News Release

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Opens Carr Powerhouse area and the East Side of Whiskey Creek Road

Date: October 18, 2018
Contact: Matt Switzer, 530-242-3454

Whiskeytown, Calif. – The National Park Service has re-opened the Carr Powerhouse area, as well as lakeshore access from the pullouts on the east side of Whiskey Creek Road as part of its ongoing, phased re-opening in the wake of the Carr Fire. All areas previously re-opened will remain open. These include the visitor center (open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.), the Shasta Divide Nature Trail, East Beach, and the Whiskey Creek boat ramp and picnic area.

“We are pleased to continue the re-opening process of the park, thanks to the hard work of the Whiskeytown park staff and our partners and colleagues from around the country who have assisted in the recovery,” said Patrick Gubbins, Acting Superintendent of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. “We are grateful for the ongoing support and understanding we have received from our neighbors and the community during recovery from this unprecedented fire.”
 

• Entrance passes are not required until further notice.

• Open areas will be day-use only, from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, until further notice.
• Park rangers will sweep the open areas each day 30 minutes after sunset to ensure all park visitors are safe and clear of the area.
• Whiskeytown Lake is open to boating, swimming, fishing, and water skiing, during the day only.
• The Oak Bottom Marina remains closed to all public use until further notice.
• Other than the East Beach parking area, no stopping is allowed along John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive.
• Though John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive, Page Bar Road and Mule Town Road are open to traffic, all pull-offs, parking lots and trails located along those roads are closed.
• All other areas of the park remain closed.
• It may be necessary to reclose open areas should rain or other weather events present potential for flooding, mudslides, debris flows, or anything else that would pose a threat to safety.

Whiskeytown is managed as a natural area; there are inherent risks in such areas, and there are increased risks in and near burned areas. Falling trees, burned out stump holes, continued fire, and loose rocks remain significant hazards in burned areas long after a fire is officially out. Visitors should exercise caution while recreating and remain aware of their surroundings. It is because of these hazards that the majority of Whiskeytown remains closed to public use.

On July 23^rd, the Carr Fire started on Hwy. 299 inside Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Suppression response was immediate and aggressive, with unified joint command of the National Park Service and CalFire, with a robust, full-scale initial attack. The fire was fought aggressively utilizing hand and engine crews, bulldozers, and air attack. Despite full suppression tactics, the fire quickly spread north out of the park, and over the next week burned in and around the park, eventually burning 96% of the park, and forcing campground, inholding, local community, and National Park Service staff evacuations.

Please check the park website www.nps.gov/whis or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/whiskeytownnationalrecreationarea/ for the latest information.