1) Butte College’s Nature Trail: Did you know that our community college is located on a nature preserve? To get to the trail you have to go through the campus gates, which are open from 6am-10pm (closed on holidays).
2) Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (off Highway 32).
3) Monkey Face: Take the trail in Upper Park and get a beautiful view of the Chico Valley, Horseshoe Lake and the Bidwell Park Golf Course.
4) Yahi Trail: also in Upper Park, the Yahi Trail runs along the Big Chico Creek (see map below).
5) For many additional trails in Butte County, check out the Explore Butte County website.
Yahi Trail Map
6) CARD Intramurals: CARD offers many different sporting teams that both adults and children can join year-round.
7) Golfing: We have four golf courses in Chico – Canyon Oaks Country Club, Bidwell Park Golf Course, Skyway Golf Park, and Butte Creek Country Club.
8) Bowlero Bowling: Have a night out with your friends by seeing who can bowl the best or worst score.
9) Disc Golf in Upper Bidwell Park: More active than regular golf, just bring your own frisbee.
10) FunLand (mini golf, batting cages, skating rink): Good for all ages and birthday parties.
11) Relax on a hot summer day by tubing down the Sacramento River or Butte Creek.
12) Load the kids in the car and take them for a day at WaterWorks Park in Redding.
13) Sun Splash in Roseville has more than just a water park -- it also has a race track, laser tag, and arcade games.
14) Spend a lazy day laying out in the sun at One Mile (at Sycamore Pool) or Five Mile.
15) Play in the creek in Lower Park.
16) Ever wanted to jump out of a plane? Summer is the time to do with a trip to Sacramento to go Skydiving.
17) Take the family up to the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, and make sure you take a walk across the Sundial Bridge!
18) Enjoy a night looking up at the stars at the Chico Observatory.
19) Too hot in the evening to do anything? No fear, the Chico Theater Company has plays going year-round, see what is either showing now or upcoming.
20) Last but not least, one great way to cool down on a hot summer evening is a trip to Shubert's Ice Cream!
Whatever you choose to do with yourself over the summer we hope that you have a blast and take the right precautions for any of the hikes you go on. Although this is only 20 things to do this summer in Chico we encourage you to experience everything you can so when the summer ends you understand why we think our “little” town is special.
For more places to explore, eat, or annual events checkout our North State Living page!