Alerts & Conditions

Temporary Suspension of Indoor Services at the Visitor Center Due to COVID-19

The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, the park Visitor Center is temporarily closed. Weekly or annual entrance passes, are available at Oak Bottom Campground Store, (current operating hours) or can be purchased online at Recreation.gov.

Some of our Visitor Center Bookstore products can be still be purchased during this temporary closure at Western National Parks Association Whiskeytown NRA Online Store.

 

Carr Fire Closure Map

NPS

Some Areas of the Park Remain Closed Due to Hazardous Conditions From the Carr Fire

While much of the park has been reopened, the top and face of Shasta Bally remains closed. This highest mountain in the park has highly erosive soil, and with the trees burned and no longer holding soil underneath in place, the threat of debris flows are real. Debris flows can be fast and dangerous. They occur when large quantities of soil loosens due to rainfall. To protect visitors and staff, the majority of roads and trails on Shasta Bally and its north and west face remain closed.

 

Phased Reopening

The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Based on guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, access to the park is as follows:

Open:
The restrooms at the Visitors Center are open seven days a week from 9am to 9pm.

Many trails are currently open (Follow the link for the most current information)

Most Roads and Boat launches are open (Follow the link for the most current information)

Most campgrounds are open (Follow the link for the most current information)

• Beginning July 1, 2020 Peltier Bridge, Horse Camp and Brandy Creek RV Campgrounds will reopen at 50% capacity.
• All campground reservations and payment of fees must be done online at Recreation.gov. The Visitors Center no longer handles payment of camping fees.

Most Picnic Areas and beaches are open (Follow the link for the most current information)

When recreating, please follow State and local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, and remember to recreate responsibly by keeping social distance, wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained, avoiding high risk activities, and staying home if you feel sick.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

Roads & Boat Launches
Facilities, roads, and trails in the park are occasionally subject to closure due to special events, maintenance, weather conditions, or fires.

Due to the Carr Fire of 2018, some areas remain closed to protect visitors and park staff. See below for updates on current conditions.
Updated: 11.19.20

Road	Status	Details
Highway 299	Open	The highway is suitable for any type of passenger vehicle, motorcycle, and trailers.
South Fork Mountain Road	Open for the 2020 Hunting Season	Open for hunting access, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The gate is open during hunting season, from the third Saturday in August to the fourth Sunday in December. It is closed and locked the rest of the year.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive	Open (Subject to winter weather related closures)	The road is suitable for any type of passenger vehicle, motorcycle, and trailers. Kennedy Memorial Drive may be closed at the dam during winter storms.
Whiskey Creek Road	Partially Open	The road is suitable for any type of passenger vehicle, motorcycle, and trailers. The road is open to the Marina area, but closed at the bridge over Whiskey Creek.
Paige Bar Road	Open	The road is suitable for any type of passenger vehicle, motorcycle, and trailers.
Crystal Creek Road	Open to the James K. Carr Trailhead (Subject to winter weather closures)	The road is suitable for any type of passenger vehicle, motorcycle, and trailers and is open as far as the parking area for Whiskeytown Falls. Crystal Creek Road may be closed during winter storms.
South Shore Drive	Open	This ten-mile stretch of unpaved road gains 1,594 feet in elevation, and is steep and narrow in places. Drive with caution, obey posted speed limits, and adjust speed according to conditions.
Brandy Creek Road	Closed	Closed until further notice for public safety due to the Carr Fire.
Mill Creek Road	Closed	Closed at Carr Powerhouse until further notice for public safety due to the Carr Fire.
Shasta Bally Road	Closed	Closed until further notice for public safety due to the Carr Fire.
Peltier Valley Road	Closed	Open as far as Peltier Bridge Campground ONLY until further notice for public safety due to the Carr Fire.
Mule Town Road	Open	Only four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for this unpaved dirt road. This is a county- maintained road.
Brandy Creek Boat Launch	Open	Access to this area is subject to weather related closures. Kennedy Memorial Drive may be closed at the dam during winter storms.
Whiskey Creek Boat Launch	Open	Open year round
Oak Bottom Boat Launch	Closed	Open (subject to seasonal closure in the winter due to low water level)

