Beginning on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020, Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans receive free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks, wildlife refuges and forests. The free access program is a way to thank America’s veterans and Gold Star families for their support of our country and to encourage them to explore recreational opportunities on their public lands and waters. For more information on the program and how to obtain free entrance, please visit Free Entrance to National Parks for Veterans and Gold Star Families.
Whiskeytown Entrance Fees
All park visitors are required to possess an entrance pass (a physical pass or a digital pass) at all times of the year and all times of the day or night.
Effective December 1, 2019 the Whiskeytown visitors center will only accept credit or debit cards for all sales that take place on the NPS registers at the Whiskeytown visitor center.
We recognize that certain visitors will not be able to pay with a credit /debit card, and for those, we have an agreement in place with the Western National Parks Association (WNPA), which has a register at the visitors center, allowing them to accept cash for Whiskeytown Seven Day ($15 to $25) and 2020.
Whiskeytown/Lassen Volcanic Annual Passes ($55) as well as the America the Beautiful Federal Lands and Recreation Annual Pass ($80). The stores at Oak Bottom and Brandy Creek Beach will accept cash as well as credit and debit for pass sales.
Please call the fee program office at (530) 242-3412 if you have any questions about entrance passes.
Entrance Pass Types
Seven Day Passes
Seven day passes are valid only at Whiskeytown NRA. They may be upgraded to annual passes while valid (within 7 days).
$25 Vehicle
$20 Motorcycle
$15 Pedestrian (walk-in, bicycle or public transportation)
Click the image to buy your pass online!
Recreation.gov
Purchase Your Entrance Pass Online
You can now purchase a Whiskeytown Weekly or Whiskeytown/Lassen Annual Pass at home from your computer or smart device or on-the-go with your smart phone.
Cost $55 (U.S. Dollars)
Valid at both Whiskeytown NRA and Lassen Volcanic NP for twelve months from the date of purchase, for unlimited visits to both parks. It admits the purchaser and any accompanying persons in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle, or the purchaser and accompanying immediate family (spouse, children, parents) when entry is by other means (bus, bicycle, and foot).
This pass covers entrance fees only and is not refundable and/or transferable.
2021 America the Beautiful Annual Pass
NPS
America the Beautiful- 2021 Annual Pass
Cost $80 (U.S. Dollars)
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
This pass, available to the general public, provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity Fee - for a year - beginning from the date of sale. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). The pass can only be obtained in person at the visitors center, or by calling 1-888-ASK USGS, Ext. 1, or via Internet at https://store.usgs.gov/pass
America the Beautiful - 2021 Annual Senior Pass
NPS
America the Beautiful - 2021 Annual Senior Pass
$20 (U.S. Dollars)
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
This is a annual pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. The pass provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity.
The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). The pass can only be obtained in person at the visitors center.
The Senior Pass provides a 50 percent discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services. In some cases where Expanded Amenity Fees are charged, only the pass holder will be given the 50 percent price reduction. The pass is non-transferable and generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.
America the Beautiful - 2021 Annual Pass for Active Duty Military, Veterans and Gold Star Families
Free
For active duty military personnel and dependents with proper identification (CAC Card or DD Form 1173), Veterans with proper identification (Department of Defense Identification Card, Veteran Health Identification Card, Veteran ID Card or Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card) and Gold Star Families.
The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free). The pass can only be obtained in person at the visitors center.
Online at recreation.gov (local annual and seven day passes ONLY at this link)
Interagency passes such as the Senior, Access, Annual, Military and Fourth Grade are NOT available here.
Purchase a digital pass on recreation.gov – fast and simple! No waiting in line at a store when you would rather be spending time at the beach or on a trail.
Your digital pass is valid for one owner and one vehicle only. Park rangers verify the digital pass by entering the license plate number of your vehicle into a smart phone app or website.
Stores operated by our concessionaire (local annual and seven day passes ONLY at these locations)
Interagency passes such as the Senior, Access, Annual, Military and Fourth Grade are NOT available here.
Locations: Oak Bottom Campground, Oak Bottom Marina, Oak Bottom Beach and Brandy Creek Beach.
Click on this link to check on the open days and hours for these stores.
Whiskeytown Visitor Center
All pass types are available here: local annual and seven day; Interagency Senior, Access, Annual, Military and Fourth Grade; gold panning permits.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area joins national parks across the nation in waiving the entrance fees on 6 days in 2021. The following dates are entrance fee free:
Monday, January 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Saturday, April 16 First Day of National Park Week
Thursday, August 4 Commemoration of the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 24 National Public Lands Day
Friday, November 11 Veterans Day
* All other expanded amenity fees such as camping, etc. still apply.
Groups from bona fide educational institutions are eligible for an entrance fee waiver if they are coming to study park resources. Requests should be sent at least 2 weeks in advance of visit using the form below.
