Lake Oroville Visitors Center & Oroville Dam, Oroville CA

Category & Type :

Recreation

Location :

917 Kelly Ridge Road , Oroville CA

Phone :

800-272-8869

Information about Lake Oroville Visitors Center & Oroville Dam...

This man-made lake was formed by the tallest dam in the country (770 feet above the stream bed of the Feather River). Encompassing approximately 28,450 acres near the City of Oroville, the park offers family and group camping, boating, an extensive system of horse, bicycle, and hiking trails, and a state-of-the-art horse camp. The park features "floating campsites," moored in a cove. The area includes the

Feather River Fish Hatchery, built by the Department of Water Resources, to replace lost spawning areas for salmon and steelhead.

Displays on the State Water Project and the area's natural and cultural history are featured at the Visitor's Center.

Near the City of Oroville this man-made lake was formed by the tallest earth-filled dam (770 feet above the stream bed of the Feather River) in the country.

The lake offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, sail and power boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, boat-in camping, floating campsites and horse camping.

Lake Oroville Visitor Center has a museum, exhibits, videos and a store. The view from the 47-foot tower, with two high-powered telescopes, is a spectacular panoramic view of the lake, Sierra Nevadas, valley, foothills, and the Sutter Buttes mountain range (smallest in the world).

The area includes the Feather River Fish Hatchery, built by the Department of Water Resources to replace lost spawning areas for salmon and steelhead. Displays on the State Water Project and the area's natural and cultural history are featured at the Visitor's Center.

Bidwell Marina Mooring Cables and Hardware Repairs

A new concession contract for the operation of Bidwell Marina, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, will go into effect beginning December 2, 2009. The new concessionaire, Forever Resorts, will be repairing and replacing mooring cables and hardware as needed.

Location-Directions

From Highway 70, take the Highway 162 exit (Oroville Dam Blvd.) and proceed East. Continue bearing east as Highway 162 evolves into Olive Highway; then after approximately 6 miles, make a left turn onto Kelly Ridge Road.  In two miles Kelly Ridge Road ends at the Visitor Center parking lot.
(Latitude/Longitude: 39.5389 / -121.4844)

Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing

The Lake Oroville area has four very distinct seasons; a Mediterranean-type climate.

Winter months are cool to cold, seldom freezing temperatures, and some occasional fog. Temperatures run from mid to high 50s down to the 30s.

Springtime is beautiful with a vivid array of wildflowers and very pleasant temperatures, normally in the high 60s to 70s.

Summers are warm to extremely warm. The temperatures range from the low 80s up to the low 100s.

Fall season usually brings a little humidity, but not much. It cools off at night and the Northern California autumn sunsets are incredible!

Bring appropriate clothing to fit the season. Layered clothing is advised.Campers should bring sweatshirts during the summer months, because it can get somewhat cooler in the evenings and out on the water.

Summer and spring are warm; fall and winter can be cool. Layered clothing is advised.