Bidwell Park Tour

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This loop combines the most popular trails on both sides of the park, B Trail and Guardians Trail. Great views of the Valley and the park are seen throughout the ride, as well as some of the best riding Chico has to offer.

There is a wet crossing of Big Chico Creek to pass from the north to south side of the park. This is typically impassible during the winter. The climb up North Rim Trail gets a lot of sun and can be very hot on warm days. This ride can be shortened by returning after B trail via Middle Trail or the park road. Riding B Trail and Guardians Trail when the creek is impassible is typically done by returning to Horseshoe Lake on Middle Trail after descending B Trail, crossing the creek at Bidwell Park Golf course and ascending the South Rim Trail to Ten Mile House Trail.

This ride begins with a rocky, gradual climb up the North Rim Trail. There are some short downhill sections towards the top of North Rim. Turn onto B Trail at the sign and get ready for fast, techy singletrack beginning with small rock gardens along the rim of the canyon and changing to high speed banked turns as you descend into a riparian woodland along Big Chico Creek. Take a left onto the park road and ride to the end, follow a short section of singletrack leading to a wet creek crossing.

After cooling off from the creek crossing, try your best to make the steep, rocky climb up to Ten Mile House Road. Make a right turn onto Ten Mile House Trail and put on your climbing legs. You'll climb back up to the rim of the south side where Guardians Trail begins. Guardians begins as smooth, flowing singletrack, gradually becoming more rocky and technical as you descend. The trail is built along the bluffs of volcanic cliffs.

There are several drainages that require judicious negotiation to avoid taking a spill onto unforgiving lava rock. Towards the lower section, Guardians merges into the South Rim Trail. The trail ends on Centennial Avenue, veer to the right onto the road and pedal approximately a quarter mile back to Five Mile recreation area.

Bidwell Park is defined by Big Chico Creek, beginning as a narrow strip of greenery in the heart of Downtown Chico and gradually widening as one travels upstream through lower and middle park. This ride travels along the northern and then the southern boundaries of upper park.