Explore Natural Beauty in UpState CA

Bidwell Park

One of the largest municipal parks in the nation, Bidwell Park is an extraordinary landscape filled with swimming holes, trails and picnic areas. Families will find paved bike trails throughout the park and mountain bikers can test their skills on the many intertwined trails in the upper park.Bidwell Park is "divided" by Manzanita Avenue. The area east of Manzanita Avenue is referred to as Middle and Upper Park, while the area west of Manzanita is…

Bigfoot Scenic Byway

This scenic drive follows two nationally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers: the Klamath River and the North Fork of the Trinity River.  Both untamed waterways are known for their trophy sized steelhead and salmon, and thrilling whitewater rafting.  These rivers cut through the Siskiyou and Klamath mountains, which provide ideal habitat for wildlife such as elk, deer, black bears, river otters, bald eagles and peregrine falcons.  Hoopa, Yurok and Karuk Indian tribes have made their…

Black Butte Lake

Located southwest of Corning, the lake is seven miles long and has 40 miles of shoreline with three boat launch ramps. Visitors can enjoy picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, and many other outdoor activities. Hunting restricted to shotguns and archery only (license required).Two campgrounds available: Buckhorn - 65 campsites, group campsite, open year-round. Showers, playground, nature trail, shoreline access, exercise area, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits, mountain bike trails, fish cleaning station,…

Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Area

Chappie-Shasta is a treasure trove of OHV adventures, with over 200 miles of roads and trails running through this 55,000-acre site. It is managed cooperatively by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Uses include shooting, off-highway vehicle use, picnicking, hang gliding, swimming, horseback riding, and mountain bike riding, gold panning and hunting. Parts of this area are used for competitive events, mountain bike races, off-road motorcycle races, archery competition and related…

Clover Creek Preserve

Clover Creek Preserve is tucked in behind a neighborhood in east Redding, and offers paved, flat trails great for walking or cycling. Enjoy the 2 mile loop with your dog, your favorite people, or just the beautiful view of Redding's rolling hills, oaks, and expansive sky. Distance: 2.0 milesDifficulty: Easy

Dutch Flat Wildlife Area

Dutch Flat Wildlife Area was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1994. It is 160 acres of riparian and stream habitat. Other vegetation types include grasslands and plant communities dominated by Jeffrey and ponderosa pines, juniper, and sagebrush.For more information, call the Northern Region Redding office at (530) 225-2300.

Feather River Nature Center

The bank of the Feather River below the Bath House was once the site of a Maidu fishing village. The river provided a bountiful supply of giant Chinook salmon and acorns were harvested from the groves of Blue Oaks. Gold was discovered in the Feather River in 1849 bringing a tent city of fortune hunters virtually overnight. The gold soon ran out and the miners left as quickly as they had appeared.As the need for…

Feather River Scenic Byway

The Feather River Scenic Byway follows the North Fork of the Feather River into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The route is one of California’s earliest routes over the Sierra’s, providing the lowest elevation highway crossing during major winter storms. The byway traverses the northern Sierra Nevada and ends near the Nevada border, making it unique in its botanical and cultural diversity.The byway begins in the Lake Oroville area of Butte County. Lake Oroville, created by…

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

9,100-acre wildlife refuge, one of the most intensively managed waterfowl marshlands in the United States. Excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing, photographing, and nature viewing. Educational programs, exhibits, self-guided nature trail and seasonal guided tours.

Heart Lake

This lake is located in Section 24, T39N, R5W. Drive to Castle Lake, about 11 miles from the town of Mt. Shasta, on the paved Castle Lake Road, which is usually open on Memorial Day. From Castle Lake, go about a mile south, then there is a faint trail southwest to Heart Lake.Fair fishing for small Brook Trout. The lake sometimes freezes, which can kill the fish. There is a very small pond on the…