Big Chico Creek is a creek in northeastern California that originates near Colby Mountain in Lassen National Park. It flows 46 mi to its confluence with the Sacramento River in Butte County. The creek's elevation declines from 5000 ft above sea level at its head to 120 ft where it joins the Sacramento River, as shown on the Ord Ferry USGS quadrangle. Big Chico Creek forms part of the demarcation between the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. A portion of Big Chico Creek flows through the city of Chico's Bidwell Park and California State University, Chico.

Natural history

There are numerous plant and animal species in the riparian zone and entire watershed of Big Chico Creek. A threatened species of Chinook Salmon make annual spawning runs up Big Chico Creek to the area of Higgin's Hole. Among the wildflowers documented in the watershed is the yellow mariposa lily, Calochortus luteus.