Lake Oroville

Our Mission Lake Oroville State Recreation Area 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. After the springtime snow runoff, take a trip up the middle fork of the Feather River to see the spectacular 640-foot Feather Falls. When the California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (530) 538-2219. 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.™ Lake Oroville State Recreation Area 400 Glen Drive Oroville, CA 95966 (530) 538-2219 © 2003 California State Parks (Rev. 2013) lake is high, you can boat to within a quarter-mile of the falls. L ake Oroville State Recreation Area is located on the Feather River in the chaparral-oak-pine belt of northern motherlode country. Lake Oroville, about 75 miles north of Sacramento, is the largest state reservoir in northern California. The lake’s climate varies with the seasons. Summer temperatures at the lower elevations range from 85 to 100 degrees and from 60 to 70 degrees in the evenings. It is cooler yearround at the higher elevations, with winter temperatures ranging from about 30 degrees to the mid-50s. Annual rainfall ranges from about 26 inches near the Thermalito Forebay to about 60 inches at higher elevations. Spring and fall are usually mild, with pleasant days and cooler evenings. NATIVE PEOPLE For thousands of years, this area was home to the Northwest Maidu people. A typical village might consist of a few families, or it might have 500 or more inhabitants. Often there was a “main” village with sweathouses and other common-use ceremonial buildings. The Maidu were hunters and gatherers. Acorns were their main food source, and nutritional variety came from large and small game, nuts, berries, seeds and fish from what is now the Feather River. In 1820 Captain Luis Arguello was exploring the area and named the river Río de las Plumas (River of Feathers) because the sunlight reflecting on its surface resembled floating feathers. The lives of the Maidu were disrupted after the 1848 gold discovery. When the Feather River was found to be rich in gold, entrepreneurs and gold seekers flooded into the area, taking Maidu land and establishing several small mining towns. Most towns are now under the lake. A tent city named Ophir (“gold” in Hebrew) became the present city of Oroville. The newcomers also brought diseases to which the native people had no resistance, so their numbers dwindled. Today many Maidu people live on local rancherias, including those at Oroville and Chico. Aerial view of Oroville Dam THE DAM In 1967 Lake Oroville was created by Oroville Dam, at 770 feet the nation’s tallest earthen dam. The lake conserves water distributed by the State Water Project to homes, farms and industries in the San Francisco Bay area, the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. Oroville’s facilities provide flood control, smog-free generation of electric power and recreation. At its maximum fill level of 900 feet, the lake includes some 15,500 surface acres for recreation; 167 miles of shoreline allow boaters to land and explore the surrounding country. WILDLIFE An abundant, varied wildlife population inhabits the area of Lake Oroville. The resident species include mountain lions, raccoons, turkeys, opossums, coyotes, tree and ground squirrels, rabbits, deer, skunks, ringtails, bears and many kinds of native birds. THE VISITOR CENTER A visitor center complex atop Kelly Ridge features interpretive displays, an audio-visual room with on-request videos, and a 47-foot viewing Coyote tower overlooking the lake and dam. To reach the visitor center, continue up Oroville Dam