Pets

 

A park ranger with visitors and large white dog on leash in front of Whiskeytown Falls.

Become a Whiskeytown B.A.R.K. Ranger!

Demonstrate to other visitors that you know how to explore the park safely and help protect your public lands! To become an official Whiskeytown National Recreation Area BARK Ranger, stop at the Visitor Center and pick up your Whiskeytown BARK Ranger Activity Book. Once you and your dog complete the activities in the booklet, head back to the Visitor Center and show the park ranger. Your dog will then be given a Whiskeytown B.A.R.K. Ranger tag that your pet can proudly display on their collar!

B.A.R.K. Ranger Guidelines for a Safe and Enjoyable Visit

• Bag Your Pet’s Waste: Help keep Whiskeytown clean by picking up after your pet and disposing of waste in trash receptacles. Pet waste can harm wildlife, pollute the lake, and spread disease. Removing it helps protect the park’s natural beauty and ensures a positive experience for other visitors.

• Always Leash Your Pet: For the safety of your pet, wildlife, and other visitors, pets must always be on a leash no longer than six feet, even if your dog is well-behaved. Leashing your dog prevents accidents such as running into dangerous areas, getting injured by wildlife, or disturbing other visitors. Federal, state, and county laws require leashes in all areas of the park. Unleashed pets also pose risks to wildlife, potentially disrupting habitats or stressing animals.

• Respect Wildlife: Whiskeytown is home to many species of wildlife. Keep your pet on trails and away from animals’ natural habitats. Always stay at least 50 yards from bears and 25 yards from other wildlife. Remember, pet food is also attractive to wildlife, so secure all food when unattended.

• Know Where Pets Are Allowed: While Whiskeytown offers plenty of pet-friendly areas, pets are not allowed in certain places.

  • Allowed Areas: Roads, sidewalks, campgrounds, group campsites, hiking trails, and along most of the lakeshore.
  • Prohibited Areas: Inside public buildings, Brandy Creek Beach, Oak Bottom Beach, East Beach, and the Whiskey Creek Group Picnic Area Swim Beach.

Please note, even pets in carriers, strollers, or backpacks are not allowed in areas where pets are prohibited.

 

BARK Ranger Murphy invites you and your faithful companion to become an official Whiskeytown National Recreation Area BARK Ranger. Scroll down the page for details.

NPS

General Pet Safety and Guidelines For Dogs

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area welcomes you and your furry friends to explore its scenic spots and open spaces together. Whether you're hiking to a waterfall, taking a peaceful lakeside stroll, or enjoying a day at the park, it’s important to be mindful of your surroundings, follow park guidelines, and keep your pet’s safety in mind. By working together, we can ensure that Whiskeytown remains a safe and enjoyable place for all visitors.

Why Your Dog Should Be on a Leash

For Your Dog’s Safety
A leash helps prevent your dog from running into danger, such as getting trapped, injured, or encountering rattlesnakes, ticks, poison oak, or thorny plants. It also reduces the risk of altercations with other dogs and potential injury from wildlife.

For Wildlife Protection
Off-leash dogs can disturb wildlife, scaring animals away from their nests or burrows. A simple dig from a dog can destroy an animal’s home or habitat, disrupting the ecosystem.

For Visitor Comfort and Safety
Some visitors, especially children, may be afraid of dogs—even friendly ones. Keeping your dog on a leash ensures that everyone feels safe and comfortable while enjoying the park.

It’s the Law
Federal, state, and county laws require that dogs be kept on a leash no longer than six feet, including retractable leashes. This regulation helps preserve the park’s natural environment and ensures the safety of both visitors and wildlife.
Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 2.015(a)(2)

Where Pets Are Not Allowed

While Whiskeytown welcomes pets in many areas, there are restrictions to protect both wildlife and visitors:

• Pets are not allowed inside the Visitor Center, Camden House, or on designated swim beaches, adjacent picnic areas, and within swim buoys at Oak Bottom, Brandy Creek, and East Beach.
• Pets are also prohibited at the Whiskey Creek Group Picnic Area, beach, and within the lake’s swim buoys.

Please note that even pets carried in arms, carriers, or strollers are not permitted in these restricted areas.

Pet Safety Tips

• Avoid Dangerous Areas: Do not let your pet swim or wade in the closed water zone around the Judge Francis Carr Powerhouse. The hydroelectric operation creates a strong current and undertow that is dangerous for both pets and humans.
• Never Leave Pets in Vehicles: On hot days, temperatures inside vehicles can rise rapidly, even when it's cooler outside. When the air temperature is 80°F (27°C), a vehicle’s interior can reach over 94°F (34°C) in just two minutes. In Whiskeytown's summer heat, it can get much hotter, which can be fatal for pets.
• Protect Your Pet’s Paws: Hot pavement and other surfaces can burn your pet's paws. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot for paws. Walk your dog during cooler parts of the day to avoid injury.
• Bring Extra Water and Food: Just like you, your pet will need water and food during your visit. Always carry extra supplies, and ask a park ranger if you need help locating drinking water.

Service Animals

Service dogs, individually trained to assist a person with a disability, are legally permitted in any area that visitors can access. However, emotional support, therapy, and companion animals—as well as service animals in training—are notclassified as service animals and must abide by all pet regulations.