Come explore Bidwell Park! Stretching from the heart of Chico into the foothills of the southern Cascades, it encompasses over 3,600 acres of trails, rock formations, groves, fields, and swimming holes. Paul Belz explores this diverse landscape through conversations with notable and knowledgeable friends of Bidwell Park. Join in as they share their insights on its history, geology, ecology, wildlife, and the controversies that have shaped the development of Chico’s “crown jewel.”
 
Paul Belz has lived in Chico since 2016. He loves to hike, read, and explore Bidwell Park. He has presented science- and nature-based workshops for children, adults, and teachers for several decades. His poetry, nature writing, travel-based essays, and articles about education appear in a range of publications, and he recently published Sometimes the Soul Needs Chocolate: Pandemic Odes in September 2023. 

His travels have taken him to Mexico, Central and South America, Asia, Canada, a number of European countries, and much of the United States. His passions include vegetarian cooking, books, photography, movies, concerts, and long walks around his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He lives in Chico with his partner Kate Roark.