 

Clear Creek from the Guardian Rock Vista Point

NPS

Use Extra Caution if You Plan to Enter Clear Creek Below the Dam

Planning on fishing or hiking Clear Creek below Whiskeytown Dam over the course of the next several weeks? Please be advised that our partners over at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will be increasing the water flow on several specific dates and times (listed below) to restore habitat and attract spring-run Chinook salmon.
Spring-run Chinook historically used parts of the stream that weren't available to the other races of Chinook salmon. Spring-run are unique in that they enter fresh water during the spring and migrate towards their natal stream but then spend the summer in deep, cold pools rather than immediately spawning as the other races of Chinook do. After spending the summer in cold, deep pools, they swim upstream during the first fall rains to areas unavailable to other salmon. They are generally smaller and more able to migrate past waterfalls and other fish barriers. While the Spring-run Chinook are limited to spawning below Whiskeytown Dam, a multi agency team determines when they've passed and installs a fish weir or barrier to keep other races of Chinook from interbreeding with them.

Date_____ Time From To (cfs)

5/08/2020 15:00 200 400
5/08/2020 16:00 400 600
5/08/2020 17:00 600 800
5/10/2020 19:00 800 785
5/10/2020 20:00 785 770
5/10/2020 21:00 770 755
5/10/2020 22:00 755 740
5/10/2020 23:00 740 725
5/11/2020 00:01 725 710
5/11/2020 01:00 710 695
5/11/2020 02:00 695 680
5/11/2020 03:00 680 665
5/11/2020 04:00 665 650
5/11/2020 05:00 650 635
5/11/2020 06:00 635 620
5/11/2020 07:00 620 605
5/11/2020 08:00 605 590
5/11/2020 09:00 590 575
5/11/2020 10:00 575 560
5/11/2020 11:00 560 545
5/11/2020 12:00 545 530
5/11/2020 13:00 530 515
5/11/2020 14:00 515 500
5/11/2020 15:00 500 485
5/11/2020 16:00 485 470
5/11/2020 17:00 470 455
5/11/2020 18:00 455 440
5/11/2020 20:00 440 425
5/11/2020 22:00 425 410
5/12/2020 00:01 410 395
5/12/2020 02:00 395 380
5/12/2020 04:00 380 365
5/12/2020 07:00 365 350
5/12/2020 09:00 350 335
5/12/2020 13:00 335 320
5/12/2020 16:00 320 305
5/12/2020 20:00 305 290
5/13/2020 01:00 290 275
5/13/2020 07:00 275 260
5/13/2020 14:00 260 245
5/14/2020 01:00 245 230
5/14/2020 18:00 230 215
5/17/2020 18:00 215 200
6/01/2020 00:01 200 185
6/01/2020 01:00 185 170
6/01/2020 02:00 170 150
6/19/2020 15:00 150 325
6/19/2020 16:00 325 500
6/21/2020 20:00 500 485
6/21/2020 21:00 485 470
6/21/2020 22:00 470 455
6/21/2020 23:00 455 440
6/22/2020 01:00 440 425
6/22/2020 02:00 425 410
6/22/2020 04:00 410 395
6/22/2020 05:00 395 380
6/22/2020 07:00 380 365
6/22/2020 09:00 365 350
6/22/2020 11:00 350 335
6/22/2020 13:00 335 320
6/22/2020 16:00 320 305
6/22/2020 18:00 305 290
6/22/2020 21:00 290 275
6/23/2020 01:00 275 260
6/23/2020 05:00 260 245
6/23/2020 09:00 245 230
6/23/2020 14:00 230 215
6/23/2020 21:00 215 200
6/24/2020 06:00 200 185
6/24/2020 21:00 185 170
6/26/2020 07:00 170 150