Inspiration on the Great Trail We Call Life
Crystal Creek Falls
For accessibility, is the people’s choice. This is the only wheelchair-accessible waterfall in Whiskeytown. A paved half-mile path leads to a broad cascade where Crystal Creek plunges into a deep pool. Families love it, photographers love it, and on hot summer days, picnickers settle in beside the cool water.
Crystal Creek Falls proves that beauty need not be difficult to reach. It’s the perfect choice for families with young children, visitors with mobility challenges, or anyone who wants a short stroll to a waterfall with a big payoff.
From the Visitor Center, drive 8 miles west on Highway 299. Turn left on Crystal Creek Road and follow it 2.8 miles to the signed day-use parking area for Crystal Creek Falls.
From the paved parking lot, follow the level, shaded path through riparian forest. In less than half a mile you arrive at the falls, where a picnic area and benches invite lingering. The main cascade is broad and strong, dropping over a man-made diversion dam built decades ago to direct water toward the Carr Powerhouse.
For a bit more adventure, scramble upstream on rough use paths to discover smaller natural cascades hidden above the main falls.