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Swimming Holes and River Floats Near Chico

In Chico, the swimming happens on Big Chico Creek in Bidwell Park: Sycamore Pool at the One-Mile Recreation Area, Five-Mile, and swimming holes in Upper Park. The city’s own warning is plain: water that looks shallow or slow can be swift and powerful. Below are the posted rules and the agencies’ safety wording, with nothing added.

Checked October 29, 2026

  • 6+ ftSycamore Pool depth near the dam
  • Under 13must wear a life jacket on a moving boat
  • June 15earliest pool clearing start each year
  • No glassand no alcohol in city parks
Sycamore Pool on Big Chico Creek in the One-Mile Recreation Area of Lower Bidwell Park
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sycamore Pool and One-Mile

Sycamore Pool is a concrete pool built around Big Chico Creek, from a shallow wading end to 6 feet or more near the dam. The city says to swim at your own risk. It tests the water and posts a status (Generally Safe, Swim Advisory or Avoid Water Contact) on six signs at the pool and on its status page; check it on the day. Each year the pool is cleared of debris starting on or after June 15, then usually every other Thursday, and it is closed while that happens.

Posted Rules for Bidwell Park

  • No alcohol and no glass drink containers in any city park.
  • Dogs are not allowed in the One-Mile or Five-Mile swim areas or at the designated Upper Park swimming holes.
  • Bidwell Park is day use only. Lower Park closes from midnight to 5 a.m.; Upper Park from 11 p.m. until an hour before sunrise.

More on the park in our Bidwell Park guide.

Safety, in The Agencies’ Words

Quoted or closely paraphrased from each agency’s page, checked October 29, 2026.
Agency What it says
City of Chico “Water which may appear to be shallow and/or slow moving can actually be swift and powerful.” “Stay in areas where there is no white water.”
California Division of Boating and Waterways Every child under 13 on a moving recreational boat of any length must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
California State Parks Swimming in a lake, ocean or river is different from swimming in a pool; it suggests naming a designated adult “water watcher.”
PG&E (hydro rivers such as the Feather) Hydro systems can release large amounts of rushing water at any time, sometimes without warning; avoid sudden immersion in cold water; wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket even when water is low.

River Floats

Not confirmed: rules for floating the Sacramento River here. Check with Butte County, the Butte County Sheriff, Glenn County and the Bureau of Land Management before you float; we print no float route, put-in or take-out here. If you float, follow the life jacket and cold-water guidance above and any signs at the river.

Area guide: Chico.

Map of Swimming Spots

2 places are pinned. Pins are approximate and are not verified entrances or parking areas. Tap a pin for directions. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Choosing when or how far to go? See What to Do Around Chico by Season, Things To Do With Kids Around Chico.

Coming Up in Chico

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.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Rules for Five-Mile, Bear Hole and other Upper Park holes beyond the park-wide rules are not on the city pages we opened. Not confirmed
  • Sacramento River float rules from a county or federal agency: none found. Not confirmed
  • Lifeguards at One-Mile from Memorial Day to Labor Day appear on the 2010 rules sheet only. Not confirmed
  • Sycamore Pool open hours and season dates are not printed beyond the clearing schedule. Not confirmed

Related Pages

Swim areas and floats, one page each: Bear Hole, Five-Mile Recreation Area, One-Mile Recreation Area, Sacramento River Tubing.

Questions People Ask

Is Sycamore Pool safe to swim in today?

Check the City of Chico status page and the signs at the pool; the city posts Generally Safe, Swim Advisory or Avoid Water Contact.

Can I bring my dog to the swimming holes?

No. The city bans dogs at the One-Mile and Five-Mile swim areas and the designated Upper Park swimming holes.

Do kids need life jackets on the river?

On a moving boat, yes: California requires one for every child under 13.

Place Pages for This Guide

More Guides

Sources

  1. City of Chico, Swimming: https://chicoca.gov/__catapult_pages/e291c23d-0d85-4c5c-92b3-49294d7bdeb9/Swimming.html (checked October 29, 2026)
  2. City of Chico, Sycamore Pool FAQs: https://d16k74nzx9emoe.cloudfront.net/9ca0c0a5-0175-4b19-9f90-14b297f68f90/Sycamore%20Pool%20FAQs.pdf (checked October 29, 2026)
  3. City of Chico, Trail, Gate and Facility Status: https://chicoca.gov/Our-Community/Parks-Recreation-and-Experience-the-Outdoors/Park-Trails/Trail-Gate–Facility-Status-and-Hours/index.html (checked October 29, 2026)
  4. City of Chico, park rules sheet: https://chicoca.gov/documents/Community/Parks–Outdoors/rules_10_0824.pdf (checked October 29, 2026)
  5. Division of Boating and Waterways, life jackets: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28751 (checked October 29, 2026)
  6. California State Parks, safety tips: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29142 (checked October 29, 2026)
  7. PG&E, hydropower safety: https://www.pge.com/en/outages-and-safety/safety/electric-safety/hydropower-safety.html (checked October 29, 2026)

Cite this page: It's Chico, “Swimming Holes and River Floats Near Chico”, itschico.com/guides/river-floats-swimming-holes/ (updated ). 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.