Our Mission

Lake Oroville The mission of the California Department of

State Recreation Area

Parks and Recreation is to provide for the
health, inspiration and education of the
people of California by helping to preserve
After the springtime
the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, snow runoff, take a trip
protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities up the middle fork of the
for high-quality outdoor recreation.
Feather River to see the
spectacular 640-foot
Feather Falls. When the
California State Parks supports equal access. lake is high, you can boat
Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at to within a quarter-mile
(530) 538-2219. This publication is available in
alternate formats by contacting: of the falls.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P. O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S.
711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov
Discover the many states of California.TM

Lake Oroville
State Recreation Area
400 Glen Drive
Oroville, CA 95966
(530) 538-2219
© 2003 California State Parks (Rev. 2008) Printed on Recycled Paper
L ake Oroville State Recreation Area
is located on the Feather River, about 75
what appeared to be many feathers floating
on its surface.
THE DAM
In 1967 Lake Oroville was created by
miles north of Sacramento, in the chaparral- The lives of the Maidu were disrupted Oroville Dam, at 770 feet the nation’s
oak-pine belt of northern mother lode after the 1848 gold discovery. When the tallest earthen dam. The lake conserves
country. Lake Oroville is the largest state Feather River was found to be rich in gold, water distributed by the State Water
reservoir in northern California. entrepreneurs and gold seekers flooded Project to homes, farms and industries
The lake’s climate varies with the into the area, taking Maidu land and in the San Francisco Bay area, the San
seasons. Summer temperatures at the establishing several small mining towns. Joaquin Valley and Southern California.
lower elevations range from 85 to 100 Most towns are now under the lake. A tent Oroville’s facilities provide flood control,
degrees and from 60 to 70 degrees in the city named Ophir became the present city smog-free generation of electric power, and
evenings. It is cooler year-round at the of Oroville. The newcomers also brought recreation. At its maximum elevation of 900
higher elevations, with winter temperatures diseases to which the native people had feet, the lake includes some 15,500 surface
ranging from about 30 degrees to the no resistance, so their numbers dwindled. acres for recreation; 167 miles of shoreline
mid-50s. Annual rainfall ranges from about Today many Maidu people live on local allow boaters to land and explore the
26 inches near the Thermalito Forebay to rancherias, including those at Oroville and surrounding country.
about 60 inches at higher elevations. Spring Chico.
and fall are usually mild, with pleasant days
and cooler evenings.
NATIVE PEOPLE
For thousands of years, this area was home
to the Northwest Maidu people. A typical
village might consist of a few families, or it
might have 500 or more inhabitants. Often
there was a “main” village with sweathouses
and other common-use ceremonial
buildings. The Maidu were hunters and
gatherers. Acorns were their main food
source, and nutritional variety came from
large and small game, nuts, berries, seeds,
and fish from what is now the Feather River.
In 1820 Captain Luis Arguello was exploring
the area and named the river Río de las
Plumas (River of Feathers) after he saw
Aerial view of Oroville Dam
WILDLIFE
An abundant, varied wildlife population
inhabits Lake Oroville. Resident species
include raccoons, turkeys,
opossums, coyotes, tree
and ground squirrels,
rabbits, deer, skunks,
ringtails, bears and many
kinds of native birds.
THE VISITOR CENTER
A visitor center complex
Coyote
atop Kelly Ridge features
interpretive displays, an audio-visual room
with on-request videos, and a 47-foot
viewing tower overlooking the lake and
dam. To reach the visitor center, continue
up Oroville Dam Boulevard beyond the
dam turnoff, or take Kelly Ridge Road off
Olive Highway. Restrooms are located in
the courtyard.
RECREATION
Lake Oroville offers camping, boat-
in camping, floating campsites, horse
camping and horseback riding, hiking,
mountain biking, both sailing and power
boating, waterskiing, fishing, picnicking and
swimming.
CAMPING
Reservations are recommended from late
spring through Labor Day. Reserve all
campsites at (800) 444-7275.
Loafer Creek—137 sites at the
Coyote Campground can
accommodate tents or trailers
up to 31 feet and campers
or motorhomes up to 40 feet
(no hookups). Drinking water
and restrooms, coin-operated
showers and laundry tubs
are nearby. An RV sanitation
station is available. Six group
sites accommodate up to 25
persons each: limit of eight
vehicles per site. A horse
camp features 15 campsites,
a restroom with showers, a
One of the lake’s floating campsites
corral and a horse tethering
and feeding station. Large
five-lane launch ramp, picnic facilities and
groups may reserve more than one site.
restrooms. The nearby marina offers boat
A launch ramp is available.
docking, fuel, fishing boat rentals, boating
Bidwell Canyon—75 sites with hookups
supplies, a store and snack bar.
accommodate trailers up to 31 feet and
Floating Campsites
campers or motorhomes up to 40 feet.
Facilities include a lakeside marina with You will need your own boat to reach the
a launch ramp, store, snack bar, fuel dock, ten 20’ x 24’ floating sites. Each site sleeps
boat rental and a pumping station for boat up to 15 people with a camp table, sink,
holding tanks. propane barbecue grill (the park provides
Spillway—Shaded picnic sites and the propane), a food locker, a lockable
overnight camping for self-contained RVs closet, an accessible restroom, a covered
are located at the north end of the dam. living area, an upper sun deck/sleeping