Boulevard beyond the dam turnoff, or take Kelly Ridge Road off Olive Highway. Restrooms are located in the courtyard. RECREATION Lake Oroville offers camping, boat-in camping, floating campsites, horse camping and horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, both sailing and power boating, waterskiing, fishing, picnicking and swimming. CAMPING Please camp only in designated areas. Reservations are recommended from late spring through Labor Day. Reserve all campsites at (800) 444-7275. Loafer Creek   —   137 sites at the Coyote Campground can accommodate tents or trailers up to 31 feet and campers or motorhomes up to 40 feet (no hookups). Drinking water and restrooms, coin-operated showers, laundry tubs and a launch ramp are One of the lake’s floating campsites nearby. An RV sanitation station is available. Six group sites accommodate up to 25 persons each: limit of eight vehicles per site. Larger groups may reserve more than one site. Horse camping   —   Loafer Creek Horse Camp has 15 campsites, an accessible restroom with showers, pipe corrals, and horse exercise and washing stations. Bloomer Horse Camp has three first-come, first-served seasonal campsites, with a vault toilet and no showers or running water. Check in at the Spillway kiosk before the ten-mile ride to camp. Bidwell Canyon   —   75 sites with hookups accommodate trailers up to 31 feet and RVs up to 40 feet. Facilities include a lakeside marina with a launch ramp, store, snack bar, fuel dock, boat rental and a pumping station for boat holding tanks. Spillway   —   Shaded picnic sites and overnight camping for self-contained RVs are located at the north end of the dam. Drive across Oroville Dam to reach the facilities, which include a launch ramp and restrooms. Lime Saddle   —   Hookup and non-hookup sites accommodate RVs. Features include a five-lane launch ramp, picnic facilities and restrooms. The nearby marina offers boat docking, fuel, fishing boat rentals, boating supplies, a store and snack bar. Floating Campsites You will need a boat   —   your own or a rental boat from the marina   —   to reach the ten 20’ x 24’ floating sites. Each site sleeps up to 15 people and has a camp table, sink, propane barbecue grill (propane provided), a lockable closet, an accessible restroom, a covered living area, an upper sun deck/sleeping area and room for tents. Bring your own drinking water. Boat-in Camps Boat-in camping is first-come, first-served, and only in designated campsites identified by signs at beach areas around the lake. Ask directions to your camp at the park entrance or launching area. Each camp has six to twenty-six individual campsites; boat camps are located at Craig Saddle, Foreman Point, Goat Ranch and the Bloomer Primitive Area at Bloomer Point   —   Bloomer Knoll, Bloomer Cove and Bloomer Group Camp. The group camp accommodates up to 75 people. Sites have tables, stoves, pit toilets and garbage cans. Bring your own drinking water. PICNICKING AND BOATING North Thermalito Forebay is reserved exclusively for sailboats, canoes and other non-motorized boats. The shaded, grassy day-use areas have barbecue stoves and picnic tables near a 200-yard sandy swimming beach. Four shaded ramadas can be reserved for picnic groups. Piped drinking water and restrooms are nearby. The Forebay Aquatic Center, at North Thermalito Forebay, offers watercraft rentals and classes seasonally. The nonprofit Feather River Rowing Club partners with California State Parks, the Department of Water Resources and local recreation districts. South Forebay has a paved launch ramp for fishing and power boats, parking