Hiking

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is primarily known for lake-based recreation, but the park also contains dozens of miles of trails for hiking, trail running, mountain biking, and horseback riding. A rugged canyon, waterfalls, historic mining and reclamation features, and post-fire ecology can all be viewed by trail here.

Please be advised that triple digit heat is common between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you plan on getting out on trails during this time, hike in the early morning. No matter what time of year you hike, always bring and drink lots of water.

And finally, please note that due to post-Carr Fire environmental hazards and safety concerns, most backcountry trails in the park remain closed. Backpacking (backcountry camping) is not authorized at this time.

Easy Hikes

Trail Name	Distance (one way)	Status	Trail Highlights
Buck Hollow	1 mile	Open	Ranger's Pick! This is Condor Sequoia's favorite trail in the park. He likes the topography and seeing the prescribe-burned landscape. Because a prescribed burn was conducted in this area before the Carr Fire, some pre-Carr Fire vegetation remains. Trail accessible via Mule Town road (high clearance recommended).
Camden Water Ditch		Open	Mostly level trail in the Tower House Historic District. Learn more about Levi Tower and Charles Camden
Crystal Creek Falls	0.3 mile	Open	Short, flat, paved trail to Crystal Creek Falls cascade. In summer, the natural, shaded pool at the base of the cascade is a popular spot for wading and swimming.
Crystal Creek Water Ditch	1 mile	Open	Mostly level trail paralleling historic water ditch constructed by Charles Camden. Look for historic features along the trail! Trail open to hiking only; no bicycles or horses.
Guardian Rock Vista	0.25 miles	Open	Trailhead located at Horse Camp on Paige Bar Road. Paved, mostly level trail to Guardian Rock Vista; view of rugged Clear Creek Canyon from the vista.
Oak Bottom Water Ditch	2.75 miles	Open	Mostly level trail paralleling the northwestern shore of Whiskeytown Lake. Some good birding and fishing opportunities on quiet coves. Trail mostly travels on top of a historic water ditch dating from the California Gold Rush era. Partial shade along trail.
Shasta Divide Nature Trail	0.4 mile loop	Open	Trail accessed from end of Visitor Center parking lot. Short loop trail leads down to the lake through dense woodland; this is some of the only area of the park that did not burn during the Carr Fire. Hiking only; no bicycles or horses.

Moderate Hikes

Trail Name	Distance (one way)	Status	Notes
Boulder Creek (via South Shore Drive)		Closed
Boulder Creek (via Mill Creek Road)		Closed
Brandy Creek Falls		Closed
Brandy Creek		Closed
Clear Creek Canal	4.5 miles	Open	Partially shaded, mostly flat trail paralleling historic water ditch dating from the California Gold Rush era; look for old mining features including the foundation of a large stamp mill. Access from Mount Shasta Mine Loop Trailhead. Popular trail for mountain biking and horseback riding; trail connects with Swasey Recreation Area trails.
Clear Creek Vista		Closed
Davis Gulch	3.3 miles	Open	Abundant wildflowers in late winter and spring and lots of shade. Trail can be accessed from Kennedy Memorial Drive just past Whiskeytown Dam or from Brandy Creek Beach parking lot. Trail parallels the southeast shore of Whiskeytown Lake.
Guardian Rock	1 mile	Open	Ranger's Pick! This is park ranger Bartholomew Mombasa's favorite hike in the park. He loves the solitude, the ruggedness of the land, and the sound of "mountain water" along the trail. First 0.25 miles is easy and paved to the overlook. After the overlook, the trail becomes narrow and rocky and drops down to Guardian Rock gravel bar on Clear Creek (the term "Guardian Rock" refers to a rock that looks like a face on the gravel bar). Trail can be accessed from Horse Camp or the Whiskeytown Environmental School road bridge. Make it a 1.5 mile loop by walking the Paige Bar Road. At northern end of the trail, gravel has been "injected" into the creek to restore salmon habitat.
Logging Camp		Closed
Mount Shasta Mine Loop	3 mile loop	Open	Loop trail that travels through historic mining area active from the 1850s to 1930s. Look for evidence of past mining activity including horizontal and vertical mine shafts, building foundations, and tailing piles. Trail popular with mountain bikers and horseback riders. Trailhead located on Paige Bar Road about one-mile below Whiskeytown Dam.
Peltier		Closed
Princess Ditch	1.9 miles	Open	Trail follows former water ditch and connects to Swasey Recreation Area trails. Accessed via Mule Town Road (high clearance required). Trail is popular with mountain bikers and horseback riders.
Rich Gulch Trail		Closed
Salt Gulch Trail		Closed

Difficult Hikes

Trail Name	Distance (one way)	Status	Notes
James K. Carr Trail to Whiskeytown Falls	1.7 miles	Open	Ranger's Pick! This is park ranger Aspen Cloud's favorite trail. She likes the challenge of the steep sections and the waterfall reward at the end. At 220 feet, Whiskeytown Falls is the longest cascade in the park. At base of waterfall, be sure and walk up the rock staircase to the upper viewing platform. The trail is steep in spots and mostly follows old logging roads. There is lots of shade along the trail. The Carr Fire only lightly affected the area. The last 1/4 mile of trail is in a box canyon with a microclimate colder than the surrounding.
Kanaka Cut Off		Closed
Kanaka Peak		Closed
Mill Creek (from James K. Carr Trail)		Closed
Mill Creek (from Tower House Historic District)		Closed
Papoose Pass		Closed