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Bear Hole

Bear Hole is a swimming hole on Big Chico Creek in Upper Bidwell Park, not Lower Park. The City's park plan names it with Alligator Hole, Salmon Hole and Brown's Hole, and lists a parking lot (Lot K) and restrooms there. The City posts no swim-status or lifeguard notice for it, so check the rules and the creek before you go. Checked October 29, 2026 on the operator’s own pages.

In Chico

Upper ParkPart of the park
Lot KParking
100Cars in 2008 plan
Not allowedDogs at swim holes

Key Facts

  • Butte County Public Health issued a news release on July 18, 2025 warning residents not to swim or play in Big Chico Creek throughout Upper Bidwell Park to Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area, after reports of children hospitalized following swimming at Sycamore Pool and Five Mile Recreation Area.[8]
  • The City's Bidwell Park Master Management Plan Update lists Bear Hole with Alligator Hole, Salmon Hole and Brown's Hole as the swimming holes of Upper Park.[3]
  • The plan describes the stretch of Big Chico Creek around Bear Hole and Brown's Hole as Iron Canyon, where the creek runs over Lovejoy basalt and the valley narrows.[2]
  • Parking Lot K is the Bear Hole lot; the plan's parking table (2008) gives it a capacity of 100 vehicles, and Lot L at the Diversion Dam holds 10.[2]
  • The plan says portable toilets are at the Bear Hole parking area, including accessible units in summer, and that the Bear Hole units stay all winter while those farther up Upper Park are removed or locked.[2]
  • The plan records erosion on the Annie Bidwell Trail near Bear Hole and Devil's Kitchen.[1]
  • Dogs are not allowed at the designated swimming holes in Upper Park.[4]
  • No alcohol and no glass drink containers are allowed in any City park or playground.[4]
  • Bidwell Park is a day use park: Upper Park is closed from 11 p.m. until 60 minutes before sunrise unless posted otherwise, and there is no camping or campfire.[4]
  • Smoking is not allowed in Upper Park from May 1 to November 1.[4]
  • Bicycle riders must wear helmets in Upper Park except on pavement, and Upper Park trails close to bikes and horses in wet conditions.[4]
  • The City's swimming page warns that water which may look shallow or slow can be swift and powerful, and says to stay in areas with no white water.[6]
  • The City's status page lists the gate at the Diversion Dam (Parking Lot L) as closed on its October 16, 2026 update, and Upper Park Road at Lot E as open.[5]

Plan Your Visit

WhatAs the operator states it
Run byCity of Chico Park Division
Drive from ChicoIn Chico
HoursUpper Park is closed 11 p.m. until 60 minutes before sunrise; the Main Upper Park Gate opens at 5:30 a.m.[5]
ParkingLot K (Bear Hole) held 100 vehicles in the City's 2008 plan; Upper Park Road at Lot E is closed to cars Sundays, Mondays and in wet periods.[2]
DogsDogs are not allowed at designated swimming holes in Upper Park.[4]
RestroomsPortable toilets at the Bear Hole parking area per the 2008 plan.[2]
SwimmingNo lifeguard is staffed at Upper Park holes in any City page we read; the City says to swim with friends and stay out of white water.[6]
PhonePark Division (530) 896-7800[7]
Official pageCity of Chico Park Division

Not confirmedThe official pages we read do not publish fees, accessibility for this place.

Map of Bear Hole

The pin is approximate, placed from the address or place name. © OpenStreetMap contributors. Directions

What We Could Not Verify

These items were not on an official page we could open on October 29, 2026, or two official pages disagree. Check with the operator before you rely on them.

  • Not confirmedEntry or parking fee (no fee on any City page we read).
  • Not confirmedWhether the Lot E gate closure on Sundays, Mondays and wet days also stops cars from reaching Lot K; the City pages do not say.
  • Not confirmedCurrent swim safety status for Bear Hole (the City posts a status only for Sycamore Pool).
  • Not confirmedWhether the July 2025 Butte County Public Health no-swim advisory is still in effect; we found no lifting notice and no later one. Check the County and the City before you swim.
  • Not confirmedDepth, jumping rules and the walking distance from Lot K to the pool (no City page gives them).
  • Not confirmedCurrent parking capacity (the 100-vehicle figure is from the City's 2008 plan).

More in Chico

All of ChicoBidwell ParkDowntown ChicoChico State CampusBidwell-Sacramento River State ParkGateway Science MuseumLaxson AuditoriumChico History MuseumSilver Dollar FairgroundsFive-Mile Recreation AreaOne-Mile Recreation AreaCaper AcresBeer Can BeachMadison Bear GardenAll Places

Coming Up in Chico

21 events are on our calendar for Chico in the next 45 days. 2 are listed as free by the organizer. This list rebuilds itself every day at midnight, Pacific time.

October 2026

November 2026

December 2026

Sources: each card links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we checked it. This list shows the next 45 days; see every upcoming event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bear Hole?

In Upper Bidwell Park on Big Chico Creek, with its parking lot (Lot K) off Upper Park Road. The City's plan places it in the Iron Canyon stretch of Big Chico Creek.[2]

Can I bring my dog to Bear Hole?

No. The City's park rules say dogs are not allowed at the designated swimming holes in Upper Park.[4]

Is there a lifeguard at Bear Hole?

We found no City page that staffs one. The City says lifeguards are on duty at the One-Mile swim area from Memorial Day through Labor Day.[4]

Sources

  1. Bidwell Park Master Management Plan Update, 2. Existing Conditions (chapter 2.1 to 2.3), City of Chico Park Division. Read October 29, 2026.
  2. Bidwell Park Master Management Plan Update, 2. Existing Conditions (chapter 2.3 to 2.5), City of Chico Park Division. Read October 29, 2026.
  3. Bidwell Park Master Management Plan Update, 1. Introduction, City of Chico Park Division. Read October 29, 2026.
  4. Welcome to Bidwell Park (park rules, PDF), City of Chico. Read October 29, 2026.
  5. Trail, Gate, & Facility Status and Hours, City of Chico. Read October 29, 2026.
  6. Swimming (Bidwell Park), City of Chico. Read October 29, 2026.
  7. Park Reservation & Donation, City of Chico. Read October 29, 2026.
  8. Public Health Issues No-Swim Advisory for Big Chico Creek Due to E. Coli Risk (news release, July 18, 2025), Butte County Public Health. Read October 29, 2026.

Cite this page: “Bear Hole.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/chico/bear-hole/

On The Map

8 places named on this page are pinned. Tap a pin for the page and directions. Dashed pins were placed from the street address and are approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.