Blue-gray waters of lake with green shrub in foreground, mountains and clouds in background.
Whiskeytown Lake with the park's tallest mountains in the clouds. NPS Photo.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area · California · National Park Service

Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the resilience of nature in its post-fire recovery. Adventure awaits at every turn—Whiskeytown is calling!

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
5302423400
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

What's here

Highlights: Architecture and Building · Arts · Painting · Photography · Birthplace · Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite · Dams · Schools and Education · Science, Technology and Innovation · Transportation · Bridges · Roads, Routes and Highways · Westward Expansion · Homesteading · The Gold Rush · Animals · Birds · Cats (wild) · Fish · Tortoises and Turtles · Fire · Lakes · Night Sky · Astronomy · River and Riparian · Rock Landscapes and Features · Scenic Views · Trails · Watersheds · Waterfalls · Wilderness

Activities & features: Astronomy · Stargazing · Biking · Mountain Biking · Road Biking · Boating · Motorized Boating · Sailing · Camping · Backcountry Camping · Car or Front Country Camping · Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use) · Group Camping · RV Camping · Fishing · Freshwater Fishing · Fly Fishing · Food · Picnicking · Guided Tours · Hiking · Backcountry Hiking · Front-Country Hiking · Horse Trekking · Horse Camping (see also camping) · Horseback Riding · Hunting and Gathering · Hunting · Living History · First Person Interpretation · Paddling · Canoeing · Kayaking · Stand Up Paddleboarding · Junior Ranger Program · SCUBA Diving · Swimming · Freshwater Swimming · Water Skiing · Wildlife Watching · Birdwatching · Museum Exhibits · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store

Photos

  • A woman looking at a cascade.
    Choose Redding.
  • White houses and white outbuildings.
    NPS Photo.
  • Two kayakers paddling on Whiskeytown Lake. Clouds above.
    NPS Photo.
  • Orange flowers with small black circles along a creek.
    NPS Photo.
  • Several people swimming in water, strip of sand with people sitting on it, trees, blue sky above.
    NPS Photo.
  • Park ranger with flat hat holding a small commemorative jug
    NPS Photo.
  • Close-up photo of black bear in front of green shrubs.
    NPS Photo

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12