Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park
Horseshoe Lake is a man made lake in Upper Bidwell Park just past the observatory. The name comes from the fact that it is U-shaped (which is more evident when the water level is high, and less evident when it is low). Although it was originally built to serve as a reservoir, it is now exclusively used for outdoor recreational purposes. The lake is stocked with catfish annually for the "Hooked on Fishing" events held for kids in Chico. The lake is open for anyone to fish the rest of the time.
Access to Horseshoe Lake is exclusively by Upper Park Road via Wildwood Avenue. The paved section of the road ends near the lake at a parking area accommodating both users of the lake and those hiking further into the park. Water fountains and bathrooms are available at this parking area.
