Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Usual hours

• Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00

From 56 published days, 2026-10-24 to 2026-12-18; community-mapped.

About

Entrance / day-use fee applies.

This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.

This park's official page lists: Visitor center.

At the park

• Visitor center exhibit
• Hunting activity
• Beaches scenic feature
• Waterfalls scenic feature
• Wildflowers scenic feature
• Wildlife & bird watching scenic feature
• Hiking trails trail
• Paddling (kayak/canoe) water
• Swimming water

Before you go

Limits

Some types of activites require Special Use or Commercial Use Permits

Limits

Dogs are not allowed in the Whiskey Creek Group Picnic Area

Limits

Dogs are not permitted at Brandy Creek Beach, Oak Bottom Beach, East Beach, and the Whiskey Creek Group Day Use Area Beach

Limits

Alcohol is not permitted at Brandy Creek Beach, Oak Bottom Beach, East Beach, and the Whiskey Creek Group Day Use Area Beach

Limits

Smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes are prohibited in the park except for in your vehicle, on your boat, in your campsite, or at the designated smoking areas at Brandy Creek Beach parking lot, Oak Bottom Beach parking lot, and the Visitor Center parking lot island

Limits

On the water, individuals 13 years of age and older must have a lifejacket onboard with them on all vessels

Park alert: 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.

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.

Weather & when to go

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.

Visitor center

Brandy Creek Boat Launch

Visitor center

Oak Bottom Boat Launch

Visitor center

Tower House Historic District

Visitor center

Whiskey Creek Boat Launch

Visitor center

Whiskeytown Park Store

Visitor center

Whiskeytown Park Store

Visitor center

Whiskeytown Park Store

Visitor center

Whiskeytown Park Store

Visitor center

Whiskeytown Park Store

Visitor center

Whiskeytown Visitor Center — Listed below are the current open days and operating hours for the Visitor Center (updated April 4, 2025). The Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day (Dec 25th), and New Years Day (Jan 1st).

Visitor center

Whiskeytown Visitor Center

Visitor center

Whiskeytown Visitor Center

Facilities on the park map

1 bench, 1 first aid kit, 7 picnic area, 15 restroom, 15 visitor information, 4 water fountain.

Where to stay

• Sheep Camp Sheep Camp is nestled in the mixed oak/pine/fir woodlands with nearby access to numerous trails and is a great launching point for treks up the 6,199' Shasta Bally, the highest point in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. This campsite is closed during the winter. All sites are in partial shade and feature a bear-proof storage locker, picnic table, lamp pole, fire pit with swing-arm BBQ grill, w · 4 campsites · Accessibility: These sites feature uneven, unpaved terrain and steep drops near the creek. Vehicles can not park in campsite - must park and walk about 30' to furthest…
• Brandy Creek This two site campground is found just off Brandy Creek Road, with Brandy Creek accessible a short walk away. The Brandy Creek trail, popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, runs next to the campground. This campsite is closed during the winter. Both sites are in partial shade and feature a bear-proof storage locker, picnic table, lamp pole, fire pit with swing-arm BBQ grill, a · 2 campsites · Accessibility: These sites feature uneven, unpaved terrain and steep drops near the creek. Vault toilets are ADA-accessible.
• Dry Creek Group Campground Dry Creek Group Campground includes two large campsites. Each site is primitive and may be reserved for groups of up to 50 people (20 people minimum). The campsites are located within oak woodland on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by Whiskeytown Lake. The primitive campground is located near Brandy Creek Marina. · 2 campsites · Accessibility: This campground features unpaved ground with gentle slopes towards the middle, becoming much steeper as you near the water. Some picnic tables are wheelchair…
• Brandy Creek RV A secluded hilltop RV site close to Brandy Creek Marina and within walking distance of Brandy Creek Beach, the Brandy Creek trail and the Davis Gulch trail. Campground is an asphalt parking lot with 15 parking sites. Only for self-contained units that have their own toilets, such as recreational vehicles, cab-over campers, pop-up tent trailers, and fifth wheels. There is no bathroom and no hookups · 15 campsites · Accessibility: All sites at the Brandy Creek RV campground are on pavement. There are no facilities at this location.
• Peltier Bridge Sited along Clear Creek, the Peltier Bridge campground offers 9 sites and access to numerous trails. All sites offer a bear-proof storage locker, picnic table, lamp pole, fire pit with swing-arm BBQ grill, and shared access to two ADA-accessible vault toilets. · 9 campsites · Accessibility: These sites feature uneven, unpaved terrain with occasional steep drops. Vehicles can not park in campsite - must park and walk about 40' to furthest campsite…
• Crystal Creek The Crystal Creek campground offers two secluded sites along Crystal Creek and is a short drive away from both Crystal Creek falls and the James K. Carr trail to Whiskeytown Falls. This campsite is closed during the winter. A fairly steep dirt road accesses the campsites. Both sites are well shaded and feature a bear-proof storage locker, picnic table, lamp pole, fire pit with swing-arm BBQ grill, · 2 campsites · Accessibility: These sites feature uneven, unpaved terrain and steep drops near the creek. Crystal Creek has a rocky shoreline. Vault toilets are ADA-accessible.
• Horse Camp Horse Camp is specifically for camping with horses. The open area allow ease of parking for horse trailers. Several trails are accessible from this campground. Both sites are in partial shade and feature bear-proof storage lockers, picnic tables, a lamp pole, fire pit with swing-arm BBQ grill, and a shared ADA accessible vault toilet. Each site has a maximum occupancy of 10 people and 3 vehicles. · 2 campsites · Accessibility: These sites feature uneven, unpaved terrain and steep drops in some areas. Vehicles can park at campsite. Vault toilets are ADA-accessible.