The heart of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Whiskeytown Lake is always full and provides 36 miles of shoreline and 3,200 surface acres for recreation. Its placid surface is excellent for swimming, scuba diving, and fishing. Ranger-led kayak tours are popular and paddleboarding can be found on the water most weekends. Whiskeytown’s beaches and campsites beckon families and groups, and open-water swimmers often take to the water for training. Generations of sailors have enjoyed the quiet lake for sailing, and the Whiskeytown Memorial Regatta has celebrated 50 years of racing. The area around the lake is also peppered with beaches, trails, historic sites, and waterfalls, so there’ll always be something new for you to discover.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has four major waterfall hikes with trails accessible year-round - Brandy Creek Falls, Boulder Creek Falls, Crystal Creek Falls, and Whiskeytown Falls. The best time to visit the waterfalls is spring when the creeks are bursting with runoff from melting snow. A summer hike to the falls provides a cool misty break from the warm summer days in the valley. Fall is a spectacular time to walk as the leaves change and become vibrant in color.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a paddler’s dream with the sparkling and always full Whiskeytown Lake as the main attraction. Free ranger-led kayak and standup paddleboard tours are available (equipment included!) and the water is so inviting that the rangers also offer free moonlight kayak programs so you can explore the landscape in a different setting. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are also available, so you can strike out on your own and find a private cove just for you.
If all gears are shifting into relax mode, lay out a towel or blanket on Whiskeytown’s sandy shores and gaze off at the lake’s crystal-clear waters. With more than 300 sunny days per year, the weather assures you of ideal conditions for your visit – the perfect temperature for taking a dip before returning to your beach blanket and picnic basket. Oak Bottom and Brandy Creek beaches both offer sandy shores and perfect water for swimming, so you’ll have no trouble finding that perfect spot to cool off!
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