Bidwell Park Entrances: Gate Hours, Water Status

Water And Ice Safety: read this before you go

The City of Chico’s gate table, updated 10/16/26, lists most Lower Park lots opening at 7:30 a.m. (the South 1-Mile gate on 4th Street at 9 a.m.), the Main Upper Park Gate at 5:30 a.m., and the Horseshoe Lake lot gate closed Sundays, Mondays and in wet weather. The same City page lists a Swim Advisory for Sycamore Pool.

Checked November 3, 2026

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5:30 a.m.Main Upper Park Gate opens
7:30 a.m.Most Lower Park gates open
Swim AdvisorySycamore Pool status, City, 10/16/26
3,670 acresBidwell Park, per the City

Read this first: the hours, fees, rules and closures on this page were taken from the sources named beside them; we read those sources on November 3, 2026. The City of Chico’s Trail, Gate and Facility Status and Hours page (updated 10/16/26) and Swimming page, and our Bidwell Park pages (City sources read October 29, 2026). This is not legal, medical or safety advice. They change, so check the agency or business named before you rely on them. Anything we could not read is marked Not Confirmed where it appears. The City says the park is subject to closure for wet weather or high fire risk days, or other factors not posted.

Gate Hours by Entrance

City of Chico gate table, updated 10/16/26
Entrance or lot	Opens	Closes April to September	Closes October to March
South Park Drive entrance at Cedar Grove to Centennial exit	11:00 a.m.	9:00 p.m.	7:00 p.m.
South 1-Mile gate, 4th Street entrance	9:00 a.m.	9:00 p.m.	7:00 p.m.
North 1-Mile parking lot	7:30 a.m.	9:00 p.m.	7:00 p.m.
Cedar Grove parking lot	7:30 a.m.	9:00 p.m.	7:00 p.m.
5-Mile Gate (Middle Park)	7:30 a.m.	9:00 p.m.	7:00 p.m.
Main Upper Park Gate	5:30 a.m.	11:00 p.m.	9:00 p.m.
Horseshoe Lake lot E gate (closed Sun and Mon and in inclement weather, to vehicles)	7:30 a.m.	9:00 p.m.	7:00 p.m.

On the same date the City listed Upper Park trails (north and south sides) and Upper Park Road at Lot E as open, the gate at the Diversion Dam (Parking Lot L) as closed, Caper Acres and Peregrine Point Disc Golf Course as open. The City notes: “Unless otherwise indicated, ‘CLOSED’ trails pertains to vehicles, equestrians, and bicyclists. Pedestrian use is okay.” Caper Acres is closed Monday, or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday.

Water

Swim Advisory and Creek Cautions

The City’s status page showed Sycamore Pool as SWIM ADVISORY (updated 10/16/26). The City’s swimming page says: “Remember, when swimming in Big Chico Creek, be sure to use caution. Water which may appear to be shallow and/or slow moving can actually be swift and powerful. Don’t be a victim! Stay in areas where there is no white water.” It describes Sycamore Pool as a concrete pool with depths from a shallow wading end to 6 or more feet near the dam: “Swim at your own risk.” Our Five-Mile page records that Butte County Public Health told residents on July 18, 2025 not to swim or play in Big Chico Creek from Upper Bidwell Park to Sycamore Pool because of E. coli risk; whether that advisory is in effect today is Not Confirmed . Read the signs at the water and check with Butte County Public Health and the City. This is not medical or safety advice.

Original artwork of Big Chico Creek running through rocks, a water status and swim advisory view for Bidwell Park entrances

Which Entrance

One-Mile and Cedar Grove
The Lower Park entrances by downtown: see One-Mile Recreation Area and Caper Acres.
Five-Mile
Middle Park, 5-Mile Gate: Five-Mile Recreation Area, which carries the County advisory note.
Upper Park
Main Upper Park Gate and Horseshoe Lake: Upper or lower Bidwell Park. The City names the Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 East 8th Street, as the park’s visitor center.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Bidwell Park open?

