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. 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

  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View

  4. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  2. Two women on e-bikes at Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles

    Eat, Drink, E-bike!

    No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!

    View

  3. Jurupa Jamboree

    If you like a short hike with a side of adventure, try the Jurupa Hills North Trail in Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View