In the friendly, tree-lined city of Chico, California sits a leafy beast that politely refuses to act its size. We're talking about Bidwell Park — a "municipal park" that, by all technical definitions, is actually a sneaky wilderness empire hiding behind a coffee shop and a Trader Joe’s.
Let’s break this down: Bidwell Park is 3,670 acres. That’s not just “big for a city park.” That’s call-your-lawyer-because-it-ate-your-hiking-group big.
So, what happens when this Chico local legend is thrown into the ring with actual state parks across the country?
Let’s find out.
Round 1: Bidwell Park vs. Central Park (NYC)
Central Park: 843 acres
Bidwell Park: 3,670 acres
Verdict: Central Park is basically a charming backyard compared to Bidwell.
If Bidwell Park and Central Park were in a street fight, Bidwell would just lie down on Central and absorb it like moss on a rock. You could fit four Central Parks inside Bidwell and still have room for a picnic, a frisbee tournament, and three lost birdwatchers.
Round 2: Bidwell Park vs. Itasca State Park (Minnesota)
Itasca State Park: 32,000 acres
Bidwell Park: 3,670 acres
Okay, now we’re in a different weight class.
Itasca is the birthplace of the Mississippi River and has over 100 lakes. It’s Minnesota’s flex move.
Bidwell’s response? “Cool river, bro. I’ve got Upper Park — where volcanic rock, secret swimming holes, and sudden mountain lions all casually coexist.”
Bidwell can’t beat Itasca in acreage, but it gets points for being walkable without a compass and bear spray.
Round 3: Bidwell Park vs. Humboldt Redwoods State Park (California)
Humboldt: 51,000 acres
Bidwell: Still 3,670, but holding its own
Humboldt has redwoods the size of small apartment buildings, and enough moss to qualify as its own zip code. But while Humboldt is majestic, it’s also remote and occasionally spooky.
Bidwell? It’s got Monkey Face Rock, Sycamore Pool, and it’s within Uber range of a burrito place. Who’s really winning?
Round 4: Bidwell Park vs. Goblin Valley State Park (Utah)
Goblin Valley: 3,654 acres
Bidwell: 3,670 acres
Wait, what?
Yes. Bidwell Park is bigger than Goblin Valley State Park, a certified desert fantasyland featured in sci-fi films and responsible for several children asking if they could live in a rock.
Bidwell wins on technicality — 16 extra acres of bragging rights. Take that, sandstone gremlins.
Round 5: Bidwell Park vs. Every Park in New Jersey
The largest state park in New Jersey is Wharton State Forest, clocking in at a whopping 122,880 acres. Okay, fine. Jersey brought the heat.
But let’s be real: Wharton has pine trees. Bidwell has cliffs, swimming holes, mountain biking trails, deer, disc golf, and people doing yoga on rocks. Also, it doesn’t take 45 minutes to find parking. That’s gotta count for something.
The Secret Sauce of Bidwell
- It’s in a city. That alone makes it a unicorn. State parks are usually a drive, a plan, and a park ranger’s pamphlet away.
- You can grab a latte and be in wilderness within 10 minutes.
- You might see a deer. Or a poet. Or a sociology major having a mild existential crisis near Bear Hole.
- It goes from shady, dog-friendly strolls in Lower Park to legit rugged hiking in Upper Park — like two parks in one, and neither charges admission.
Bidwell Park isn’t just a city park. It’s a small national park with better parking and less paperwork. It punches above its weight, has the aesthetic range of a Renaissance painter, and if it ever decides to apply for “State Park” status, at least 12 smaller ones will immediately panic.
So next time someone tries to humblebrag about their fancy state park, smile, nod, and tell them:
“That’s cute. I’ve got Bidwell.”
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