
Four unconnected subunits make up the park:
Irvine Finch River Access, Pine Creek Landing,
Indian Fishery and Big Chico Creek.
Irvine Finch River Access —This 5.2-acre west
bank section has a boat launch, picnic tables,
restrooms, and en-route camping. Fishing
is good here. See www.dfg.ca.gov for
licensing regulations.
Pine Creek Landing —Near the boat launch
ramp on Pine Creek, 4.8 acres of riverside
park have boating, picnicking, fishing and
wildlife watching.
Indian Fishery — This 100-acre subunit has
a picnic area, nature viewing, hiking trails
and fishing.
Big Chico Creek — At Big Chico Creek, 96
acres have trails that are ideal for bank
fishing, nature viewing, sunbathing and handcarried boat launching.
Photo courtesy
of Kurt Geiger
Western pond turtle
Accessible Features
Sacramento River Access at Pine Creek,
part of Indian Fishery, has accessible picnic
tables and barbecues, paved pathways, an
accessible trail, parking and accessible vault
restrooms. At Indian Fishery, the Nature Trail
is constructed on compacted native soil that
leads to a fishing area. The trail is accessible
for ½ mile. Off River Road, the trailhead is
signed, as is the accessible parking.
Accessibility is continually improving. For
updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov.
PLEASE REMEMBER
• WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET AT ALL TIMES
ON OR IN THE RIVER.
• Alcohol consumption and glass bottles are
not allowed in the park from April 1 through
October 1.
• Do not tie yourself to anything; if tubes,
ropes and ice chests get caught in
submerged branches, they can pull you
underwater and hold you down.
• Watch for and avoid anything sticking out
of the water. Riffles or waves on the surface
could mean submerged tree snags.
• Wear shoes; some areas of the beach may
have rocks or broken glass.
• For river emergencies, call 911. Glenn and
Butte County Sheriffs are responsible for
patrol and rescues on the water. State Parks
owns and operates only the areas that
provide river access. The Park Ranger Office
phone number is (530) 342-5185.
• Bring your supplies; floating downstream
takes time, with few services on the river.
• Leashed dogs under the control of their
owners are permitted in the park.
NEARBY STATE PARKS
• Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
525 Esplanade, Chico 95926
(530) 895-6144
• Colusa-Sacramento River State Park
Levee St. & Tenth St., Colusa 95932
(530) 458-4927
• Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
400 Glen Drive, Oroville 95966
(530) 538-2219
fishing on the river
Both native and introduced game fish may be
caught from the banks or by trolling. Lucky anglers
may hook a sturgeon, salmon, steelhead or shad.
The oxbow lake at Indian Fishery holds introduced
crappie, largemouth and striped bass, and bluegill.
Steelhead Trout
Shad
Salmon
Sturgeon
River Mile
200
32
to
32
to 5 ,
Orland
AND WILDLIFE
State Park
S E RV I C E A R E A
River Mile
199
, Chico
Bidwell-Sacramento River
Pine
Creek
Boat
Launch
US FISH
Irvine Finch
River Access
99
Pine Creek Landing
Sa
cr
am
en
to
Sacramento River
Access at
Pine Creek
C A L I F O R N I A D E PA RT M E N T
R
iv
OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
er
River Mile
198
AREA
Legend
CALIFORNIA
CDFW
AREA
0
20 Mi
Lassen
NF
30 Km
Los Molinos
Quincy
Parking
Rive
r
45
Picnic Area
Colusa
Ranger Station
Williams
20
5
Sacramento
Willows
Clay Pit
SVRA
Colusa-Sacramento
River SRA
Yuba
Sutter
Buttes SP
20
45
Yuba
City
iver
rR
Plumas
NF
Lake Oroville
SRA
Oroville
99
th e
49
Malakoff
Diggins
SHP
Nevada
er City
20
Marysville
r
5
Fe a
to
ve
Bidwell
Mansion
SHP
en
Ro a d
70
Bidwell-Sacramento
River SP
Chico
Hand-Launch Ramp
©2013 California State Parks
20
32
En-route Camping
Restroom
10
10
Empire
Mine
SHP
US FISH
River Mile
194
Chico C
0
reek
B ig
99
Red
Bluff
River
Mile
195
1.4 Kilometers
C ree k
0.7
M ud
0.35
BIDWELL
SACRAMENTO
RIVER
S TAT E PA R K
1 Miles
Ri
v
0
0.5
Ri
Boat Ramp
0.25
0
Ri v e r
Accessible Feature
to 99 ,
Chico
AREA
m
River Miles
Ave
AND WILDLIFE
ra
1.0
Sacramento
Indian Fishery
Nature Trail
Sac
Park Property
West
OF FISH
Paved Road
Accessible Trail
Indian
Fishery Day
Use Area
Ro
D E PA RT M E N T
Major Road
Trail: Hike
River
ad
River Mile
196
River Mile
197
BSR
SP
Big Chico
Creek Day
Use Area
BSR
SP
AND WILDLIFE
S E RV I C E A R E A
49 80
65 Auburn Auburn
SRA
River Mile
193
Mugwort
Meadow Trail