Things to Do in Chico in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Chico
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak almond blossom season paints the orchards white and pink - the entire valley smells like honey and almonds for three weeks straight
- Bidwell Park's waterfalls are at their most dramatic after winter rains, with Upper Park's trails accessible before summer heat arrives
- Farmers markets overflow with early spring produce - blood oranges, asparagus, and the first strawberries of the season
- Hotel rates haven't hit spring break pricing yet, and you can still book downtown rooms with views of the Sierra Nevada without emptying your wallet
Considerations
- Morning fog from the Sacramento River can linger until 11am, which might frustrate photographers hoping for sunrise shots of Table Mountain
- Some outdoor patios remain closed for winter, and breweries like Sierra Nevada keep their beer garden shuttered until April
- The university students are back from break, so downtown gets rowdy Thursday through Saturday nights in a way that might surprise first-time visitors
Best Activities in March
Almond Blossom Orchard Tours
March is literally the only month you can experience this - thousands of acres between Chico and Durham explode into white blossoms that smell like marzipan. The blooms typically peak between March 10-25, and the contrast against the still-green hills makes for photographs you can't take any other time of year. Early morning tours avoid the afternoon winds that scatter petals like snow.
Bidwell Park Waterfall Hiking
The park's 3,670 acres (1,485 hectares) come alive in March - Bear Hole and Salmon Hole waterfalls are at their most powerful after winter rains, and the poison oak hasn't leafed out yet. Daytime temperatures of 22°C (72°F) make the 8 km (5 mile) round trip to Phantom Falls pleasant instead of brutal like summer.
Sierra Nevada Brewery Tours
March means barrel-aged releases you won't find other months - the brewery releases their Bigfoot Barleywine and other winter warmers. The fermentation room tour includes the smell of wet hops and yeast that's strongest in cool weather, and the restaurant's fireplace makes the pairing dinners feel like a mountain lodge.
Downtown Food and Beer Walking Tours
March evenings are perfect for bar-hopping - warm enough for the walk between places but cool enough to enjoy stouts and porters before breweries switch to lighter styles. The tour hits 5-6 spots including the speakeasy behind the vintage shop and the mezcal bar that locals pretend doesn't exist.
Chico Certified Farmers Market Photography Walks
Saturday mornings at the market are a photographer's dream - the produce is at peak seasonal variety and the soft March light streams through the permanent structure's skylights. You can photograph everything from citrus pyramids to mushroom varieties you've never seen, then eat breakfast burritos while vendors tell you which farms still have u-pick orchards open.
March Events & Festivals
Chico Almond Blossom Festival
Held in nearby Durham, this weekend festival celebrates peak bloom with almond-themed everything - from marzipan workshops to almond wine tastings. The parade features tractors covered in blossoms and ends at the almond processing plant where you can watch nuts being shelled and sorted.
Sierra Nevada Beer Camp
The brewery's annual collaboration weekend brings in brewers from across the country. March 2026 will feature the first release of their spring saison series and includes hands-on brewing sessions in their pilot system. The event sells out in minutes to beer nerds who plan their vacations around it.