Whiskey You Were Here!

Getaway to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area near Redding

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. Camp at Goose Lake in the Lakes Basin

    Duck, Duck, Goose!

    Try to get a first-come, first-served campsite at one of the Lakes Basin’s lakeside campgrounds. We love Goose Lake Campground, where there are just 13 sites and no motorized boats.

    View
  2. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

    View
  3. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View
  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  2. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View
  3. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

    View
  4. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View