Whiskeytown · Clear Creek · Lake, waterfalls and trails
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
A 42,000-acre national recreation area 8 miles west of Redding, with a 3,200-acre lake, swim beaches, four waterfalls and miles of trails. Entry is $25 per vehicle for seven days.
Opens Recreation.gov to buy a Whiskeytown entrance pass. The park is cashless; passes are also sold at the visitor center.
Details checked October 2026
Type
National recreation area
Lake, beaches, waterfalls and trails
Admission
$25 per vehicle
7 days. America the Beautiful accepted.
Hours
Open 24 hours
Visitor center 9–5 daily; hours change by season
Time needed
2–3 hours
Tripadvisor’s suggested duration
Parking
Beach & trailhead lots
Highway 299 is fine for trailers
Lake size
3,200 acres
About 37 miles of shoreline
What you’ll see
A mountain lake 8 miles from Redding
Whiskeytown pairs a clear lake with steep, forested mountains, four waterfalls and Gold Rush history.
Photo: National Park Service on Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Start here
Hike to Whiskeytown Falls
The James K. Carr Trail climbs to the park’s tallest waterfall, a three-tiered, 220-foot cascade. The hike is 3.4 miles round trip and rated strenuous, between about 2,200 and 2,900 feet in elevation, with rocks and roots on the final 0.2 mile. The trailhead is on Crystal Creek Road, about four miles south of Highway 299.
RV tip: the James K. Carr trailhead lot is small, so drive the tow vehicle rather than the rig, and get there early on summer weekends.
More to see
- Swim beachesBrandy Creek, Oak Bottom and East Beach are the three main swim beaches, with roped-off swim areas closed to boats. In summer the lake’s surface can reach nearly 80°F.
- PaddlingKayak and paddleboard rentals are available at Oak Bottom and the Brandy Creek Beach store, and the park has offered ranger-led paddleboard lessons and kayak tours.
- Four waterfallsBesides Whiskeytown Falls, the park has Brandy Creek, Boulder Creek and Crystal Creek falls; Crystal Creek is the easiest to reach.
- Gold Rush historyThe Tower House Historic District tells the story of the Camdens and other settlers who arrived with the Gold Rush along Clear Creek.
Why go
Water, waterfalls and a story of recovery
Whiskeytown Lake was built as part of the Central Valley Project’s Trinity River Division, and President John F. Kennedy dedicated Whiskeytown Dam on September 28, 1963. In 2018 the Carr Fire burned 97% of the park and more than 100 structures, the most destructive fire in National Park System history; almost all roads and trails have since reopened.
For RVers Whiskeytown is easy to reach. Highway 299 runs right through the park and is suitable for trailers, and the visitor center is about 8 miles west of downtown Redding. You can even stay inside the park at Brandy Creek RV Campground, which takes rigs up to 35 feet.
Bring a card, not cash: the park is cashless. Summer is the season for swimming and paddling, when the lake’s surface can approach 80°F, while the waterfalls are usually fullest after winter and spring rain.
Photo: Rocketman1111 on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Why it made our list
- A 3,200-acre lake with swim beaches
- Four waterfalls, including a 220-foot cascade
- One pass covers seven days
- An RV campground inside the park
- About 15 minutes from Redding RV parks
For RVers
Whiskeytown with an RV
The practical stuff we wished someone had told us before we pulled in.
Pay with a card
Whiskeytown is cashless. A $25 private-vehicle pass covers everyone in one non-commercial vehicle for seven days; buy it at the visitor center or on Recreation.gov. America the Beautiful passes are accepted, and the $55 annual pass also works at Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake and Lava Beds.
Use the tow vehicle for trailheads
Highway 299 through the park is suitable for trailers, but some trailhead lots, such as the James K. Carr lot for Whiskeytown Falls, are small. Leave the rig at camp or a larger lot and explore the side roads in the tow vehicle.
Dogs: trails yes, beaches no
Leashed dogs (six feet or shorter) are welcome on roads, campgrounds, hiking trails and most of the lakeshore, but not inside buildings or on Brandy Creek, Oak Bottom or East Beach, or the Whiskey Creek Group Picnic Area swim beach.
Camp inside the park
Brandy Creek RV Campground, by Brandy Creek Marina, has self-contained sites for rigs up to 35 feet, and an entrance pass is still required. Our Brandy Creek write-up covers rates and rules.
What visitors say about Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 24, 2026.
By far the most popular trail in the national recreation area.
National Park Service, on the trail to Whiskeytown Falls · nps.gov
What your pass covers
From the NPS Fees & Passes page
Everyone in the vehicle7 daysLake & beachesTrails
All visitors need an entrance pass. One private-vehicle pass covers everyone in your vehicle for seven days at Whiskeytown; camping, including Brandy Creek RV Campground, is a separate fee. Checked October 24, 2026.
Entrance pass prices
Prices from the NPS Fees & Passes page, checked October 24, 2026. Youth 15 and under on foot or bike enter free.
Good to know
Private vehicle$25 7 days, all occupants
On foot or bike$15 per person, 16 and older
Annual pass$55 also Lassen, Crater Lake, Lava Beds
Also acceptedAmerica the BeautifulSenior passesCards only
From the NPS Fees & Passes page, checked October 24, 2026. Motorcycles are $20 for seven days. Whiskeytown does not accept cash.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
- Address14412 Kennedy Memorial Dr., Whiskeytown, CA 96095
- HoursOpen 24 hours
Visitor center 9–5 daily; hours change by season - Phone(530) 246-1225 (visitor center)
- PassesBuy online or at the visitor center (cards only)
- Getting thereFrom I-5, take Highway 44 west into downtown Redding, then follow Highway 299 west about 8 miles to the visitor center.
- ParkingLots at the visitor center, beaches, marinas and trailheads. In winter, Brandy Creek Beach parking can be limited to the gravel lot by Kennedy Memorial Drive.
Roads and trails can close on short notice for events, maintenance, weather or fire, and a few trails remain closed since the Carr Fire. Check the NPS Alerts & Conditions page before you go.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
These are the parks we have visited and written up, closest first, with drive times to the Whiskeytown Visitor Center.
Brandy Creek RV Campground
Inside the park near Brandy Creek Beach: self-contained sites for rigs up to 35 ft, no hookups.
Green Acres RV Park
Concrete full-hookup sites, a pool and a dog park on Westside Road. Note that the park has no restrooms.
Marina RV Park
Riverside park on Park Marina Drive with 30-amp sites for rigs up to 40 ft, a pool, and nightly or monthly stays.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Open 24 hours · $25 per vehicle
Ready for the lake and the falls?
Buy your pass online or at the visitor center, swim in summer, and save the waterfall hike for a cool morning.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: the National Park Service (waterfall, kayak, sunrise, water skiing and lake; public domain), Jonmallard (Glory Hole) and Rocketman1111 (lake from the hills) under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; the images were resized. Video: Pat Pattison’s Best of California on YouTube. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Whiskeytown National Recreation Area unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the National Park Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Fees, hours, closures and rules are set by the National Park Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm details directly with Whiskeytown National Recreation Area at nps.gov/whis or (530) 246-1225. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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