Alerts & Conditions

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Recreate Responsibly (COVID-19)

Consistent with CDC guidance regarding areas of substantial or high transmission, visitors to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask inside all park buildings. People visiting Whiskeytown who are not fully vaccinated (less than 2 weeks past your final dose) must also continue to wear masks in crowded outdoor spaces. All people, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask on all forms of public transportation and in healthcare settings on DOI lands.

Please keep your distance. Follow the CDC's physical distancing guidelines and stay at least six feet between yourself and people who don't live in your household.

 

What's Open? What's Closed? (Carr Fire)

Closed:

• Some trails, primitive campgrounds, and primitive roadways remain closed due to the Carr Fire. This fire burned 97% of the park and over 100 structures within Whiskeytown in 2018. It was the most destructive fire in the history of the National Park System. A map of the currently closed areas can be seen at the bottom of this page.

Open:

• The restrooms outside the Visitor Center are open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
• As of September 13, 2021, the Visitor Center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm and Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 am to 2 pm. The Visitor Center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Whenever you visit the park, please be advised that weekly or annual entrance passes are required. Passes are available at the Visitor Center, at the Oak Bottom Campground Store (open daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm daily), or online at Recreation.gov.
• Many Trails are currently open.
• Most Roads and Boat Launches are open (see below).

• Most Campgrounds are open. All campground reservations and payment of fees must be done online at Recreation.gov. The Visitor Center no longer handles payment of camping fees.
• Most Picnic Areas and Beaches are open.

 

Current Status of Park Roads & Boat Launches (Carr Fire)
Please be advised that facilities, roads, and trails in the park are occasionally subject to closure on short notice due to special events, maintenance, weather conditions, or fires. A map of the national recreation area showing current Carr Fire closures can be found below the table.

Road	Status	Details
Highway 299	Open	The highway is suitable for any type of passenger vehicle, motorcycle, and trailers. Please be alert while driving on the highway and be prepared for turning and slow-moving vehicles.
South Fork Mountain Road	Closed	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 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 open to the boat launch and picnic area. The road is closed at the bridge over Whiskey Creek for public safety due to post-Carr Fire environmental and safety hazards.
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)	This narrow, winding road is open to vehicles as far as the trailhead parking area for Whiskeytown Falls. Crystal Creek Road may be closed during winter storms. The unpaved section of roadway between the James K. Carr Trailhead and Coggins Park is open for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Please beware of post-fire hazards.
South Shore Drive	Open (Subject to winter weather closures)	This scenic, six-mile stretch of unpaved road is steep and narrow in places. Drive with caution and drive slow. South Shore Drive may be closed during winter storms.
Brandy Creek Road	Closed	Closed until further notice for public safety due to post-Carr Fire environmental and safety hazards.
Mill Creek Road	Closed	Closed at Carr Powerhouse until further notice for public safety due to post-Carr Fire environmental and safety hazards.
Shasta Bally Road	Closed	Closed until further notice for public safety due to post Carr Fire environmental and safety hazards.
Peltier Valley Road	Partially Open	Open as far as Peltier Bridge Campground only until further notice for public safety due to post-Carr Fire environmental and safety hazards.
Mule Town Road	Open	Only four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for this narrow, winding, unpaved dirt 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	Open	Open (subject to seasonal closure in the winter due to low water level).

 

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