Locals call the old water flumes near Paradise 'The Flumes'. The main official record we found is the federal licensing file for PG&E's DeSabla-Centerville project, which lists flume sections on three canals; we cannot say which one locals mean. It says canal trails are meant for PG&E maintenance. We found no official page that confirms a public trail or its condition since the 2018 Camp Fire. Checked October 29, 2026 in the federal licensing record and PG&E’s safety page.
Location not confirmed
Key Facts
- The federal licensing record says PG&E's Butte canal is 11.4 miles long, with earthen berm, gunited, tunnel and flume sections and a siphon.[1]
- It says the 8.66-mile Hendricks canal is mostly earthen ditch with several flume and tunnel sections.[1]
- It says the 8-mile Lower Centerville canal is earthen canal with several flume sections.[1]
- The record says these canals and flumes operate as a run-of-river system with a flow capacity of up to 125 cubic feet per second in the canal-flume system.[1]
- It says fishing and hiking access exists along the Hendricks, Butte and Lower Centerville canals, but that the trails are meant to be used by PG&E for project maintenance.[1]
- PG&E warns that hydro facilities can release large amounts of rushing water at any time, sometimes without warning.[2]
Plan Your Visit
| What | As the operator states it |
|---|---|
| Run by | Pacific Gas and Electric Company (DeSabla-Centerville Project) |
| Drive from Chico | Location not confirmed |
| Official page | Pacific Gas and Electric Company (DeSabla-Centerville Project) |
Not confirmedThe official pages we read do not publish hours, fees, dogs, restrooms, accessibility for this place.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 confirmedWhich exact canal sections locals mean by The Flumes, and the trailhead, parking and length.
- Not confirmedWhether a public trail exists and who allows it.
- Not confirmedCondition of the flumes and any closures after the 2018 Camp Fire (the only official record we read dates from 2009).
- Not confirmedFees, dogs, restrooms and hours.
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)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Flumes near Paradise?
Locals use the name for old water flumes near Paradise. We could not match it to one official place. The federal licensing record for PG&E's DeSabla-Centerville project describes flume sections on the Butte, Hendricks and Lower Centerville canals.[1]
Can I hike the Flumes?
We could not confirm a public trail. The federal licensing record says the hiking and fishing access along the canals is meant for PG&E maintenance. Check with PG&E before you go.[1]
What condition are the Flumes in after the Camp Fire?
We found no official page that says. The licensing record we read is from 2009, before the fire.[1]
Sources
- DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project, FERC Final Environmental Assessment (Project No. 803, July 2009), FERC, posted by the California State Water Resources Control Board. Read October 29, 2026.
- Hydropower Safety, PG&E. Read October 29, 2026.
Cite this page: “The Flumes.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/paradise-ridge/the-flumes-paradise/