Rivermile: 193
Owner: Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) (530) 342-5185
City: Hamilton City
County: Glenn/Butte
Ownership: Public
Public Access: yes
Location: Click Here
Related Website: Click Here
Acres: 243
Access Via: Public road
Fishing Regulations: Click Here
Fishing Supplement: Click Here

• Motor Boating
• Kayaking/Canoeing
• Fishing
• Swimming
• Tubing
• Birding
• Photography
• Nature Observation
• Nature Walk
• Walking
• Hiking

Parking
• Paved Lot
• Gravel Lot
• Dirt Lot
Boating Facilities
• Boat Ramp(s)
• Manual Put-in/Put-out
• Boat Trailer Parking
Pedestrian Access
• ADA Accessible
• Trails
Picnic Facilities
• Picnic Table(s)
• Barbecue Grill(s)/Pit(s)
• Turf Area
• Tree Shaded
Water
• Potable Water
• Drinking Fountains
Bathrooms
• Flush Toilets & Sinks
• Porta-Potties
Other Facilities
• Amphitheater
• Informational kiosk

The units are distributed in non-contiguous parcels from River Mile 193 to 199. The majority of the sites are located on the left (east) side of the river, west of Chico on River Road just south of Highway 32. Only the Irvine Finch Boating Access Area is located on the right (west) side of the river, near Highway 32, about a ½ mile east of Hamilton City. View these sites under their individual titles for more information.

The 243-acre Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park (Exhibit 2-2C) provides four (Big Chico Creek Day Use Area, Indian Fishery Day Use Area, Pine Creek Boat Launch, Irvine Finch River Access) day-use areas: three along the left side (east) of the river and a camping and boating access on the right (west) side. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is in the process of developing a General Plan for this park. Small outbuildings and a modular office, which flood on a fairly regular basis, function as the only maintenance facilities.

The Irvine Finch site is the only site within the state park that is located outside the levee. The remaining sites are highly prone to flooding. The topography varies from site to site, ranging from gradual gravel bars to steep, heavily vegetated banks along the river’s edge and low floodplain areas away from the banks.

The vegetation within these four sites varies by site. The Big Chico Creek Day Use Area is characterized primarily by dense mixed riparian forest. The Indian Fishery and Pine Creek areas are characterized by a mix of valley oak woodland, mixed riparian forest and willow scrub. Irvine Finch, in contrast, is a remnant walnut orchard.

Each site has a variance in their usage, see individual access site for further details.

The properties bordering the individual units are mostly agricultural. Areas across the river and by Pine Creek are in conservation ownership by USFWS, DFG and the Reclamation Board and are either scheduled for restoration or are revegetating naturally.

All of the sites within the state park are accessible from the public roads identified above. Boat access is available as indicated below.

• Entrance
• Directional
• Facility Rules