Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

10/30/2026

The Whiskeytown Visitor Center will transition to Winter Hours on Sunday, November 1st. Open hours will be 8:30am-4pm Wednesday through Sunday.

The quieter, colder winter months in the national recreation area offers great outdoor recreation for those that are prepared. Be sure and make the "VC" your first stop. Inside you can obtain information and brochures about the park, peruse the bookstore, and select which entrance pass is right for you. Outside, you can read exhibits spotlighting significant stories of the national recreation area, enjoy the view, use the restroom, and fill your water bottles.

10/28/2026

Apply to be a Seasonal at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area for Summer 2027...

Are you ready to spend your season protecting a stunning landscape? We are hiring various seasonal positions now through November 2nd.

Whether you thrive on conducting research in the park, ensuring community and park safety, or hopping on heavy machinery, we have a vital role for you in our park.

📅 Apply Today!
Don't miss your chance to live, work, and play in interior Northern California's national recreation area.

👉 How to apply: Visit USAJOBS.gov and search for "Whiskeytown National Recreation Area" to submit your application. In the application, be sure and click the box for "Whiskeytown, California." Positions are open until their close date listed, or their application cap has been reached, which may be earlier than the closing date.

Natural Resources:

Biologist (Seasonal): Closes 11/03/2026, or when 100 applications are received
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/890533900

Maintenance:

Facilities Services Assistant: Closes 11/02/2026
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/888757500

Maintenance Worker (Wage Grade 4/5): Closes 11/02/2026, or when 700 applications are received.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/889194500

Maintenance Worker (Wage Grade 7/8): Closes 11/02/2026, or when 500 applications are received.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/889021300

Visitor Center:

Recreation Fee Clerk and Technician: Closes 10/21/2026, or when 1000 applications are received.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/888907800

Photos: Various park rangers at work and their office, NPS Photos/Kurt and Edwige Moses

10/21/2026

Coggins Park Prescribed Burn Scheduled for Wednesday, October 21st

Firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, in coordination with Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and other local agencies, will start the Coggins Prescribed Burn on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, dependent on favorable weather and air quality conditions. Ignitions are scheduled to take one day followed by patrol and on scene monitoring.

The project area borders Trinity County and is situated inside the western edge of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, specifically between County Line Road on the west and Crystal Creek Road on the east. Activity will occur in strategically sized units to limit smoke production; provide safer conditions for firefighters; and create a mosaic of habitats supporting long-term ecological health of the area.

A small section of County Line Road and Crystal Creek Road in the Coggins Park area – roughly a quarter mile in length – will have restricted access for a few days. Coggins Park itself will be closed for seven days. However, it may be opened earlier depending on fire activity.

This prescribed burn is part of ongoing efforts to reduce hazardous vegetation buildup to improve forest health and enhance ecological resilience within the Upper Crystal Creek watershed. By proactively reducing this buildup, local communities are better prepared for the potential risk of wildfire. These areas last had prescribed burns in the 1990s and 2000s and were burned by the 2018 Carr Fire, making fuel management especially important.

Due to the location of this prescribed burn and the topography of the area, smoke may be visible from Redding, French Gulch, Hayfork, and communities along Highway 299 and County Line Road. For air quality related to smoke, visit fire.airnow.gov for current conditions.

📷 Two photos from the Coggins Prescribed burn of March 2026 showing what smoke and conditions are expected to look like. One image of a Whiskeytown National Recreation Area map showing the specific location of the prescribed burn. NPS Photos/Adam Zaharris.

10/19/2026

Apply to be a Park Ranger at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area for Summer 2027...

Are you ready to spend your season protecting a stunning landscape and sharing its multiple stories? We are hiring for seasonal Interpretive Park Rangers and General Park Rangers now through October 26.

Whether you thrive on teaching the public or ensuring community safety, we have a vital role for you in our park.

🚣 GS-0025-05 Interpretive Park Ranger

Help visitors build lifelong connections to Whiskeytown’s rich nature, history and scenery.
* Lead kayak tours across pristine waters.
* Conduct pop-up programs and interactive demonstrations for all ages.
* Represent the park at engaging community events and outreach initiatives.

🥾 GS-0025-05 General Park Ranger
Step up as a primary guardian of the park, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
* Patrol park grounds, trails, and shorelines daily.
* Respond to emergency incidents and critical situations across the park.
* Educate the public on park regulations and safety guidelines.

📅 Apply Today!

Don't miss your chance to live, work, and play in interior Northern California's national recreation area.

👉 How to apply: Visit USAJOBS.gov and search for "Whiskeytown National Recreation Area" to submit your application. In the application, be sure and click the box for "Whiskeytown, California." Positions are open until October 26.

Expected season run April through September.

Starting salary $19.53 per hour.