and restrooms, but no drinking water. Loafer Creek Area has a seasonal swim beach and lawn area with 100 picnic sites. Overnight boating is permitted, but boats must have self-contained sanitary facilities, and all waste and water outlets on board must be sealed. Use sanitation stations around the lake at the marinas. Boat mooring is permitted except where posted otherwise; marina berths are leased by prior arrangement. Overnight camping on shore while boating is not permitted, with the exception of the boat-in campsites; however, boaters are welcome to go ashore for day use. SWIMMING The Loafer Creek area and North Forebay near the Aquatic Center are the only designated swimming areas at the lake. Lifeguard service is seasonal only; do not allow children to swim unattended. FISHING Rainbow and German-brown trout, large- and smallmouth bass, black and spotted bass, and some catfish and salmon are caught here. All anglers over age 16 must carry a California sport fishing license. Shore and boat fishing are permitted in the North and South Forebays, but no motorized boats are allowed in the North. Do not fish or take your boat into the designated swim areas. THE FEATHER RIVER FISH HATCHERY The Department of Fish and Wildlife operates a two-part salmon and steelhead hatchery at 5 Table Mountain Blvd., Oroville 95965. Underwater windows in the barrier dam’s observation area permit close-up viewing of the fish ladder during spawning. At the fish hatchery building across the street, artificial spawning takes place in the The fishing is great year-round. autumn. To schedule guided group tours, please call (530) 534-2306 or visit http://www.water.ca.gov/recreation/ locations/oroville/fishhatchery.cfm Accessible features The visitor centers are accessible. The park’s campgrounds, restrooms, picnic PLEASE REMEMBER Dumping   —   The dumping of waste or refuse in any of the area’s water is prohibited at all times. Please help keep Lake Oroville clean. Sanitation stations and floating restrooms have been placed at strategic locations. Driftwood  —  Because it is not part of the area’s natural ecosystem, driftwood can be collected and used for fuel. It can be found in the lake and its tributaries or ashore between the actual lake level and the high-water mark. BOATING • Boating rules —  All boaters should be familiar with boating rules and regulations. The ABCs of California Boating from the Division of Boating and Waterways may be found at any park entrance or marina or at www.dbw.parks.ca.gov. • Speed limits  —  The speed limit is five miles per hour within 100 feet of a swimmer or 200 feet of any shore, boat-launching facility or designated mooring area. Water skiing is not permitted in the narrow upper reaches of the lake’s tributaries. • Boating tips  —  Floating logs and other driftwood are boating hazards, especially during the winter and spring when heavy rains wash dangerous debris into the lake. areas, marinas and fish-cleaning stations all have accessible features. Some accessible sites with hook-ups may be reserved at Bidwell Canyon. The 5.5-mile bike trail is barrier-free, and four other trails offer some accessibility. Accessibility is continually improving. For updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. • Night boating  —  Only boats equipped with the proper running lights may use the lake at night. The speed limit is five miles per hour when it is dark. • Securing boats  —  If you leave your boat to go ashore, be sure to tie it up. • Lake level  —  Lake level fluctuates daily throughout the year. Summer and fall draw down (lower); winter