The upper section of Bidwell Park, beyond the Five-Mile Recreation Area, is a world away from the manicured lawns of the lower park. The trail follows Chico Creek through increasingly wild terrain — chaparral, digger pine, grey pine, and live oak — with the canyon walls closing in as you go further east. There are no services up here, just trails and the creek.
Mountain bikers and trail runners use the upper park extensively. The trails are well-maintained and signed, ranging from easy creek-side paths to steeper climbs through the chaparral. The swimming in the upper reaches is deeper and wilder than at One-Mile or Five-Mile, with fewer crowds. Spring is the best time — the creek runs high, the wildflowers are out, and the hillsides are green before the summer heat bakes them gold.