Dry Creek Group Campground (Whiskeytown Nra), Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Recreation.gov (2024)

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

This tent-only group campground is located on the southern shore of Whiskeytown Lake in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 14 miles west of Redding, California and three hours north of Sacramento. The cool, clear waters of Whiskeytown Lake provide endless water activities. The picturesque mountain setting and extensive forested backcountry offer ample opportunities for hiking and biking.

There are two spacious tent-only sites available at Dry Creek. Each site contains two large serving tables, numerous picnic tables, small and large charcoal barbecue grills, a cleared fire pit area, bear-proof storage lockers, vault toilets and drinking water.

Need to Know

  • Gate to area is closed and locked. It will need to be opened by the reservation party so pay attention to the combo code sent with this reservation. If you have issues with the gate please call the Whiskyetown Visitor Center at 530-246-1225.

  • Download your proof of payment for your campsite from recreation.gov onto your phone or other device. You must be able to show this to a park ranger if requested.

  • Whiskeytown is a National Park Service site and charges an entrance fee for each vehicle. If you already have a valid Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, or Whiskeytown Annual pass, please display this pass in a hangtag or place it on the dashboard of your vehicle. Annual passes from Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lava Beds National Monument are also valid here at Whiskeytown. Entrance passes can be purchased at the Whiskeytown Visitor Center or online at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74295.

  • Tent camping only. Self-contained units may use nearby Brandy Creek RV campground for an additional fee. Check the park website or stop in at the visitor center for a complete list of all regulations. Vehicles with tents attached such as on rooftop or side for use can only be parked and slept in in the parking lot . . . the vehicle cannot be parked in the campsite area for overnight or camping use but only for loading and unloading.

  • Check-in is 1:00 pm and check-out is 12 pm (noon).
  • Vehicles are prohibited in the tent area except to load or unload equipment.All vehicles must be parked in the gravel parking lot. Sleeping in vehicles is not allowed. Overnight RV camping is not allowed at Dry Creek campground.

  • Black bears frequent the area: All food, beverage containers, toiletries, cooking and eating utensils must be stored inside a bear-proof storage locker or out of sight in your vehicle unless they are in immediate use.

  • Generators are not allowed
  • Portable showers are prohibited. Cold outdoor showers are available at Brandy Creek Beach.

  • Protect our natural resources. Gather only dead and down wood for firewood. Do not put nails in trees or damage or remove vegetation. Campfires must be attended at all times and completely extinguished (using water and dirt) when going to bed or leaving the campsite.

  • Pets must be kept in a crate or on a leash no more than 6 feet in length at all times.Pets may not be left unattended.

  • Warning: Sudden storm activity could lead to the evacuation and closure of the area on short notice in order to protect life and property. Due to the effects of the 2018 Carr Fire, the area may be prone to debris flows, landslides or flooding.

  • Please be advised that because the Carr Fire of 2018 burned extensively through the park, post-fire hazards such as falling trees and branches remain. Stay alert while camping in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

  • Click here for more information about Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
  • Camping is limited to an aggregate of 14 days between April 1 and October 31 (inclusive) and no more than 30 days per person per calendar year.

Natural Features

Dry Creek Group Campground affords beautiful lake-side views and a canopy of conifer, oak and maple trees, which offer pleasant shade for campers. Whiskeytown Lake is located where the Klamath Mountains, Cascade and Coast Mountain Ranges, and the Sacramento Valley meet, creating a wide variety of wildlife and landscapes.

Nearby Attractions

Brandy Creek Beach is located one mile from the campground and features sandy beaches and a large swimming area. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, there are showers, a store with food and supplies and rentals of paddleboards and kayaks. The trailhead for Brandy Creek Falls is located four miles away.

Recreation

During the summer heat, swimming, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and water skiing are popular on the 3,200 acre lake. Year round, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, fishing and picknicking attract visitors. Boats may be launched at nearby Brandy Creek Marina and moored at the campground.

Contact Information

Default

PO Box 188 Whiskeytown CA 96095188

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 530-242-3412

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Interstate 5 in Redding, CA, take State Route 299 west and drive approximately 10 miles. Turn left onto Kennedy Memorial Drive at the Whiskeytown visitor center. Continue 5.6 miles on Kennedy Memorial Drive until the road ends at the access to Dry Creek Group Campground.

