We stopped by Lower Bidwell Park on Tuesday because we had a couple of hours before a scheduled…read moreactivity. What a gem of a park. Beautiful trees shading an asphalt-paved walking/biking path. We really wanted to do loop walk, but never actually found that trail. I would want to give 4.5 if you could give half points, because more signage is needed to direct people toward the nature center and specific trails. That said, this park is such a great feature in Chico!

This is a really cute Park in a nice neighborhood that has a playground and a cement path where you…read morecan walk around and around all day. It's very useful and I love to see a lot of people be utilizing it. The park is clean and maintained and every time I have visited there have been a lot of people walking or playing with their dogs and children playing and riding bicycles. This is a great spot for a picnic or a walk or just to sit in the shade and relax. It also has one of those tiny free libraries in case you want to grab a book and just read for a while. They have two picnic tables, one on each side of the park and a water bottle refilling station. Even though it's a small park, I came here many times when I was in the area I would love to give it five stars but there is no restroom here and I saw lots and lots of people not picking up after their dogs. So walking in the beautiful green grassy area can be kind of a mind field. . Oh and they also have a couple of disc golf stations but I don't play and I never saw anyone using them just in case that helps.

If you're scared of heights, I don't recommend this location. You're basically walking on tracks…read morelaid out on a pipe carrying water. Once you get to the arrow, you have to jump a few feet down the mountain and climb your way down to the water. The hike is about an hour before you reach the location. It's beautiful though. Tadpoles, fishes, and frogs are around the water. It's perfect for the summer because the ice melts and fills the lake up to a good height. Perfect for jumping off the rocks.

Roads are not maintained. The trail is damaged and dangerous. Even with an all wheel drive vehicle…read morewith all terrain tires you'll struggle getting up and down. Anyone without a lifted all wheel drive vehicle should steer clear. The trail itself is not recommended as it is damaged and not safe to hike. It's been 3 years and the roads only worsened. Not recommended for most folks.

This hike was a blessing and a curse combined; stunningly beautiful views and an amazing waterfall…read moremixed with treacherous inclines, a mass amount of poison oak, and very aggressive bugs. I hiked this trail with my group in early June, and needless to say, this was one of the most beautiful and also one of the most challenging hikes that I've done. The entire loop measures about 8 miles, but you should add another mile if you plan to hike to the top of the falls. We started on the Upper Trail which is about 4.5 miles long. We took this trail to the top of the falls, then to the falls Overlook, and then to the Lower Falls trail which looped us back to the beginning of the trailhead. But be forewarned; if you take the Lower Falls trail back, the hike is very strenuous and not very well maintained. Right from the gate, you can see that this trail was filled with tons and tons of poison oak. If you don't know what poison oak looks like, you should look it up before you decide to come here. It's a beautiful plant, but you definitely don't want it touching you. And trust me, it's everywhere. All over the trails! I would recommend that you wear long pants and sleeves, especially if you're allergic. Also, there are tons of bugs! Lots of mosquitos and even ticks. Spray yourself with bug spray before you hit the trail. We sprayed and we still got bitten up pretty badly. Luckily, I didn't find any ticks on myself though. We also spotted a rattlesnake on the trail and you should also note that there have been bear sightings in the past. Just be aware of your surroundings. Okay, so now that I've gotten the scary stuff out of the way, let's focus on the actual hike. The hike through the Upper Trail is really pretty! It starts out flat and inclines gradually. It's full of greenery and mostly shaded. You'll pass over a small bridge that overlooks a baby waterfall that flows into a beautiful creek. There are ferns and flowers all throughout the trail. You'll see giant ants crawling on the ground. You'll also get a wonderful view of Bald Rock Dome which looks likes a mini Half Dome (Yosemite), and a sweeping view of the Middle Fork Feather River. The Overlook point to Feather Falls will be down some stairs and to the left. There are signs that will help to guide you. The view of Feather Falls is just simply breathtaking! The images are stunning but even they can't do it justice. You will truly have to just experience it for yourself. If you're up for some fun, I would highly recommend hiking to the top of the falls. It's seriously unbelievable up there. Storybook views, crystal clear water, and vivid greenery. It'll make you feel like you just walked into an enchanted forest. Like, is this really real? On the way back from the falls, we took the Lower Falls Trail back. This trail is a mile shorter than the Upper Falls Trail, but 10 times more strenuous. If you're looking for a less strenuous hike, either take the Lower to Upper Trail Loop or take the Upper Falls Trail there and back. Otherwise, you'll be in for a steep climb. Not only is this trail all uphill until the very end, it's also not well maintained. It's super rocky with lots of trees blocking the trail that you'll have to climb under and over. Parts of the trail are narrow and slippery. You should also make sure that you bring waaay more water than you think that you'll need because you WILL need it. After 9 miles of hiking, we were tired but felt extremely accomplished. The restrooms aren't the cleanest and the parking lot is pretty small, so I'd advise that you get there early. Would I do this hike again? Definitely! I would just take a different route and bring a stronger bug repellent. In the end, this hike is worth it for the views of one of the tallest waterfalls in California.

First off, if you cannot have the decency to carry out your trash, don't hike…read more People leave trash EVERYWHERE on this trail. Literally, the most trash I've ever seen on a trail. People were leaving trash within hours of places we passed earlier. Unbelievable. Snack wrapper, water bottles and I even saw a dirty diaper. WTF?! Falls are awesome. Totally blew passed the turn for the loop on the way down so it was more of an out and back for us. Approximately 3.41 miles to the falls. Didn't have a problem with bugs but bring bug spray.

