Home to beaches, trails, waterfalls, and of course, a giant lake, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is home to more outdoor fun than you can shake a stick at. Go kayaking, hit the beach, hike to a waterfall, and have the perfect day exploring everything the park has to offer!
No lake would be complete without beaches, and Whiskeytown is no exception. You can't go wrong with either Brandy Creek Beach or Oak Bottom Beach - both offer picnic tables, swimming, gorgeous views, and of course, plenty of sandy beaches for all!
After you've had your fun on the beach, hop on a kayak and explore the lake itself! Both Brandy Creek and Oak Bottom offer kayak rentals, and during the summer the park offers free ranger-led kayaking tours.
If you can bring yourself to leave the lake (we've been there!) head to shore and go on a hike to one of Whiskeytown's waterfalls: Crystal Creek Falls, Boulder Creek Falls, or Whiskeytown Falls. Between them all, there's a hike for every skill level, and the view of the falls is sure to please! (Crystal Creek Falls is an easy, wheelchair accessible half mile walk, Boulder Creek Falls is a moderate 1.1 mile hike, and Whiskeytown Falls is a strenuous 1.7 mile hike.)
After you're done chasing waterfalls, consider finding a picnic area overlooking the lake to stop at for dinner. There are picnic spots at both Brandy Creek and Oak Bottom beach with gorgeous views. Or, if you can't bring yourself to leave the waterfalls yet, set up at one of the picnic spots at Crystal Creek Falls with a perfect view of the falls.
Just because the sun's gone down, doesn't mean it’s time to head back yet! It’s worth staying at the park into the evening - because of its unique position nestled within mountain ranges and miles from urban light pollution, Whiskeytown is a great place to explore the heavens. Lay on the beach and stargaze, or if you're there during the summer, join the park rangers for a Star Party or a moonlight kayak tour.
Starting your day in Redding, it’s about a 25-minute drive to Brandy Creek Beach or Oak Bottom Beach. Plan to spend at least 2 hours at the beach – more if you’re planning to kayak. Once you’re done at the beach, it will be a 15-20 minute drive depending on which waterfall you choose to visit. How long to spend varies based on the difficulty of the hike and how long you want to spend at the waterfall, but budget at least a half hour for Crystal Creek Falls, an hour for Boulder Creek Falls, and an hour and a half for Whiskeytown Falls. If you’re planning to stay into the evening to stargaze, schedule at least a half hour, more if you are joining a ranger program.