Most Lower Park gates open at 7:30 a.m., the South 1-Mile gate at 9 a.m. and the Main Upper Park Gate at 5:30 a.m., according to the City of Chico’s table updated 10/16/26.

Can I swim at Sycamore Pool?

The City’s status page showed a Swim Advisory for Sycamore Pool when updated on 10/16/26. Check the City’s status page and the signs at the pool before anyone swims.

Is Horseshoe Lake open to cars every day?

The City says the gate at Horseshoe Lake parking lot E is closed to vehicles on Sundays and Mondays and during inclement weather.

Sources

City of Chico, Trail, gate and facility status and hours: https://chicoca.gov/Our-Community/Parks-Recreation-and-Experience-the-Outdoors/Park-Trails/Trail-Gate–Facility-Status-and-Hours/ (read November 3, 2026, updated 10/16/26)
City of Chico, Swimming: https://chicoca.gov/Our-Community/Parks-Recreation-and-Experience-the-Outdoors/Bidwell-Park/Swimming/ (read November 3, 2026)
City of Chico, About Bidwell Park: https://chicoca.gov/Our-Community/Parks-Recreation-and-Experience-the-Outdoors/Bidwell-Park/About-Bidwell-Park/ (read November 3, 2026, read Oct 29, 2026 on our guide)

Keep Planning

Safety Notice

Water And Ice Safety: Read This Before You Go

Lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, beaches and ice can kill, quickly and without warning. Conditions change by the hour and we cannot see them from here. This page is general information only. It is not a safety assessment, and it does not say or promise that any place, water, ice or activity is safe.

We do not inspect, test, measure or monitor water, ice, currents, depth, water quality, algae, wildlife, access, closures or lifeguard staffing at any place we list.
Posted signs, closures, advisories, flags and the directions of rangers, lifeguards and the land owner or managing agency always override anything here. A place being listed does not mean it is open, legal to enter, or permitted for swimming, wading, boating or fishing, and does not give you permission to be on private land or private water.
Children and weak swimmers: the CDC says to assign a responsible adult to watch children closely and constantly in or near water, with no phone, reading, alcohol or drugs, and to use life jackets for children in and around natural water. It also says inflatable or foam toys are not safety devices.
Open water hides hazards. The CDC names currents, waves, rocks, vegetation and poor visibility. As general guidance (not from a named source), also expect sudden drop-offs, very cold water even on a warm day, submerged objects, boat traffic and changing weather. Never swim alone, and never mix alcohol with water or boats.

Emergency in the United States: call 911. Learn CPR, as the CDC recommends.

Not ConfirmedWe have not verified current water or ice conditions, water quality, access, swimming or boating permission, lifeguard hours, fees, rules or closures for any place on this page. The land owner or managing agency (a park, city, county, state or federal office, or the property owner) is the one who can confirm them. Ask them before you go.

Sources read on 8 November 2026: the Minnesota DNR ice thickness guidelines (dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html, no page date shown) and the CDC drowning prevention page (cdc.gov/drowning/prevention, page dated 29 September 2025). Guidance can change and can differ by state and by place: check the current text and your local agency before relying on it. This notice is general guidance only. It is not legal, medical, rescue or professional safety advice, and nobody on this site is a lifeguard or safety professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for any children and pets with you, and you use this information at your own risk. Water, ice, weather and local rules change quickly and differ by state, county and property. To the fullest extent the law allows, this site, its owner and its contributors are not responsible for any injury, death, loss or damage that results from using this information or from visiting any place, water or ice mentioned here. If you do not accept that, do not rely on this page (see the Limits Of Liability in our Terms Of Use).

Cite this page: It's Chico, “Bidwell Park Entrances: Gate Hours and Water Status”, itschico.com/chico/bidwell-park-entrances/ (updated 2026-11-06). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.

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