Visited here back in 2021 and spent the whole day hiking and exploring, plus picnic in nature and…read moreabsolutely loved it, this place does get crazy busy, and lots of tourists, but it was a great experience overall, they do run out of parking spots, and there isnt a lot of shade, but lots of rolling hills, cows, nature, and in the future would love to return

Got to the parking lot at 8 am on a March Saturday and the parking lot was already half full…read more Come early! Some portions of the trail are rocky. Hiking sticks are helpful on the rocks and steep sections. Lots of mixed wildflowers. Cows were at a distance. Some muddy spots. Hardly any shade along the trail except in the ravine. By the time we headed back, the crowds were significant. Cars were parked all along the road. I would be surprised if no one got tickets.

A diamond in the rough for Sierra lakes. If you want to get away from tons of people, you'll love…read morethis place. Purchase rental cabin from Bucks Marina or Bucks Lake Shore Lodge. Also, Lake Shore lodge has a full bar and restaurant with outstanding food and drinks. Get the tree smacker for the full effect....LOL Enjoy this lake, it's one of kind. I've been going there since 1967...It's the real deal for a mountain experience!!!!! Cools down at night, so you sleep great....Hank D. Sr.

wonderful place! wonderful staff and wonderful people! Bucks Lake is a must visit if you have not…read morebeen yet what a wonderful secret/ destination spot!

Upper Bidwell Park, especially in conjunction with Lower Bidwell which goes right into the heart of…read moretown and the university, on the northern edge of downtown, is a wonderful park. The trails essentially from Bidwell mansion at the northern edge of downtown, along Big Chico Creek, go through the lower park, and for many miles into the foothills in the upper park. This allows easy access directly from town, and one can drive to various parking lots in the park. Scenery is varied from grassland to rocky outcroppings, walking or hiking along the heavily wooded creek or up o the hills and rocks, with some lovely scenery as well as some striking rocky scenery. There is nice swimming in the creek as well. This park system is a wonderful addition to the Chico area.

One of my top two hikes in Lassen National Park, and probably their most popular and well-known…read morehike. If you have the chance to hike down to Bumpass Hell, I'd highly recommend you do it. If you visited Sulphur Works, that's just a small bit of what Bumpass Hell has to offer. It's about a 3 mile round-trip hike with only about 200 elevation gain. All in all, it was a pretty easy hike. The views of these hot springs are absolutely gorgeous - a good variety of hydrothermal areas with such strikingly beautiful colors. If you've been to Yellowstone National Park, it might be a bit of a let down because the ones there are next level. So just keep that in mind when visiting! Make sure to stay on the boardwalk. The ground off trail is completely unpredictable and can lead to severe injuries. This trail is only open about 4 months of the year. So check the website in advance. It also gets so busy as this is their park gem. And there is not as much parking as you would like. So plan accordingly to ensure you'll be able to do the hike - the ranger did advise to go earlier in the morning. Amazing hike in Lassen. Highly recommend!

A Must-See Hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park!…read more Bumpass Hell is a fantastic hike and one of the highlights of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The trail offers incredible geothermal features--bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and vibrant colors that make it feel like you're walking through another world. Keep in mind, the hike is at high elevation, so the trail is typically only open from July through late October, depending on snow conditions. Please inform yourself before traveling here. In some years, it might not open until August - based on the information provided by rangers. Be sure to check trail conditions before you go, especially if Bumpass Hell is a must-do on your list. National Park fee applies. Even if the trail happens to be closed, don't worry--there are plenty of other great hikes throughout the park to explore. But if it's open, this one is absolutely worth the trip! If you happened to be fluffy like me, take it slow and drink water.

This seems to a park focused on picnicking & summer river time, rather than hiking (at least from…read moreprior reviews.) However, don't sleep on South Yuba River State Park for its hiking trails! I stopped by on a drizzly spring Saturday. The rain seemed to keep crowds away (I've heard weekends can be packed!) If you visit the Bridgeport area of the park, there are two lots. One is by the newly restored covered bridge and another less than a quarter mile down the road. Parking was self paid when I visited but they also accepted CA state parks pass. It's an interesting park from a history perspective but also has quite a display of spring wildflowers. I tried out 2 trails. First, I did the Point Defiance loop trail that was a moderate climb with woodlands, river views, hillsides with flowers and some small side paths down to the water. It is just under 3 miles but a fun adventure with a variety of landscapes. Second, was the Buttermilk Bend trail which is an out and back that is a fairly flat trail that follows along the river (but higher up with some amazing views.) The second trail was an out and back and about 2.5 miles total. I was really impressed with the quality of the trails -it's a well maintained park. There are several picnic areas and a visitor center (which I didn't get to check out this time.) I can't speak for summer time and swimming here but it's a great scenic hiking spot for river views and wildflowers.

Took a peaceful trip to the South Yuba River in Penn Valley with my boyfriend and our pup, and it…read morewas everything we needed. Nature at its finest -- cool, clear water, smooth rocks to lounge on, and beauty in every direction. The air felt fresh, the vibe was mellow, and it was just one of those spots that reminds you how healing a little escape into nature can be. Perfect for a dip, a walk, or just soaking in the calm. Already dreaming of going back.