Butte Creek Canyon lies along Butte Creek southeast of Chico, below the Paradise Ridge. CDFW's 287-acre Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve has two units along the creek and is open for hiking, birdwatching and wildlife viewing. The Honey Run Covered Bridge, destroyed in the 2018 Camp Fire, was rebuilt by its nonprofit association and the bridge and park are open to the public again. Checked October 29, 2026 on the operator’s own pages.
From Chico: about 35 min (typical, without traffic)
Plan It in Three Lines
- Get thereFrom Chico: about 35 min, typical, without traffic.
- WhenNot confirmed: the Honey Run Covered Bridge Association pages we read on October 29, 2026 do not list park hours. Call the association at (530) 781-6574.
- CostNo fee is printed on this page; check the official page before you go.
Key Facts
- Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve is a 287-acre property with two units, the Virgin Valley and Canyon Units, along Butte Creek.[1]
- The reserve supports riparian communities including Great Valley Oak and Great Valley Cottonwood Riparian Forests.[1]
- Wildlife at the reserve includes wintering bald eagles, western pond turtle, red-legged frog, deer, bobcat, beaver and western bluebird.[1]
- Reserve activities are hiking, birdwatching and wildlife viewing, plus seasonal fishing by boat or other flotation device; CDFW lists no facilities.[1]
- The property was bought to protect the anadromous fishery and riparian habitat, and was designated an ecological reserve by the Fish and Game Commission in 1988.[1]
- From about 1850 until shortly before state purchase, gold and aggregate mining altered the canyon floor.[1]
- Drones may not be flown on CDFW-managed land without a Special Use Permit.[1]
- The Honey Run Covered Bridge opened to the public on January 3, 1887 and was covered in 1901.[2]
- The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[2]
- The bridge was destroyed in the November 2018 Camp Fire; supporters chose to rebuild it with its original design and needed safety upgrades.[3]
- The association took ownership of the bridge and right-of-way in October 2020, and the rebuild was funded with private donations.[3]
- In 2025 the bridge structure was completed and the bridge and park reopened to the public.[3]
- The Paradise Recreation & Park District is gathering public input on a future park in the canyon; the District says the land is not open yet and asks visitors to wait for announced site visit dates.[4]
Areas Inside Butte Creek Canyon
Virgin Valley Unit
This reserve unit lies in an alluvial apron just downstream from the Butte Creek canyon.[1]
Canyon Unit
This reserve unit lies within Butte Creek Canyon itself.[1]
Honey Run Covered Bridge and park
The rebuilt bridge and its park at 1670 Honey Run Road, Chico are open to the public; the association bought the land for the adjacent park in 1972.[2]
Plan Your Visit
| What | As the operator states it |
|---|---|
| Run by | Mixed: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve); Honey Run Covered Bridge Association (bridge and park) |
| Drive from Chico | About 35 min, typical, without traffic (Google Maps, plus 10 minutes, rounded) |
| Hours | Not confirmed: the Honey Run Covered Bridge Association pages we read on October 29, 2026 do not list park hours. Call the association at (530) 781-6574. |
| Season | Fishing at the ecological reserve is seasonal, by boat or other flotation device.[1] |
| Restrooms | CDFW lists no facilities at the ecological reserve.[1] |
| Phone | CDFW North Central Region: (916) 358-2900; Honey Run Covered Bridge Association: (530) 781-6574[1] |
| Official page | Mixed: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve); Honey Run Covered Bridge Association (bridge and park) |
Not confirmedThe official pages we read do not publish fees, dogs, accessibility for this place.
Hours at a Glance
Not confirmedthe Honey Run Covered Bridge Association pages we read on October 29, 2026 do not list park hours. Call the association at (530) 781-6574.
Season, as printed: Fishing at the ecological reserve is seasonal, by boat or other flotation device.
Map of Butte Creek Canyon
Around Butte Creek Canyon
- Paradise Parks, Trailway and Museums: 1.0 miles east
- Gold Nugget Museum: 1.6 miles east
- Lime Saddle Marina: 7.0 miles southeast
- Bidwell Park: 8.4 miles west
- Paradise Lake: 8.6 miles northeast
- Silver Dollar Fairgrounds: 8.9 miles west
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 confirmedHoney Run park hours (not printed on the association pages), and ecological reserve hours (hidden on the CDFW page, not shown to visitors)
- Not confirmedParking locations and parking fees at the reserve or bridge
- Not confirmedWhether dogs are allowed at the reserve or bridge park
- Not confirmedSwimming or creek access rules from any official page
- Not confirmedButte County page on public access in the canyon (none found)
- Not confirmedBLM page on Butte Creek Canyon public access (none found)
- Not confirmedRestrooms at the Honey Run Covered Bridge park
More in Paradise & The Ridge
Coming Up in Paradise & The Ridge
Nothing on our calendar for Paradise & The Ridge from today on yet. We only list a date once we have read it on the organizer’s own page, so here is what comes next. See every upcoming event.
Country Pumpkins: October Farm Season
Runs Oct 1 to Oct 31, 2026
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Country Pumpkins, Orland
Price: Free admission; corn maze $5, haunted maze $15
Open daily in October with pumpkins, a petting zoo, hay pyramid and slide, and a daytime corn maze (last entry 5:30 PM). The Haunted Maze runs 7 to 10 PM on select nights, last night Friday, October 30; the farm is closed Halloween.
Checked Oct 30, 2026 · Source for Country Pumpkins: October Farm Season (opens in a new tab)October Movies in The Park: Hocus Pocus 2
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
DeGarmo Park, Chico
Price: Free
Halloween movie night with a costume parade at 6:15 PM, food trucks and free popcorn; the film starts at dusk. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for October Movies in the Park: Hocus Pocus 2 (opens in a new tab)Costumed Dog Parade (Corning)
5:30 PM
Yaya's Tacos, Corning
Price: Free
Dog costume parade right after Trick or Treat Street.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Costumed Dog Parade (Corning) (opens in a new tab)
Related Pages
More pages on this topic: Honey Run Covered Bridge, Butte Creek Head Dam, The Flumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reach the Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve?
CDFW says to take Skyway Road east from Highway 99 south of Chico, turn left on Honey Run Road and go about 1 mile; the reserve is on the right.[1]
Is the Honey Run Covered Bridge open again?
Yes. The association says the bridge structure was completed in 2025 and the bridge and park are open to the public.[3]
What can I do at the ecological reserve?
CDFW lists hiking, birdwatching and wildlife viewing, plus seasonal fishing by boat or other flotation device. There are no facilities.[1]
Sources
- Butte Creek Canyon Ecological Reserve, California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Read October 29, 2026.
- History | Honey Run Covered Bridge Association, Honey Run Covered Bridge Association. Read October 29, 2026.
- Follow The Rebuild | Honey Run Covered Bridge Association, Honey Run Covered Bridge Association. Read October 29, 2026.
- Butte Creek Canyon Park Planning – Paradise Recreation & Park District, Paradise Recreation & Park District. Read October 29, 2026.
Cite this page: “Butte Creek Canyon.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/paradise-ridge/butte-creek-canyon/
Coming Up Here
No dated event at Butte Creek Canyon is on our calendar right now. We list a date only after reading it on the organizer’s own page, so an empty list means not listed yet, not that nothing is happening. See every upcoming event.