📷 Interpretive park rangers at work in your favorite national recreation area.

10/12/2026

Whiskeytown Lake Transitioning to Winter Pool...

As is normal this time of year, our reservoir partners over at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will begin lowering the water level of Whiskeytown Lake this week.

This October drawdown will bring the lake to its Winter Pool level (November to April), which is roughly 10 feet lower than Full Pool (May to October).

While Winter Pool allows the Bureau of Reclamation to safely manage increased flows from winter storms, it also brings new hazards for lake and shoreline users.

Please be careful out there with the changing conditions and note that much of Whiskeytown Lake's winter shoreline is rockier and rougher than what you experience in summer.

📷 Aerial photograph of Whiskeytown Dam, Whiskeytown Lake, and Lower Clear Creek. The earth-fill embankment dam is 282 feet tall with a total crest length of 4,000 feet.

10/08/2026

You right now: "With this heat wave coming to an end on Saturday, I'm dreaming of hitting Whiskeytown's trails."

Us: "We got you."

Whether hiking, mountain biking, trail running, or horseback riding, what questions do you have about our trail system?

Information on hiking at Whiskeytown: https://tinyurl.com/4wje2d8c.

Information on mountain biking at Whiskeytown: https://tinyurl.com/nfbj9ha9.

Learn more about becoming a Trail Steward volunteer by emailing [email protected].

📷 a hiker pondering the view of Whiskeytown Falls; two of our trail steward volunteers with their tools and smiles; view of Whiskeytown Lake from Oak Bottom Water Ditch Trail; view of Camden House inside our Tower House Historic District.

10/05/2026

Sky full blue,
No hue
Of a cloud.

Warm October sun,
Invites you out for fun.

Lake water cold
Its silence gold.

Manzanita Leaves light green
The opposite of mean.

10/02/2026

Our law enforcement park rangers have responded to 30 water rescues this year. Yes, 30. And a common denominator has been paddleboarders going out during windy conditions.

While we are happy that we safely brought these paddlers back to shore, trust us, you don't want to be that paddler.

Recreate responsibly and protect yourself in your national recreation area by checking the wind forecast prior to heading up the hill to paddle.

Never go out on paddleboard or kayak when there are whitecaps on the lake.

Sometimes, no boating is the best option; this protects you for a better experience next time.

09/28/2026

12:50pm 9/30/26 Update - This prescribed burn has been postponed until more favorable conditions occur. We'll let you know when it is rescheduled.

Coggins Park Prescribed Burn Scheduled for Wednesday, September 30...

Firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, in coordination with Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and other local agencies, will start the Coggins Prescribed Burn on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, dependent on favorable weather and air quality conditions. Ignitions are scheduled to take one day followed by patrol and on scene monitoring.

The project area borders Trinity County and is situated inside the western edge of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, specifically between County Line Road on the west and Crystal Creek Road on the east. Activity will occur in strategically sized units to limit smoke production; provide safer conditions for firefighters; and create a mosaic of habitats supporting long-term ecological health of the area.

A small section of County Line Road and Crystal Creek Road in the Coggins Park area – roughly a quarter mile in length – will have restricted access for a few days. Coggins Park itself will be closed for seven days. However, it may be opened earlier depending on fire activity.

This prescribed burn is part of ongoing efforts to reduce hazardous vegetation buildup to improve forest health and enhance ecological resilience within the Upper Crystal Creek watershed. By proactively reducing this buildup, local communities are better prepared for the potential risk of wildfire. These areas last had prescribed burns in the 1990s and 2000s and were burned by the 2018 Carr Fire, making fuel management especially important.

Due to the location of this prescribed burn and the topography of the area, smoke may be visible from Redding, French Gulch, Hayfork, and communities along Highway 299 and County Line Road. For air quality related to smoke, visit fire.airnow.gov for current conditions.

📷 Two photos from the Coggins Prescribed burn of March 2026 showing what smoke and conditions are expected to look like. One image of a Whiskeytown National Recreation Area map showing the specific location of the prescribed burn. NPS Photos/Adam Zaharris.

09/26/2026

Awesome art and free cookies. Is that not the best Saturday afternoon ever? Meet the local muralist and discover her finished masterpiece at 3:30pm outside the Visitor Center. The photo here shows Annyssa starting her mural.

Mural Unveiling on Saturday, 9/26 at 3:30pm!!!

The public is cordially invited to our Visitor Center Native Plant Garden mural unveiling on Saturday, September 26, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Meet the muralist, learn about Annyssa Interrante’s artwork spotlight Whiskeytown’s immense biological diversity, hear about other public art on display across the national recreation area, and enjoy cookies and fruit punch courtesy of Friends of Whiskeytown.

📷 You see her beginning the mural here; come out Saturday to see Annyssa's finished product.