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Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 234 Google reviews · Running trail in Whiskeytown, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Whiskeytown National Recreation Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Whiskeytown Lake is the main draw at this sprawling forested park with camping, hiking & fishing.
What runners say about Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
“It’s well kept, the rangers/volunteers are very nice and there is so much to do including affordable adventures.”
“Such a great Park, went out there to see the severity of the Carr fire from last summer, and it definitely is not the same but still very beautiful.”
We drove up from the bay area to check out Lake Shasta, but Whiskeytown Lake stole the show! It's such a beautiful area! Even after the fires, there's still a beauty to it.
During my recent visit to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, I was truly impressed by the beauty. I recommend starting at the Visitor Center where the knowledgeable staff provide excellent explanations and help you get a map of the area.
Really nice place and the visitor center is easy to get to. Great hikes along the lake and we even saw some bears, so worth having a bear bell and spray if you are going hiking around here.
This was a great place to visit. I went on the Shasta Divide Trail at the Visitor center, the Tower House Historical Area and the Whiskeytown Falls Trail. All of the areas were interesting and scenic.
Trail conditions & character
“Such a great Park, went out there to see the severity of the Carr fire from last summer, and it definitely is not the same but still very beautiful.”
“Attached to the visitor center with outside openings, there are also bathrooms here if you need.”
“The two waterfall hikes that are currently open are gorgeous (one is steep and strenuous, the other is wheelchair accessible and about 10 minutes along a paved, flat road)!”
“The two waterfall hikes that are currently open are gorgeous (one is steep and strenuous, the other is wheelchair accessible and about 10 minutes along a paved, flat road)!”
Plan your run at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone+1 530-242-3400
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Friday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–5 pm |
| Sunday | 9 am–5 pm |
Running trails near Whiskeytown
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Keswick Dam Trailhead Sac River Rail Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 68 reviews
Flat and easy-to-moderate trail, popular with hikers and mountain bikers, featuring river views.
Swasey Recreational Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 117 reviews
Park with numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding.
Harlan Trail Head
4.9 ★★★★★ 48 reviews
Wide, paved trail for runners, cyclists and hikers, with views of the Sacramento River.
Eastside Keswick Trails - Hornbeck Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 58 reviews
Well-maintained trail network for bike riding and hiking with views of Keswick Lake.