Upper Butte Creek
California – US
- Class
- IV to V
- Length
- 6.9 Mile(s)
- Gradient
- 234 FPM
- Typical season
- January to June
- Author
- Dana
Current Flow
167 CFS
Gauge height: 0.79 FT
Reading from Jul 10, 2026 10:00 PM
● 0.00/hr (12h) ● 0.00/hr (24h)
- Primary gauge
- BUTTE C NR CHICO CA Gauge detail & alternatives Live gauge ↗
Recommended levels
| Minimum | 400 |
| Average | — |
| Maximum | 1,200 |
Recommended use
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- SUP
- Packrafting
- Fishing
Struck-through craft are not recommended for this run.
Flow history — last 6 days
No gauge history recorded in the last 6 days.
Photos
No photos added for this run yet.
Description
De Sabla Powerhouse to Centerville Rd (take-out is the bridge on Centerville Rd). Considered Class V above 1,000 cfs. Expect a 2 mile hike in along a road, and at least one portage. 234 fpm gradient for the first mile, then easing every 1.5 miles eventually to 55 fpm for the last mile. (This info courtesy of A Wet State - http://www.awetstate.com/ButteCreekU.html).
Rapids
| # | Rapid | Class | Recommended flow | Description | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initiation | IV+ to V | —–— | When river enters a pool with many rocks blocking river, stop to scout. |
Scout right or left. Right is easier, but doesn't allow you to see the exit/landing. Scout left to see entire rapid. |
| 2 | Three Deaths Undercut | V+ to VI | —–— | Portage right up the hillside and along the cliff (watch out for poison oak). Or...at low flows, run the entry, immediately eddy out left, then portage left at river level and run the exit. |
|
| 3 | Falls | IV to V+ | —–— | Many take the left channel over a 12-15 foot falls. Hero line is the right channel, but you go deep. |
|
| 4 | Penalty Box | IV to IV+ | —–— | Right channel of an island, leads to a hole. |
|
| 5 | Junk | IV to IV+ | —–— | Hole with junky rocks below. |
|
| 6 | Chipper | IV to IV+ | —–— | ||
| 7 | Chimney Rock | IV to IV+ | —–— | Horizon line with Chimney Rock in the background. |
Scout right. |
| 8 | Corbett's Chaos | IV+ | —–— | Odd shaped hole with strong push into a pocket on the left wall. |
Access
| Type | Name | Elevation | Camping | Water | Boat ramp | Vehicle access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Put-In | De Sabla Powerhouse | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | Continue on Centerville Rd. It soon turns to dirt but is relatively well maintained. Continue for 6.4 miles. Turn left onto cement at the Y with Nimshew Rd. In 0.5 miles turn left again on Humbug Rd. In 1.5 miles, turn left on the first road “De Sabla Powerhouse Rd.” It sneaks up on you, within 100 yards you should see PG&E signs letting you know you are on the right path. Drive another 1.5 miles and park at the gate. If the gate is open, I would discourage you from driving down as that is a great way to get locked in. Once you see the powerhouse, look for a road on your left that drops steeply down to and crosses the canal. Work back upriver to drop the final 20 feet down to the water. (Credit: A Wet State) |
| Take-Out | Bridge on Centerville Rd | — | No | No | No | All Vehicles | From Chico, take the Park Ave exit on the south side of town. Turn right off the off ramp onto Skyway Rd. Follow for 1.3 miles and turn left on Honey Run Rd. Follow for another 4.3 miles and turn left before crossing the creek, onto Centerville Rd. Continue another 4.8 miles to where the road crosses the creek, park on the far side of the bridge. (Credit: A Wet State). |
Camps
No river camps added yet.
Permit
No permit is required, or permit info hasn't been added yet.
Fishing
No fish species have been associated with this run yet.
External Links & Resources
Sign in to add a link.
Community Run Notes
No community notes added yet.
Sign in to add a community note.