Oroville, CA Outdoor Activities

Against a backdrop of lush trees, paintball players belly-crawl through gigantic concrete pipes, wade waist-high through wetlands, and pop off rounds from behind disabled Army jeeps. The battlegrounds are so elaborate, in fact, the Butte County sheriff's office and SWAT teams train on them, using the wooden huts as cover and the large tin barrels as the rhythm section for their reggae bands. Citizen players 10 and older, however, navigate the obstacles during fast-paced woodsball and speedball matches as referees monitor to ensure fair play. There's even a field specifically for target practice so gamers can knock the rust from their muzzles. Meanwhile, lights emblazon the speedball field during night matches of adrenaline-fueled play.

Staffed by a team of experienced driving coaches and drifting professionals, American Controlled Driving Academy thrills audiences with drifting and stunt-driving classes on the paddock of Thunderhill Raceway. The 3-mile, 15-turn, FIA-certified course boasts challenging turns and crossovers ideal for alternating instructional skidding events and competitions. Additionally, the program gathers seasoned instructors to bestow drifting fundamentals to all levels of drivers, using a step-by-step teaching process in a student-friendly environment.

Guided by the watchful eyes of master falconer Kate Marden, West Coast Falconry introduces avian enthusiasts to eagle owls, falcons, and hawks through an apprentice course, educational demonstrations, and aerial displays of predatory birds hunting. Various excursions give small groups of participants up-close interaction with the birds, enabling them to explore natural avian habitats and observe the predatory birds in flight, hunting, and while picking up their dry cleaning. Gloved game chasers can also try casting and calling owls, hawks, and falcons to and from their fists.

With roots stretching back to 1933, the Marysville Stampede barrels forward each Memorial Day weekend with two days of rodeo festivities. The Marysville Stampede, backed by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, showcases modern-day ranchers who ride bulls and break broncs to the thundering sound of cheers. Competitors also mount horses bareback, wrestle steers with their bare hands, spur steeds around barrels, and rope cattle in teams or using tie-down techniques. Youngsters can take part in the Mutton Buster event, in which junior ranchers aged 4 to 7 gain bravery from the encouraging roar of spectators.