Available Campsites

  • Site G02, Loop Sites 1-2, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
  • Site G01, Loop Sites 1-2, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric

Photo Gallery

  • Dry Creek Group Campground (Whiskeytown Nra), Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Recreation.gov (1)
  • Dry Creek Group Campground (Whiskeytown Nra), Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Recreation.gov (2)
  • Dry Creek Group Campground (Whiskeytown Nra), Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Recreation.gov (3)
  • Dry Creek Group Campground (Whiskeytown Nra), Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Recreation.gov (4)
  • Dry Creek Group Campground (Whiskeytown Nra), Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Recreation.gov (5)

Camp, RV, and Explore Outdoors

Login

Sign Up

Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. We provide tools and tips to discover new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, and reservations. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Recreation.gov!

Get to Know Us

  • About Us
  • Accessibility
  • Media Center
  • Site Map

Plan with Us

  • Find Trip Inspiration
  • Build a Trip
  • Buy a Pass
  • Enter a Lottery
  • Checkout our Mobile App
  • Rent Gear

Join Us

  • Get Involved
  • Use Our Data
  • Add Your Facility

Let Us Help You

  • Contact Us
  • Help Center
  • Submit Feedback
  • Responsible Disclosure
Dry Creek Group Campground (Whiskeytown Nra), Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Recreation.gov (2024)

FAQs

Can you have alcohol at Whiskeytown Lake? ›

Leashed dogs (pets), alcohol and horse use are permitted in some areas of the park. Please look for signs and follow all rules. Follow the link above for more specific information. Enjoy your visit, stop by or call the Visitor Center for more information, (530) 246-1225.

Do you have to pay for Whiskeytown Lake? ›

Reservations are not required to enter Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, but are required for camping. You can pay the park entrance fee upon arrival at the visitor center (open year-round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day), or online through Recreation.gov.

Is Whiskeytown open? ›

The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. An entrance pass is required to recreate at Whiskeytown. Passes are available at the Visitor Center or online at Recreation.gov.

Can you spend night on Whiskeytown Lake? ›

You may stay a total of 14 days from May 15 through September 15 or a total of 30 days during the entire calendar year. Portable showers are not allowed. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, free cold showers or hot showers for a small fee are available at Oak Bottom Beach. Generators are not allowed.

Can you fish at Whiskeytown? ›

Fishing is allowed year- round in the lake, however, the streams feeding Whiskeytown are only available for fishing from the last Saturday in April through November 15.

Does Whiskeytown allow dogs? ›

Leashed dogs are allowed on Whiskeytown trails. Dogs are not allowed at four designated swimming beaches. See the park's website for current admission and annual pass fees.

Can you swim in Whiskeytown Lake? ›

Whiskeytown Lake is a fantastic location to enjoy a refreshing swim on a hot day. This lake has about 37 miles of shoreline. During the summer months surface water temperatures can reach nearly 80°F. There are three main swim beaches with amenities, Brandy Creek Beach, Oak Bottom Beach and East Beach.

Why is Whiskeytown Lake so low? ›

Whiskeytown lake is drawn down by approximately 10 feet in the winter as a flood protection measure. Keeping the lake full provides excellent year round recreational opportunities and forms the heart of the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

Why is there a hole in Whiskeytown Lake? ›

The Glory Hole is an overflow drain designed to keep the lake level from rising so high that it spills over the top of the nearby dam. Water going through the Glory Hole is routed under the Clair A.

What town is under Whiskeytown Lake? ›

Whiskeytown was an unincorporated community in Shasta County, California, United States. Although once a bustling mining town, it was flooded to make way for Whiskeytown Lake in 1962, now part of Whiskeytown–Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area.

How does Whiskeytown Lake get its water? ›

Why is Whiskeytown Lake Usually Clean and Clear? Whiskeytown Lake has two separate sources of water: 1) Clear Creek and its tributaries and 2) during the summer, Clear Creek Tunnel, a manmade tunnel that connects Whiskeytown Lake with the Trinity River watershed at Lewiston Lake.

Can you drink on Whiskeytown Lake? ›

Alcohol is not permitted at Brandy Creek Beach, Oak Bottom Beach, East Beach, and the Whiskey Creek Group Day Use Area Beach. Elsewhere in the park, such as along the shoreline or in your campsite, please drink responsibly and never drink and drive or drink and boat.

How clean is Whiskeytown Lake? ›

The National Park Service (Park Service) addressed those sources of contamination by implementing a range of management practices that have improved water quality. As a result, California removed Whiskeytown Lake from its list of impaired waters in 2010. Figure 1. Whiskeytown Lake's Brandy Creek swimming beach.

Why is Brandy Creek closed? ›

Brandy Creek Falls is currently closed due to trails that are inaccessible and dangerous. They are currently working on restoring the lower Brandy Creek Trail, but it will be sometime before the trails above Sheep Camp are restored.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6409

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.