Whiskey You Were Here!

Getaway to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area near Redding

08.24.2022

You won’t find any whiskey, or town (!) at Whiskeytown, but you will find one of California’s most refreshing outdoor gems! Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located just 20 minutes outside Redding and is best known for its crystal lake. Less known is that it’s surrounded by miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, beaches for lounging, and waterfalls! It’s also home to some of the best mellow paddling in the state.

BONUS OFFER: Book a 2-night stay at ChooseRedding.com and get a complimentary week-long vehicle admission pass for Whiskeytown.

Where There's Whiskeytown, There's Waterfalls!

waterfalls in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

waterfalls in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has three waterfalls reached by hiking trails. Whiskeytown Falls is the tallest, cascading 220 feet. For an easy, mostly flat hike, head for Crystal Creek Falls. And rounding out the trio is Boulder Creek Falls, a triple-tiered, 138-foot beauty dropping into a mossy canyon. The Whiskeytown Visitor Center will fill you in on the trails to reach these falls.

Beachy Keen

beach fun at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

kayaking Whiskeytown

kayaking Whiskeytown

Plenty of shade and a lengthy shoreline make Brandy Creek Beach idyllic for lounging and picnicking—and you’re surrounded by Whiskeytown’s wild mountain scenery! The swimming beckons: Grab a float or paddle device and get out onto the water, or just wade in for a cool-down. In summer, a small beach store dishes ice cream and has beach gear. Kayaks and paddleboards are available for rent. Brandy Creek Beach is one of four swim beaches in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

Biking and Hiking Trails: Whiskeytown Goes Down Smooth

mountain bike Whiskeytown

hiking Whiskeytown

couple hiking with dog in Whiskeytown

One of Whiskeytown’s biggest secrets is its amazing selection of mountain bike trails. For singletrack and mostly flat—with winding sections to keep things interesting—try the Oak Bottom Water Ditch Trail. If it’s all about the workout for you, trails like the Mount Shasta Mine Route will be more your style, with hard climbs and downhill thrills. For hiking, take your pick: easy, moderate, difficult, or the Ranger’s Pick! Check out hikes in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

BONUS COMPLIMENTARY 7 DAY VEHICLE ADMISSION: Book at least a 2-night stay on ChooseRedding.com and get a complimentary week-long admission for one vehicle at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View

  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View

  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View