Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Caution Prescribed Fire planned for November 9th and 10th for Shasta Divide.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, in conjunction with U.S. Wildland Fire Service personnel, plan to conduct prescribed fire near the eastern boundary of the park between Whiskeytown Lake and the Shasta Divide Ridge in western Shasta County. This 700-acre prescribed burn is intended to reduce hazardous accumulations of grass, brush, and dead vegetation along the park’s eastern boundary and in close proximity to the town of Shasta. Smoke may be visible and local traffic controls will be in place.

Information Don't Move a Mussel!

Hey Boaters, please clean, drain, and dry your vessel completely before setting out on Whiskeytown Lake. Thank you for doing your part to keep the Golden Mussel, an aquatic invasive species, out of the reservoir. Learn more about preventative measures.

Read the full alert

Overview

Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the resilience of nature in its post-fire recovery. Adventure awaits at every turn—Whiskeytown is calling!

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Biking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Boating
  • Motorized Boating
  • Sailing
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
  • Group Camping
  • RV Camping
  • Fishing
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Fly Fishing
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Horse Camping (see also camping)
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hunting and Gathering
  • Hunting
  • Living History
  • First Person Interpretation
  • Paddling
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Stand Up Paddleboarding
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • SCUBA Diving
  • Swimming
  • Freshwater Swimming
  • Water Skiing
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area: The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Certain areas of the park are subject to seasonal and COVID-19 temporary closures or limited hours. Some areas of the park remain closed due to hazardous conditions from the Carr Fire. Please check the park website for current information.

Fees and passes

  • Entrance - Per Person — $15.00
  • Entrance - Motorcycle — $20.00
  • Entrance - Private Vehicle — $25.00
  • Annual Entrance - Park — $55.00

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.

Getting there

Car From Interstate 5, take the Highway 44 West exit toward Downtown Redding and Eureka. From Downtown Redding, follow Highway 299 west toward Eureka for approximately 8 miles to reach the Visitor Center. Plane Commercial air service is available to Redding California located approximately 16 miles from Whiskeytown. Rental vehicles are available.

Visitor centers

Campgrounds

  • Dry Creek Group Campground (2 sites) — reserve
  • Horse Camp (2 sites) — reserve
  • Sheep Camp (4 sites) — reserve
  • Brandy Creek (2 sites) — reserve
  • Brandy Creek RV (15 sites) — reserve
  • Crystal Creek (2 sites) — reserve
  • Peltier Bridge (9 sites) — reserve

Weather

Whiskeytown NRA is in a Mediterranean climate, which means hot, dry summers followed by cool, wet winters. Summer temperatures often reach the upper 90's to lower 100 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as the occasional thunderstorm. Winter brings snow to the upper elevations (only occasionally down to the lake level of 1,200'), and rain and ice. See the park weather page for the current weather.

Phone: 5302423400

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

A woman looking at a cascade.
Whiskeytown Falls. · Choose Redding.
White houses and white outbuildings.
THHD · NPS Photo.
Two kayakers paddling on Whiskeytown Lake. Clouds above.
Kayak · NPS Photo.
Orange flowers with small black circles along a creek.
Tiger Lily · NPS Photo.
Several people swimming in water, strip of sand with people sitting on it, trees, blue sky above.
The Beach · NPS Photo.
Park ranger with flat hat holding a small commemorative jug
Commemorative gold whiskey jug · NPS Photo.

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