8 miles west of Redding, California on State Route 299 West, PO Box 188, CA 299 and Kennedy Memorial Drive, Whiskeytown, CA 96095
Phone: 530-241-6584 or 530-365-2267
Fax: 530-246-5154
Open All Year
Overview. Legend has it that a broken barrel of whiskey spilling its bounty into a high country stream gave Whiskey Creek its name. The creek still flows into Whiskeytown Lake, created in the early 1960s when the damming of Clear Creek impounded more water for California's Central Valley Project. The area includes 42,000 acres of surrounding backcountry managed by the National Park Service. The other units of the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area (which includes Shasta and Trinity-Lewiston lakes and covers over 200,000 acres of the southern Klamath Mountains) are administered by the National Forest Service. What to see and do. In addition to a wide range of water activities, hiking, horseback riding, camping, and some of the nation's most challenging mountain bike trails, the area surrounding Whiskeytown Lake is also rich in gold rush history. Water recreation enthusiasts can enjoy swimming, water-skiing, sailing, scuba diving, and almost every type of boating.The lakes are stocked year-round with kokanee salmon, large- and smallmouth bass, and both rainbow and brown trout; anglers with a valid state license can expect to come home with a full creel. Hunting is also permitted in season with a valid state license. Hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers will find a variety of trails in all lengths and ranges of difficulty. Backcountry camping is allowed with a proper permit; consult rangers to find the best locations. Some backcountry sites have restroom facilities and grills. You'll also need a nominally-priced permit to pan for gold along the streams feeding Whiskeytown Lake. If you're interested in the gold rush era, be sure to visit the Tower House Historic District at the western end of the Whiskeytown unit where you can see Camden House, built in 1852. Campers can reserve sites at Whiskeytown Lake through the National Park Reservation System (800-365-CAMP); many sites are restricted to hard-sided RVs. The visitor information center at Whiskeytown Lake is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm, year-round. Contact the Forest Service for information regarding camping and visitor services at Shasta and Trinity-Lewiston lakes.
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Beach |
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Bicycle Trails |
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Bird Watching |
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Boat Launching |
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Fishing |
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Food Service |
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Geological Sites |
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Gift Shop |
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Guided Tours |
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Hiking/Nature Trails |
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Historic Sites |
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Horse Trails |
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Motor Boating |
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Non-motor Boating |
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Picnic Sites |
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Programs/Talks |
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Self-guided Tours |
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Swimming |
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Visitor Center |
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Water Skiing |
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Wildflower Viewing |
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Wildlife Viewing |
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Please call ahead to confirm details. We do our best to give you current information, but facts can change. Please let us know if you find something's changed.
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