and spring rise. This change in surface level also changes the location of shoals near shore, so look for varying hazards. CAMPING • Fires and fuel  —  In hot weather, extreme fire hazard conditions exist; fires are permitted only in designated fire rings and barbecues within campsites. No ground fires. Call 911 or contact the nearest park employee to report a fire. • Firewood  —  Dead wood (not driftwood) is a normal part of the park’s ecosystem, so its collection and use are prohibited. Firewood can be purchased from camp hosts. Use propane- or gas-fueled camp stoves and charcoal-burning barbecues only within designated camping or day-use areas. 4 40 ' ' 4400 ' 4200 ' 4200 ' 00 44 360 3600' ' 00 40 ' ' 00 00 ' 20 34 ' 00 38 ' 00 26 Ri v er F al l 00 ' 2800' ' 2400 3400' ' 3400 ' 2600 ' 2400 24 ' 3400 ' 00 26 Fe at Fo rk 1800' Island Bar Hill idd le Fore ma Cree kR d River 26 1924 ft 585 m ' N o r th 00 ' 26 2801 ft 852 m 00 ' 30 Kanaka Peak 0 3044 ft 0' 925 m 0' 12 00 ' M 1400 00 Ri v 0' ' 2400 2000' l i Tra o rk Union Hill 28 ' 1800' ft 2017 613 m Su pk in Lu m ' 00 18 ' 00 ' ' 00 ' 28 0' 260 ' ' Forbestown ' 00 30 00 ' 1800 ' 28 Rd 0 0' 200 400 800 300 400 1200 500 ' 00 600 Meters 1600 © 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2013) Map by Eureka Cartography, Berkeley, CA 2000 Feet 280 ' 22 00 ' 0' 100 24 0 00 0 20 0 0' 2800' 40 260 0' ' 0' ' wn sto 3200' 0' 240 ' 2400 00 rbe 2 800' 00 28 0' Ar ro Rd 220 1600 Canyon Dr ' 00 10 Rd 280 Rd nch Ra ' rs 1000 ne Mi Ave vale d Blv 200' Lower Wyandotte Rd to 800' 0' 40 m Da le Or ov il 26 ' ton Fo 00 ' 00 Oak Hu rle Rd 16 12 00 be 3200' 20 Lake Wyandotte 32 0' 2000 Fo r Rd ' h McCabe Cove 1600' d nR So ut hF or he rR k ive r n ow st 1400 ' w St rin g ay w ill Sp d ee R er ok Ch ' Feather t Sou 1800' ' at rk Fo ' to Hwy 70 0' to Marysville Foo thi ll 00 wn Loafer Creek Entrance Miners Ranch Reservoir 40 Lincoln Blvd Oroville Dam Blvd W to Richvale 1800 Fe River r the Fea 2000 y Hw 1600' Forb e s t o e liv 00 2369 ft 720 m Loafer Creek 16 O Stringtown Mtn Rd Park Headquarters Bidwell Canyon Ridge 0' ' Kelly 60 1973 ft 600 m see detail map above 10 Woodman Ravine S Bidwell Hill yo Ponderosa Reservoir ' Enterprise 1800 Visitor Center 300 0' ' e am Oroville cy Rd uin O r o v i l l e -Q see detail map left ill 00 cker 240 00 ro v 0' D n Mo B m Da Oroville Glen Dr m tgo d Blv lvd 14 ' 80 0' Bl Feather River Fish Hatchery er St R iv ery Craig Saddle d 1600 O 60 tn Run R 0' ' 18 ' 00 160 00 Crystal Hill ' 00 28 00 2800 18 Sycamore Creek 901 ft 274 m 600' ' 3800' Sacramento ' 00 26 1600' y Hw eek Oroville-Quincy 1400' 1600' Canyon Cr ' 1600 ' 1400 ee 200 0' 80 V Gu in1000' R 2200' 600' 80 0' 600' 0' 800' 1400' F 40 400' Chero k Sycamore Cove r he 300 0' ' 2200' 40 2000 ork tF Ea s reek nC nyo Ca Lake Oroville Royal Oaks Dr vd 200 ' Mt Hope 10 d nR 12th St 3800 ' yon R 0' d 2200 ' Spillway Entrance M Nelson Ave 18th St 3600' 2200' Loafer Creek Group Campground 2200 80 ' Bidwell Can 00 ' Mt le 200' Larkin Rd 0' 0' 3200' 26 2000 400' ' 340 ' 200 2800' 2040 ft 620 m Kelly Ridge Point 200' 200' ' 00 Potter Point le Tab Ta b Thermalito 00 3600 44-81 ess Rd ig Acc Cra Garden Dr 400' Sail or manually propelled only an Feather Falls 24 1-2 ' Potter Ravine B I D W E L1000' L CANYON AREA Park Entrance Gr ' 3-43 Foreman Island Park Entrance 0' s Feather Falls is 640 feet tall and the sixth highest in the U.S. ' Loafer Creek Horse Camp 1200' ' ' 00 800' ve dA ' 00 3400' 00 1000' South Thermalito Forebay ' ' 32 3334 ft 1014 m 3274 ft 995 m 82-137 Foreman Creek 1200 12 North ' Thermalito400 Forebay 2600 2000' 22 2000 1600' ' ' ' ' 2200' 0' 1-39 00 00 00 38 3600' 00 2200 Coyote Campground 0' 160 0' 14 28 Little Bald Rock ' ' ' 100 1200 Gold Flat Campground 40 Floating campsite locations are subject to change. Call the park at (530) 538-2219 for current locations. 