Day Trips from Chico
The best excursions and trips you can do in a day
Full-Day Trips
Worth dedicating a whole day to explore.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
$30 park entry per vehicle + $25 gasActive volcanoes, boiling mud pots, and pristine alpine lakes just an hour from Chico. The park's geothermal features rival Yellowstone without the crowds, and the drive up Highway 32 through Chester is half the experience.
great destination & Magalia Ridge
$15-20 wine tasting + $10-15 kayak rentalAfter the 2018 fire, this ridge rebuilt with resilience and some of the best mountain views in Butte County. The new Skyway corridor showcases rebirth through art installations and rebuilt breweries.
Lake Almanor & Chester
$30-40 kayak rental + $20 lunch + $25 gasThe Sierra's best-kept secret - massive lake with views of Lassen Peak, actual beaches, and zero crowds. Chester's main street feels like a 1950s time capsule with surprisingly good pizza.
Oroville Chinese Temple & Feather Falls
$5 temple donation + $10 parking at Feather Falls + $20 lunchTwo-for-one day: morning at the 1863 Chinese temple museum, then afternoon hiking to one of California's tallest waterfalls. The temple's artifacts survived both fires and floods.
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge & Sacramento River
$5 refuge entry + $25 lunch + $20 gasWinter brings 300,000 migrating birds to this hidden refuge. The auto tour route lets you birdwatch from your car between stops at historic river towns.
Shasta Lake & Dam
$8-20 caverns tour + $15 lunch + $30 gasCalifornia's largest reservoir with houseboat culture and engineering marvels. The dam tour shows you infrastructure that keeps the Valley watered, then jump in the lake to cool off.
Nevada City Historic District
$10-20 wine tasting + $40 dinner + $30 gasGold Rush town that never died - Victorian architecture, legitimately good restaurants, and mountain air without the Tahoe prices. The drive up Highway 70 through the canyon is worth it alone.
Half-Day Options
Shorter excursions when time is limited.
Upper Bidwell Park to Lower Park loop
$8 parking + $5-15 brunchChico's crown jewel connects wild foothills to downtown via bike path. Start at Monkey Face for sunrise, end at One-Mile for brunch.
Durham farmers market & olive mill
$20-30 produce/oil + $10 breakfastSaturday morning staple - the region's best produce 15 minutes south. Grab breakfast burritos and watch olives get pressed into oil.
Honey Run Covered Bridge & Butte Creek Canyon
$5 parking donationThe last three-span covered bridge in California, recently rebuilt after the fire. Short hike to swimming holes below the bridge.
Chico State campus & downtown art walk
$10-20 street foodTurn Chico State into a museum - the public art collection rivals many cities. End at Thursday night Market for street food and local bands.
Day Trip Tips
Make the most of your excursions.
- Gas up in Chico - stations get sparse and pricey past great destination. Chevron at 8th and Main is cheapest before 9am.
- Download offline maps for Feather Falls and Lassen - cell service dies exactly when you need directions most.
- Thursday-Sunday, Highway 32 to Chester backs up with Bay Area traffic. Leave by 7am or after 6pm.
- Bring cash for parking at Lassen ($30) and temple donations in Oroville. Card machines freeze in winter.
- Check CalTrans QuickMap before heading to Shasta or Lassen - winter chains required October-May.
- great destination Ridge wineries close early (5pm) and many are closed Monday-Wednesday. Always call ahead.
- Pack layers everywhere - Lassen can be 40 degrees cooler than Chico, even in July.
Need a base for your day trips?
Our accommodation guide helps you pick the best area to stay in Chico.