Feather River Canyon stretches northeast from Oroville along Highway 70 into the Plumas National Forest — one of the most scenic drives in Northern California, following the river through a deep gorge with waterfalls, rock formations, and small mountain towns. The drive to Quincy at the canyon's upper end takes about 90 minutes.
Chico (30 km north) is a university town with a lively downtown, the magnificent Bidwell Park (one of the largest municipal parks in the US, with swimming holes on Big Chide Creek), and the historic Bidwell Mansion. It makes a relaxing contrast to Oroville's industrial character.
Plumas National Forest offers hiking, fishing, and camping across a large area to the northeast. Bucks Lake is a popular alpine reservoir with a campground and good trout fishing, about 90 minutes from Oroville.
Sutter Buttes — sometimes called the world's smallest mountain range — rise from the Sacramento Valley floor about 60 km south of Oroville. Access is limited (much of the range is private land) but guided hikes are available and the volcanic plugs are a striking sight from the valley roads.