00 0' Viewpoint2600' Big Bald Rock n The High Rocks 320 Swimming ' 220 2200 1600 ' ' 1543 ft 469 m 40 Supplies 3000' ' ' ' ' ' ' d 00 3000 00 00 00 ' 18 00 00 0 34 28 14 1400' 00 1400' Horse Camp 00 Rec Hall Kennedy Ravine 18 Oregon City 40 Lake Oroville Cr ee AREA Bloomer Island Bloomer Group 14 Bidwell Canyon Marina y ' 00 1400' 1400' 200' Cannon Reservoir Lake Oroville 200' 26 Bloomer Ravine BLOOMER PRIMITIVE CAMP AREA ' Brush Creek R E C R E AT I O N Bloomer Point 40-75 Berr 00 34 2600' ' 00' LOAFER CREEK AREA Berry Creek S TAT E 3005 ft 24 914 00 m ' Big Pine Campground Park Entrance River ' Bloomer Hill Spring Valley Grub Flat Reservoir • Bidwell Mansion SHP 525 Esplanade, Chico 95926 (530) 895-6144 4000 k Rd Goat Ranch Vinton Gulch Cherokee 17-36 0' r LAKE OROVILLE n to d hR lc ' 0' ' 14 ' 40 00 Showers 3800' 30 30 2200 ' ' Clear C ' 00 10 800' ' 00 2000 1-16 60 ' 0' RV Sanitation Station 0' ' 00 Fork ntz Pe 0' Lime Saddle Campground Fea th e 00 Lake Oroville Marina 12 60 300 28 Picnic Area 3 Restrooms 0' 400 3800 14 0' 0' ' Parking 3200' ' 00 120 0' 20 rth No 140 0' Marina 18 r Rive 2400' French Creek ' 0 00 ' 3400 Fo t C on Cr c ee No r 2200' ' 38 36 ' 00 36 Rd Pentz 1400' ' 00 12 reek 00 00 Locked Gate Mountain 38 House 00 ' 24 100 120 ' 0' 28 42 ' 0' Horse Staging Area Bridge 2800' 00 60 ' 4600 0' ' 00 38 River Clark ' 00 16 1400' 1400 rk Rd Ne al Rd 0' 60 ' ' 00 Horse Campground Boat-In Campground 2800' French Creek 00 ' 2000' 1200 26 Rd 1800 24 Dark Canyon 12 Lake Oroville Auburn ' 4200 Group Campground Boating Auburn SRA 00 3800' Floating Restrooms Boat Launch 0 360 ' Floating Campsite Accessible Feature TAHOE NF 80 Enroute Camping 3400' ny on 0' Lime Saddle Campground 00 65 70 113 49 Trail: Hike & Bike Horses Prohibited 20 Empire Mine SHP 20 Marysville 2200' 60 600' ' 2400' Ca 180 00 Yu ba Yuba City 45 rk Da 2000' 00 Hand Boat Launch Only 40 0' ' 20 5 18 37-44 Forebay Aquatic Center 930 Garden Dr., Oroville 95965 Watercraft rentals and classes For information, call (530) 774-7934 or visit www.rowchico.com Operated by the nonprofit Feather River Rowing Club Williams 0' 26 Trail: Hike & Horse Accessible Trail Malakoff Diggins SHP Nevada City er 99 Colusa Campsite Numbers 360 00 Yankee Hill Kunkle Reservoir 200 2200' 49 Campground Trail: Hiking Trail: Hike/Bike/Horse Downieville Oroville Unpaved Road 4200' 20 ColusaSacramento River SRA h ver PlumasEureka SP Lake Oroville SRA 162 ' ' ' ' r Ri NF 191 00 00 00 r 2000 k 10 to Chico e PLUMAS Feath 24 ve Ri ow see detail map NEARBY STATE PARKS • Clay Pit SVRA 4900 Larkin Rd. Oroville 95965 (530) 538-2200 45 ' 44 40 ' er 00 70 Chico Orland Campfire Center ' 00 32 Quincy 32 Bidwell Mansion SHP Willows Nelson Bar Park Entrance Los Molinos 5 Paved Road 89 LASSEN NF 30 Km 20 00 ' 18 th ea 1800' State Recreation Area 20 Mi 10 10 0 ' Lake Oroville F 0 Red 99 Bluff 42 er ' 3800' Legend ' 00 Feath 00 ' ' 00 0' 00 400 ' 1 00 12 0' 60 00 40 28 ' 00 42 44 ' 00 h Pearson Rd Hand boat launches are subject to closure during low lake levels. This park receives support in part from a nonprofit organization. For more information, contact: Bidwell Bar Association, 917 Kelly Ridge Rd, Oroville, CA 95966 (530) 538-2219 ' ' 00 300 28 00 26 18 Bran c Paradise ' 20 00 to Quincy Concow Reservoir 36 ' West ' to Chico 00 30 ' 1800' 800 2000' 0' 00 ' 200' ' 2600' 00 400' 2400 0' 200 16 10 26 2200