The Feather River below Oroville Dam is one of Northern California's most underrated white-water destinations. When the dam releases water in spring — typically March through May, driven by snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada — the river runs fast and cold, producing a mix of rapids ranging from Class II to Class IV depending on release levels and the specific section you're running.
The Middle Fork and North Fork of the Feather River up in Feather River Canyon offer more technical paddling for experienced kayakers, but the reach below the dam is accessible and suitable for guided raft trips. Several outfitters in the area run half-day and full-day trips during the spring season. It's worth booking in advance, as the season is short — by June the dam's releases typically decrease and the river mellows considerably.
Outside of rafting season, the Feather River below Thermalito Diversion Dam (where cold, oxygenated water is released from the dam's deeper outlets) is renowned for year-round trout fishing. The cold-water reach supports wild rainbow trout and, in season, chinook salmon and steelhead. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks additional fish, and the section near the Riverbend Park and the Fish Barrier Dam is easily accessible from town.