Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, State park along Sacramento River in Butte County, United States.
Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park is a California state park spread across Glenn County and Butte County along the Sacramento River in northern California. It is made up of several separate sections, each with its own character, from gravel bars and river banks to riparian woodlands of oaks and cottonwoods, and an oxbow lake known as the Indian Fishery area.
California established this park in 1979 to protect the riparian forests along the Sacramento River from development. Before that, the Konkow people had lived and fished in this river valley for centuries, relying on the seasonal salmon runs as a main food source.
The park takes its name from John Bidwell, one of the earliest American settlers in the region, who farmed land along this stretch of river in the 1800s. Today, the gravel bars along the river are a common gathering spot for local families during warm months.
The park is divided into several sections spread across two counties, so it helps to plan which area you want to visit before arriving. Each section has its own parking area, and the best time to visit for comfortable walking and wildlife watching is in spring or fall.
The Indian Fishery section of the park sits on an oxbow lake formed when the Sacramento River changed course long ago, cutting off a bend and leaving a still body of water behind. This isolated spot within the park tends to be far quieter than the main river sections, even on busy days.
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