Tuesday, February 9, 2010

BILLIE PARK NATURE TRAIL - PARADISE, CA - 10/07/08

Billie Park is in Paradise, CA. It dates back to 1907 when it was an olive and grape orchard. Many Indian artifacts and dwelling caves were discovered at this site.


This is a "city park" but has a nature trail that leads out to a "look-out point" where you will see beautiful views of Butte Creek Canyon aka The Little Grand Canyon. It is a "short" hike but the views are fantastic.




The trail is a little steep in some areas and tends to slope down the hillside. As it is very shady, which keeps the trail damp and it is covered with leaves, you really need to watch your step so you do not slip. At the end of the trail is a rocky area with a bench where you can sit and enjoy the views.



There is also a trail down to a "grotto" where natural springs flow down a flat faced rock cliff giving the appearance that the water is actually coming out of the rock. There are beautify ferns and another great view of the canyon.


Highlights: Beautiful views of Butte Creek Canyon
Near: Paradise, CA
Distance: Approximately 1 mile round trip to and from "look-out point" and another .5 mile round trip if you take the trail to the grotto.
Hike Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how long you sit and enjoy the view.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trail Condition: Well Maintained Trail
Hike Type: Out and Back


Trailhead: From downtown Paradise, take The Skyway to Billie Road and turn left. Head 1 mile west. Park will be on your right-hand side.

8 comments:

  1. Sounds like my type of trail, Kay.. I love trails that lead you through the woods and to a lookout point... Sounds fabulous.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. What a beautiful area, I love places like this. Looking at the photos it is amazing that it is so close to a city. I would love to find trails like that here.

    Sorry I took so long to visit, last week got really hectic. Good news is I got the taxes done, yay!

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    Replies
    1. It's Actually More Of A Small Town In The Foothills Not Much Of A City, I Think We Have Around 10 Stop Lights In Town?

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    2. My wife and I just did the Hike and really enjoyed it. There are a lot of trails that lead else where so keep that in mind and remember that the view point is up hill not down hill.
      Cheers!

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  3. I went there last December on our way to Mountainview Tree farm. We arrived early so we went looking for a place to hang out until the tree farm opened. My children enjoyed the hike so much they wanted to forget the tree farm and stay there

    Jesse from Marysville, CA

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  4. I love all of the pictures and descriptions of these hikes. Which ones are close in to Chico/Paradise?, not to far to drive.

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  5. To Anonymous...the only hikes I show here that are new Chico/Paradise are the ones under the labels of Bidwell Park or Bille Park. The rest are all in Southern California. I do not live in Northern California so only hike up there if I go to visit my brother.

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  6. And for a little more on the town, it's original name, back in the Gold Rush days and logging times, was "Pair o' Dice". However, the gentry that started migrating here wanted a little more
    "sophisticated" name, so it became "Paradise". The park was established back in the early 1960s when one of the city leaders had them buy this open space right smack in the middle of town. It’s fantastically beautiful, with a mini waterfall, an Indian rock, a grotto and the furthest hiking spot, “The Lookout Point”. The whole town is quite rustic, set among trees, in groves, in little "hideaway" nooks ... you almost have to see it to believe it.

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Thanks for hiking along with me and Hiker.
Kay