Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

06/12/2026

"The only thing grosser than Skyler's diaper is goose p**p."

That's what this ranger's oldest son told him a few years ago, and we agree. The problem specifically is that when beachgoers feed Canada geese, leave litter on the beach, and/or don't properly supervise their picnic lunch, this unnatural food is eaten by geese and processed through them. Where then does this goose excrement go? The very beach and water everyone loves swimming in! This can cause E. coli levels to increase, and an otherwise very clean reservoir can become hazardous to human health. Keep that gross goose p**p away this summer by recreating responsibly; let geese eat their own natural food, clean up all trash including food scraps, and always keep your picnic attended. Thanks for chipping in to protect your favorite national recreation area!

06/11/2026

Beach Bus, Baby, Beach Bus…Folks lining up just to ride the Beach Bus…

Now that we have the Whiskeytown Redding Area Bus Authority version of Love Shack stuck in your mind, we invite you to take the Beach Bus this summer on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays as well as holiday weekends. Avoid the hassle of parking at your favorite beach and sit back and relax with public transportation from downtown Redding or Old Shasta to Brandy Creek Beach, Brandy Creek Marina, Oak Bottom Beach and more. For specific locations and timetable: https://rabaride.com/services/beach_bus.php.

Lastly, thank you to our friends over at RABA for this ongoing community partnership and public bus service. See you aboard!

06/09/2026

Join us Saturday, June 13th at Crystal Creek Water Ditch for Whiskeytown's last trail restoration event of the season! Volunteers will grab a bucket, shovel and gloves to remove overgrown vegetation and sediment. This buildup is blocking the flow of Crystal Creek through this historic ditch, and you can help restore the flow.

The volunteer event will begin at 7:30am at Crystal Creek Water Ditch Trailhead. We will provide all tools, personal protective equipment, and project supervision. Interested? Email [email protected] to register and/or for more information. We hope to see you there!

During the California Gold Rush, the two-mile Crystal Creek Water Ditch stretched to what we know now as Tower House Historic District to provide water for Levi Tower's orchard. Today, a trail runs along the ditch, transporting visitors back in time to reflect on the incredible engineering and land management operations of Whiskeytown's former residents. Our project on Saturday will get us one step closer to restoring the historic Crystal Creek Water Ditch to its full potential.

06/09/2026

Helicopter operations are occurring in the park this afternoon June 9 (in lieu of tomorrow) to support abandoned mine closures in the park. Temporary closures will be in effect for the Mt. Shasta Mine parking lot during flight operations for public safety. Additionally, you may also see PG&E conducting helicopter operations at their transmission line along highway 299 this week.

06/04/2026

Looking for a new way to enjoy the beauty of Whiskeytown? This Sunday, June 7th, join Linda Churchill, Artist-in-Residence, for a morning of guided exploration and personal creativity through the practice of "earth art". Watch as Linda demonstrates the creation of natural mandalas and then design your own. This drop-in program is suitable for all ages. All materials provided and no prior earth art experience is needed. The program runs 10:30am to noon and will start outside the Brandy Creek Beach store.

📷 Two of Linda's temporary creations here at Whiskeytown. Why temporary, you ask? To promote and practice Leave No Trace outdoor recreation principles! Linda scatters all the natural materials back onto the landscape after she creates them.

06/03/2026

These tools would look good in your hands Saturday morning...

For National Trails Day we are seeking volunteers to join us in making our Visitor Center Native Plant Garden trails more accessible and beautiful. Sweat, hard work, tools and training provided. Specific projects will involve widening the entrance path to four feet, laying and tamping out crushed stone and gravel, and lining all paths with cobblestone that will be collected from around the site. Learn about some of the park's unique plant species, get your Saturday morning workout on (so that you can go swimming in the lake thereafter), and give back to your favorite national recreation area. For logistics and to register for this volunteer event, email [email protected] by 3pm Friday.

📷 a lonely wheelbarrow and gloves waiting for you inside our Native Plant Garden.

06/01/2026

Show off your best Whiskeytown adventure! Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is seeking photo entries of the park for a chance to be featured on the 2027 Four Parks Annual Pass, valid at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, and Crater Lake National Park. The photographer will receive photo credit with their name and photo on the pass. Submit up to two photos per person by August 31, 2026, at 5pm. Submitted photos will become property of the park; you will receive name recognition (and bragging rights🙂) if the park uses them on social media or elsewhere. Email your photos to [email protected]. Whether you already have a favorite shot or are planning your next visit, now is the perfect time to capture the beauty of Whiskeytown and share it with park visitors across the region.

📷Alicia McCauley's winning photo that was used on the 2023 Four Parks Pass. Photo shows a lone kayaker on Whiskeytown Lake with partly cloudy white and blue sky above.

05/31/2026

I mean, that sounds like a good hike to us...

At the top of Kanaka Peak and the base of Whiskeytown Falls, did you know that you can write your thoughts in a Reflection Journal? One of you wrote this recently at the top of Kanaka. While Whiskeytown Falls and Kanaka Peak are strenuous hikes with substantial elevation gain, relax once you get there, take in the views, read the journal entries of fellow hikers, then consider writing your own.

For more information on these trails: https://www.nps.gov/whis/planyourvisit/hiking.htm.

05/29/2026

The application period for Biological Science Technicians has been extended until June 2. Please be sure to include proof of local residency within 75 miles of Whiskeytown with your application. Accepted documents for residency include mortgage, property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, or insurance policy.

Want to work at your favorite lake and protect Whiskeytown Reservoir from aquatic invasive species?

The National Park Service is hiring a team of seasonal GS-5 Biological Science Technicians to work with park staff and the public to keep invasive golden mussels out of our local waterbodies.

💲Pay: $19.52 - $25.37 per hour, depending on prior experience.
🚤 What you'll do: monitor waterways, conduct boat inspections, and educate the public about Clean, Drain, Dry initiatives.
✅ Local residency within 75 miles of Whiskeytown is required to qualify for the positions. Approved documents for proof of residency: mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, OR insurance policy.
📆 The application period closes May 26.
👉To learn more and to apply: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/869579700.

Invasive mussels can disrupt the food chain and fishing, foul facilities like docks and ramps, encrust boats and clock engines, and litter beaches with sharp smelly shells. Simply washing boats and equipment and allowing them to drain and fully dry is an effective way to reduce the risk of spreading these aquatic hitchhikers.

For more information about the golden mussel prevention program at Whiskeytown Lake: https://www.nps.gov/whis/learn/nature/nonnatives.htm.

📷Hey Dean, what did you find? Luckily, no golden mussels in that clean lake! A Whiskeytown resource management employee sampling for disgusting mussels.

05/27/2026

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is conducting helicopter operations today May 27, and again on June 10, to support abandoned mine closures within the park. Operations include use of the Mt. Shasta Mine Trailhead parking lot for equipment staging while the helicopter transports materials to the work sites. Temporary closures will be in effect at a portion of the Mt. Shasta Mine parking lot during flight operations for public safety. The Mt. Shasta Mine Loop Trail remains open.