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Downtown Oroville and The Riverfront

Oroville sits on the Feather River where it leaves the Sierra Nevada, and it began as the head of navigation to supply Gold Rush miners. Its Downtown Historic District holds five city museums within a mile of each other, called Museum Mile. Along the river, Riverbend Park and the Feather River Bike Trail offer trails, picnic areas and a disc golf course. Checked October 29, 2026 on the operator’s own pages.

From Chico: about 40 min (typical, without traffic)

5 museumsMuseum Mile
210 acresRiverbend Park
3 miles pavedBike trail
36 holesDisc golf
Downtown Oroville and the Riverfront

Plan It in Three Lines

  • Get thereFrom Chico: about 40 min, typical, without traffic.
  • WhenRiverbend Park and Bedrock Skate and Bike Park are open sunrise to dusk daily; museum hours vary by museum.
  • CostDogs: Riverbend Park lists a dog park among its amenities.

Key Facts

  • Oroville was established as the head of navigation on the Feather River to supply gold miners during the California Gold Rush.[1]
  • Five city museums sit within a mile of each other in the Downtown Historic District, called Museum Mile.[2]
  • The museums are operated by the City of Oroville and staffed by volunteers of the Oroville Docents Association.[2]
  • City museums are closed on federal holidays, and a museum may be closed during normal hours if no volunteers are available.[2]
  • The Pioneer History Museum is open Saturday and Sunday 11:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., February to December.[2]
  • The C.F. Lott Home is open Saturday and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., October to June.[2]
  • The Antique Tool Museum is currently closed while preservation and facility improvements continue.[2]
  • A phone walking tour is available by dialing 530-539-3004 and pressing the number for each stop.[3]
  • Riverbend Park is a 210-acre park on the Feather River, established in 2006 and rebuilt in 2019.[4]
  • Riverbend Park has picnic pavilions, playgrounds, paved walking trails, a sandy beach, fishing ponds, a boat dock, soccer fields, a 36-hole disc golf course and an amphitheater.[4]
  • The Feather River Bike Trail is a three-mile paved Class I bike path from Riverbend Park to the Veteran's Memorial Building.[5]
  • Bedrock Skate and Bike Park at 1165 Feather River Blvd is a concrete park for skateboards, BMX bikes and scooters.[6]
  • Downtown also holds the Chinese Temple at 1500 Broderick Street and the State Theater at 1489 Myers Street.[7]

Areas Inside Downtown Oroville and The Riverfront

  • Riverbend Park

    50 Montgomery Street; 210 acres on the Feather River, open sunrise to dusk.[4]

  • Riverbend Half-Mile Fitness Trail

    Six outdoor fitness stations along a half-mile loop beside the river.[4]

  • Feather River Bike Trail

    Three-mile paved Class I path from Riverbend Park to the Veteran's Memorial Building.[5]

  • Bedrock Skate and Bike Park

    1165 Feather River Blvd, open sunrise to dusk.[6]

  • Feather River Nature Center

    City museum open the last Saturday and Sunday of each month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., March to September.[2]

  • State Theater

    Historic 1928 theater at 1489 Myers Street.[8]

Plan Your Visit

WhatAs the operator states it
Run byCity of Oroville (museums); Feather River Recreation and Park District (Riverbend Park, Feather River Bike Trail, Bedrock Skate and Bike Park)
Drive from ChicoAbout 40 min, typical, without traffic (Google Maps, plus 10 minutes, rounded)
HoursRiverbend Park and Bedrock Skate and Bike Park are open sunrise to dusk daily; museum hours vary by museum.[4]
ParkingRiverbend Park has free on-site parking.[4]
DogsRiverbend Park lists a dog park among its amenities.[4]
RestroomsRiverbend Park has two restroom facilities.[4]
AccessibilityRiverbend Park is listed as ADA accessible.[4]
BoatingRiverbend Park has a boat dock.[4]
ReservationsRiverbend pavilions, fields, amphitheater and disc golf course can be reserved through the District Office, 530-533-2011.[4]
PhoneCity museums: (530) 538-2497[2]
Official pageCity of Oroville (museums); Feather River Recreation and Park District (Riverbend Park, Feather River Bike Trail, Bedrock Skate and Bike Park)

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

Hours at a Glance

Riverbend Park and Bedrock Skate and Bike Park are open sunrise to dusk daily; museum hours vary by museum.

The hours are too varied for a bar chart, so they stay as the operator states them.

Dogs

Riverbend Park lists a dog park among its amenities.

Map of Downtown Oroville and The Riverfront

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

Around Downtown Oroville and the Riverfront

2 mi4 mi6 miN123456
  1. Oroville Chinese Temple: 0.2 miles west
  2. Oroville State Theatre: 0.2 miles east
  3. Feather River Fish Hatchery: 0.6 miles northeast
  4. Oroville Wildlife Area: 4.8 miles southwest
  5. Oroville Dam Overlooks and Visitor Center: 5.1 miles east
  6. Bidwell Canyon Marina: 5.6 miles east

The yellow dot is this place. Rings are spaced so close places do not pile up, and a numbered badge may sit slightly off its true spot (a thin line ends at the true spot). Distances are straight-line miles worked out from the map points each page prints; they are not drive times or walking routes.

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 confirmedA city-run 'riverfront' destination by that name
  • Not confirmedDowntown parking rules
  • Not confirmedSwimming at Riverbend Park (a sandy beach is listed, swimming is not stated)
  • Not confirmedWhitewater park details (city page not reviewed)

More in Oroville & Lake Oroville

All of Oroville & Lake OrovilleFeather River Fish HatcheryOroville Wildlife AreaLime Saddle MarinaBidwell Canyon MarinaOroville Dam Overlooks and Visitor CenterLake Oroville State Recreation AreaLoafer Creek Recreation AreaOroville Chinese TempleOroville State TheatreAll Places

Coming Up in Oroville & Lake Oroville

11 events are on our calendar for Oroville & Lake Oroville in the next 45 days. 1 is listed as free by the organizer; 1 is marked Not confirmed because we could not confirm it on the organizer’s page yet. 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 Oroville's Museum Mile?

It is five city museums in the Downtown Historic District, all within a mile of each other. They are run by the city with volunteer docents.[2]

How big is Riverbend Park?

The Feather River Recreation and Park District says Riverbend Park is 210 acres.[4]

Is there a bike path along the Feather River in Oroville?

Yes. The Feather River Bike Trail is a three-mile paved Class I path from Riverbend Park to the Veteran's Memorial Building.[5]

Sources

  1. History, City of Oroville. Read October 29, 2026.
  2. City Museums, City of Oroville. Read October 29, 2026.
  3. Walking Tour, City of Oroville. Read October 29, 2026.
  4. Riverbend Park, Feather River Recreation and Park District. Read October 29, 2026.
  5. Feather River Bike Trail, Feather River Recreation and Park District. Read October 29, 2026.
  6. Bedrock Skate and Bike Park, Feather River Recreation and Park District. Read October 29, 2026.
  7. Facilities – Chinese Temple, City of Oroville. Read October 29, 2026.
  8. Oroville State Theater, Oroville Historic State Theater. Read October 29, 2026.

Cite this page: “Downtown Oroville and the Riverfront.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/oroville/downtown-oroville/

Coming Up Here

Next on our calendar here: Oroville Veterans' Day Parade, Wednesday, November 11. Dates are read from each organizer’s page.

On The Map

9 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.