Butte district, California, United States

Places to visit near Chico

Chico is a town in Butte district, California, United States, home to about 90,316 people. Within 50 km by road there are 126 places to visit — 43 hill stations & viewpoints, 27 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 19 parks and 12 waterfalls. The must-see places are Janet Turner Print Museum (1 km), Museum of Northern California Art (1 km) and Lower Bidwell Park (3 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Chico on the map

Chico, California
Chico, Butte district, California, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Chico at a glance

Location
Butte district, California, United States
Population
about 90,316
Coordinates
39.7285° N, 121.8375° W
Places within 50 km
126 (17 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for parks

Top places to visit near Chico

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Chico: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

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Things to see near Chico, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Chico

86 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Chico. The closest is Stilson Canyon (7 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Chico

59 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Chico. The closest is Dam 149 (17 km); the best-known is Lake Oroville State Recreational Area (30 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Parks near Chico

26 parks within 100 km of Chico. The closest is Depot Park (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Waterfalls near Chico

19 waterfalls within 100 km of Chico. The closest is Western Falls (32 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Chico

13 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Chico. The closest is Lower Bidwell Park (3 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Churches near Chico

12 churches within 100 km of Chico. The closest is Saint Augustine of Canterbury (1 km); the best-known is Chico Gospel Hall (3 km). Best time: year-round.

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A one-day trip from Chico

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 20 km on the road.

  1. Start in Chico
  2. 1 km Janet Turner Print Museum · museum, Butte
  3. 1 km Museum of Northern California Art · museum, Butte
  4. 2 km Chico Gospel Hall · church, Butte
  5. 4 km Lower Bidwell Park · nature spot, Butte
  6. 5 km Stilson Canyon · viewpoint, Butte
  7. 7 km Back to Chico

Plan a longer trip from Chico — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Chico

No traveller has reported from around Chico yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Chico

    All places near Chico by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Chico by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints4386Stilson Canyon (7 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs2759Dam 149 (17 km)
    Parks1926Depot Park (1 km)
    Waterfalls1219Western Falls (32 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens313Lower Bidwell Park (3 km)
    Churches712Saint Augustine of Canterbury (1 km)
    Museums68National Yo-Yo Museum (1 km)
    Other attractions36Colyear Springs (9 km)
    Forts & heritage34Bidwell Mansion (1 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves33Golden State Island (16 km)
    Caves02Cave Spring (57 km)
    Temples01Bok Kai Temple (87 km)

    Chico: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Chico?

    Janet Turner Print Museum (museum, about 1 km), Museum of Northern California Art (museum, about 1 km), Lower Bidwell Park (nature spot, about 3 km), Chico Gospel Hall (church, about 3 km), Stilson Canyon (viewpoint, about 7 km), Evangelical Free Church of Hamilton City (church, about 19 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Chico?

    126 places on Spotwander: 43 hill stations & viewpoints, 27 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 19 parks, 12 waterfalls, 3 wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Chico?

    Stilson Canyon, about 7 km by road; Flatiron (16 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Chico?

    Dam 149, about 17 km by road; Hespol Memorial Spring (25 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Chico?

    Depot Park, about 1 km by road; Oak Way Park (4 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Chico?

    Start in Chico, visit Janet Turner Print Museum, then Museum of Northern California Art, then Chico Gospel Hall, then Lower Bidwell Park, then Stilson Canyon, and drive back — about 20 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Chico?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for parks.

    Towns near Chico

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Chico’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Chico on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.