Butte Creek, California, US

2) PG&E Powerhouse to Covered Bridge

Usual Difficulty	II+ (for normal flows)
Length	6 Miles
Avg. Gradient	30 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
BUTTE C NR CHICO CA
usgs-11390000	200 - 1000 cfs	II+	22h52m	149 cfs (rc= -0.1 )

River Description

This is a great beginner run that has served as the training ground for Chico area paddlers for many years. The creek has also been a restoration success story for salmon. With the removal of four irrigation dams the creek now provides 25 miles of restored salmon habitat.

The run provides nearly continuous class II action but with plenty of recovery time between drops. The channel shifts from year to year which also means you should be prepared for the occassional wood hazard. For first-timers who want to avoid the toughest drop on the run you can put in at the concrete bridge that crosses the river a short distance downstream of the PG&E Powerhouse. AW has been working with PG&E to provide continued access at the powerhouse.

See the great description in Bill Tuthill's California Creekin.