- elevation 6,260 ft (1,908 m) - average 411 cu ft/s (12 m/s) Length 150 km Country United States of America Cities Diamondville, California | - elevation 52 ft (16 m) Discharge 11.64 m³/s Mouth Sacramento River Bridges Honey Run Covered Bridge | |
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- left Little Butte Creek (Butte County, California), Hamlin Slough, Cherokee Canal - location About 5 miles (8.0 km) NE of Belden, Butte County - location Between Colusa and Meridian Similar Honey Run Covered Bridge, Clear Creek, Bidwell Park, Bidwell Mansion State Hist, Upper Bidwell Park | ||
Butte Creek is tributary to the Sacramento River, joining the river in the vicinity of Colusa, California, United States. About 93 miles (150 km) in length, it runs through much of Butte County, California (the county, however, receives its name from the Sutter Buttes in Sutter County, California). It travels through a spectacular mini-Grand Canyon as it reaches the Sacramento Valley floor, where it then flows somewhat south and west of the city of Chico towards the southwestern corner of the county.
Map of Butte Creek, California, USA
Recent efforts have brought back Chinook salmon and steelhead runs to the stream.
There are several dams in its upper reaches. The PG&E has facilities at Centerville. The Paradise Irrigation District has Paradise Dam impounding Paradise Lake and the smaller Magalia Dam just beneath it on Little Butte Creek.
The creek is notable for the Honey Run Covered Bridge, the only remaining three-level covered bridge left in the United States. It is the centerpiece of Honey Run Covered Bridge Park. Subjected to repeated vandalism, the bridge and the park require the continuous presence of a resident attendant photos.
The Colman Museum, headquartered in Chico, California, is dedicated to preserving the history and beauty of the Butte Creek canyon. Whitewater kayaking on Butte Creek is popular, in part because of the outstanding scenery of the "Little Grand Canyon" section of the creek near Chico.