Drive across Oroville Dam to reach the area and room for tents. Bring your own
drinking water.
facilities, which include a launch ramp and
restrooms. Boat-in Camps
Lime Saddle—Both the hookup and Boat-in camping is first-come, first-
non-hookup sites at this campground served, and only in designated campsites
accommodate RVs. Features include a identified by signs at beach areas around
the lake. Ask directions to your camp at
the park entrance or the launching area.
Each camp has six to twenty-six individual
campsites; boat camps are located at Craig
Saddle, Foreman Point, Goat Ranch and
the Bloomer Primitive Area at Bloomer
Point—Bloomer Knoll, Bloomer Cove and
Bloomer Group Camp. The Bloomer group
camp accommodates up to 75 people. Sites
have tables, stoves, pit toilets and garbage
cans. Bring your own drinking water.
PICNICKING AND BOATING
North Thermalito Forebay is reserved
exclusively for sailboats, canoes, and other
non-motorized boats. The shaded, grassy
day-use areas have barbecue stoves and
picnic tables. Four shaded ramadas can
be reserved for picnic groups. A 200-yard
sandy swimming beach has dressing rooms
for men and women. Piped drinking water
and restrooms are nearby.
The Forebay Aquatic Center is located at
the North Forebay near the boat launch.
Boat rentals and watercraft classes are
offered through a collaborative effort
between the Associated Students of CSU
Chico, California State Parks, Dept. of
Water Resources and Dept. of Boating and
Waterways.
South Forebay has a launch ramp, paved
parking and restrooms. Drinking water is
not available. Power-boating and fishing are
the main attractions in this area.
Loafer Creek Area has a swim beach fishing license. Check at the visitor center
and lawn area with 100 picnic sites and for “Slot Limit” regulations for black bass.
restrooms. Shore and boat fishing are permitted in
Overnight boating is permitted, but boats the North and South Forebays, but no
must have self-contained sanitary facilities, motorized boats are allowed in the North.
and all waste and water outlets on board Fishing and boating are not allowed in
must be sealed. Use sanitation stations designated swimming areas.
around the lake.
Boat mooring is permitted
except where posted
otherwise; marina berths
are leased by prior
arrangement. Overnight
camping on shore while
boating is not permitted,
with the exception of the
boat-in campsites, but
boaters are welcome to go
ashore for day use.
SWIMMING
The Loafer Creek area and
North Forebay near the
Aquatic Center are the only The fishing is great year-round.
designated swimming areas
at the lake. No lifeguards are available at
the feather river fish hatchery
Lake Oroville; do not allow children to swim
The Department of Fish and Game
unattended.
operates a salmon and steelhead hatchery
FISHING across the river from the city of Oroville.
Rainbow and German-brown trout, large- Underwater windows in the observation
and small-mouth bass, and some catfish area near the parking lot permit close-up
and salmon are caught here. All anglers viewing of the fish when spawning.
over age 16 must possess a California sport http://www.lakeoroville.water.ca.gov/
Accessible features
Accessible features are dispersed
throughout the park. At Loafer Creek,
the visitor center is generally accessible,
and Coyote Campground and Horse
Camp have accessible campsites. At
Bidwell Canyon, some accessible hook-
ups are available, Big Pine and Gold Flat
Campgrounds have accessible sites, the
Tollhouse Visitor Center is accessible,
and the bike trail is barrier-free. Three
other trails offer some accessibility.
Accessible picnicking and beach access
are available, and the visitor center at
Lake Oroville is generally accessible. For
details and updates, call the park or see
http://access.parks.ca.gov.
PLEASE REMEMBER
Dumping—The dumping of waste
or refuse in any of the area’s water is
prohibited at all times. Please help keep
Lake Oroville clean. Sanitation stations
and floating restrooms have been placed
at strategic locations.
Driftwood—Because it is not part of the
area’s natural ecology, driftwood can be
collected and used for fuel. It can be
found in the lake and its tributaries or
ashore between the actual lake level and
the high-water mark.
BOATING CAMPING
• Boating Rules—All boaters should be • Fires and Fuel—In summer extreme
familiar with boating rules and fire hazard conditions exist; fires
regulations. Obtain a booklet called and smoking are permitted only in
The ABCs of California Boating Law designated sites. Call 911 or contact
from the Department of Boating and the nearest park employee to report a
Waterways or at any park entrance or fire.
marina. • Firewood—Dead wood (not driftwood)
• Speed limits—The speed limit is five is a normal part of the park’s
miles per hour within 100 feet of a ecology, so its collection and use are
swimmer or 200 feet of any shore, prohibited. Fuel and firewood can be
boat launching facility or designated purchased at the park entrance. Use
mooring area. Water skiing is not gas-fueled camp stoves in designated
permitted in the narrow upper reaches camping or day-use areas.
of the lake’s tributaries.
• Boating Tips—Floating logs and other
driftwood are boating hazards,
especially during the winter and spring
when heavy rains wash dangerous
debris into the lake.
• Night boating—Only boats equipped
with the proper running lights may use
the lake at night. The speed limit is
five miles per hour.
• Securing boats—If you leave your
boat to go ashore, be sure to tie it up
securely.
• Lake level—Lake level fluctuates daily
throughout the year. Summer and fall
draw down (lower); winter and spring
rise. This change in surface level also
changes the location of shoals near
shore, so be alert to fluctuating hazard
conditions.
 West
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2040 ft he 2-1/2 miles from Oroville (530) 538-2200
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© 2002 California State Parks

Map by Eureka Cartography, Berkeley, CA