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Beer Can Beach

Beer Can Beach is a local nickname for a gravel bar on the Sacramento River near Chico. We found no State, County or federal page that uses the name, so we cannot say who owns it, which county it is in or who may use it. What official pages do say is about the river stretch around it and the rules for boats and bathers. Checked October 29, 2026 on the operator’s own pages.

Location not confirmed

None foundOfficial name
Hwy 32 to Big Chico CreekRegulated stretch
$100, then $200Boat alcohol fine (2011)
$6State Park day use

Key Facts

  • A 2011 state bill, AB 494, set an alcohol rule for the Sacramento River from the Highway 32 bridge to the mouth of Big Chico Creek.[1]
  • The Legislature's analysis says a person in a non-motorized vessel or a bather there may not possess an alcohol container, open or closed, during summer holiday periods when the Glenn and Butte County Boards of Supervisors prohibit alcohol on the river banks.[1]
  • It describes a $100 first-offense fine, $200 after that, and requires the counties to post notice on the banks.[1]
  • California State Parks lists public launches on the river at Irvine Finch River Access, Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, Scotty's Boat Landing and Pine Creek Landing, among others.[2]
  • State Parks lists cruising down the river on inner tubes, canoes or kayaks among the popular activities at Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, which charges $6 for vehicle day use.[3]

Plan Your Visit

WhatAs the operator states it
Run byNot confirmed
Drive from ChicoLocation not confirmed

Not confirmedThe official pages we read do not publish hours, fees, dogs, restrooms, accessibility for this place.

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 confirmedExact location of the gravel bar the nickname refers to, and whether it is in Butte or Glenn County.
  • Not confirmedWho owns or manages it and who may use it.
  • Not confirmedCurrent county alcohol resolutions, 2026 holiday dates and fines.
  • Not confirmedLand access, parking, restrooms, glass rules and trash rules.
  • Not confirmedAny official page that uses the name Beer Can Beach.

More in Chico

All of ChicoBidwell ParkDowntown ChicoChico State CampusBidwell-Sacramento River State ParkGateway Science MuseumLaxson AuditoriumChico History MuseumSilver Dollar FairgroundsBear HoleFive-Mile Recreation AreaOne-Mile Recreation AreaCaper AcresAll 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

What is Beer Can Beach?

A local nickname for a gravel bar on the Sacramento River near Chico. We found no official page that uses the name or says who manages it.[1]

Can I drink alcohol on the river there?

During summer holiday periods when Butte and Glenn counties ban alcohol on the banks, state law (AB 494, 2011) bars alcohol containers in non-motorized boats and for bathers between the Highway 32 bridge and Big Chico Creek. We could not confirm current dates.[1]

How do I get to the river there?

State Parks lists public launches including Irvine Finch River Access and Scotty's Boat Landing. We could not confirm which launch or which gravel bar the nickname means.[2]

Sources

  1. AB 494 (Logue, 2011), Assembly floor analysis as amended July 12, 2011, California Legislature. Read October 29, 2026.
  2. Boating Facilities at Sacramento River, California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways. Read October 29, 2026.
  3. Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, California State Parks. Read October 29, 2026.

Cite this page: “Beer Can Beach.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/chico/beer-can-beach/

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