35 things to do in Oroville California

Things to do in Oroville California

Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census. The Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California is headquartered here.

#3 Get the Big Picture

Lake Oroville Visitor’s Center This is a great source for just about any kind of information you want about the area. The center, a joint

#5 Want Wind or Speed?

North & South Forebays Reserved for non-motorized use only, the North Forebay is a sailor’s ream come true. Ranked as the best sailing and windsurfing

#6 Catch the 49er Spirit

Built by the Native Sons & Daughters of the Golden West and operated by the City of Oroville, this museum was built in 1932 as

#7 Relive a Love Story

C.F. Lott Home in Sank Park A Victorian revival style structure, the C.F. Lott Home built in 1856 serves as a cultural repository for decorative

#8 Know Another Culture

Oroville Chinese Temple & Garden Built in 1863 to serve a community of 10,000 Chinese, this temple of treasures is listed on the National Register

#9 Songs Dances & More

Historic State Theatre of Oroville Dedicated in 1928, this theater has featured great vaudeville acts, fine films, and multiple live music, dance, and drama performances.

#10 See the House that Olives Built

Ehmann Home Freda Ehmann, “Mother of the Ripe Olive Industry,” and her son, Edwin, built this Colonial Revival Craftsman home in 1911 after she’d perfected

#13 Get Teed Off

If golfing is your sport, Oroville offers three courses with widely differing terrains. The Lake Oroville Golf and Event Center course near Lake Oroville is

#14 Bike Along a River & Across a Dam

41-Mile Freeman Bicycle Trail (530) 533-7885 Completed in 1996, this trail provides 41 miles of scenic off-road recreational riding for All Terrain Bicycles. Over 30

#15 Swing Into Fitness

The Outdoor Fitness Course is state-of-the art and is designed for low impact cardio-vascular health and fitness for all levels. It consists of four stations,

#16 See Nature in Action

Feather River Fish Hatchery & Nature Center When Oroville Dam was built, several miles of spawning grounds were no longer available to salmon and steelhead

#17 Gifted With Gardens

Three of Oroville’s gardens are featured in Garden Getaways-Northern California (1989, Tioga Publishing Co.), which is quite a compliment for the city. “Closed off to

#18 Horsing Around

This new state-of-the-art facility features 15 campsites (two horses per site), a restroom with shower facility, a horse washing station and horse tethering and feeding

#20 World Tour of Wildlife

You may have seen wildlife museums that contain a nice variety of area wildlife, but Oroville is home to one with over 100 “trophies” from

#21 Tastings & Tours – Olive Oil

Satsuma mandarins, sweet, juicy, seedless oranges with a thin, loose peel, grow in many places throughout Butte County, but if you drive almong the foothills

#22 Try Your Luck

These casinos have slot machines, blackjack, bingo, and just about anything you’d want if you’re feeling lucky! All four casinos also feature live entertainment, and

#23 Up, Up & Away

Oroville Air Corp. The sign on Wilbur Road reads “Oroville Air Corp.–Spectators Welcome.” And you can watch model airplanes being flown all most every day—every

#24 Admire the Murals

Oroville’s downtown has turned into a mural mecca with over 15 murals, and you can also find one at the Lake Oroville Visitor’s Center. The

#26 Sharpen Your Skills

Butte College Butte College offers a quality education where students can earn Associate of Arts and Sciences degrees, transfer, certificate, career and technical programs, English

#27 The Last Yahi

Ishi – The Last Yahi In 1911, an Indian about 50 years of age wandered into the outskirts of Oroville. An anthropologist from the University

#28 Laugh, Cry & Applaud

Birdcage Theatre It’s hard for us to believe that so much talent landed in one spot, but time and time again, we’re overwhelmed by the

#29 Former Steamers

Locomotive buffs will enjoy these two old steam engines. Railroads were an important part of Oroville’s history since the lumber industry played a dominant role

#30 Fishing or Bird Watching

Just outside the Oroville city limits are 11,000 acres of preserved natural beauty with ample opportunities for fishing enthusiasts and birdwatchers. Egrets, beaver and river

#32 Cool Off with a Swim

When the valley heat becomes too much to bear, lots of folks like to dive into the water to cool off. Four area facilities offer

#34 The Sky’s the Limit

If you think you’ve seen all there is to see in the Oroville area, don’t be too sure unless you’ve seen it all from the