Inspiration on the Great Trail We Call Life
Whiskeytown Falls
The Four Falls Challenge – Take it!
Boulder Creek, the wildest, Crystal Creek, the easiest.
Find Whiskeytown Falls, the hidden giant.
For decades, Whiskeytown Falls was the park’s best-kept secret. At 220 feet, it’s the tallest waterfall in the recreation area, but it wasn’t officially publicized until 2005, when rangers “rediscovered” it and built a safe trail to its base. Just imagine: a “secret” waterfall, hidden in plain sight for decades!
Today, the James K. Carr Trail leads hikers through forested slopes to a dramatic stairway beside the falls, where you can stand in the spray of Whiskeytown’s hidden giant. Hiking to Whiskeytown Falls is both an adventure and a revelation – the park’s tallest cascade, now shared with everyone willing to make the climb.
From the Visitor Center, drive 8 miles west on Highway 299. Turn left onto Crystal Creek Road and continue 3.3 miles to the signed James K. Carr Trail parking lot. The lot is small; arrive early on summer weekends
From the start, the grade is steady but not overwhelming, climbing through oak and fir forest. Interpretive signs along the way share the story of the falls’ rediscovery and the legacy of Congressman James K. Carr, who championed the Central Valley Project and Whiskeytown Dam.
At about 1.5 miles, you’ll hear the growing roar of water. A final climb brings you to a stone stairway that ascends alongside the falls themselves. Here the full cascade reveals its power – 220 feet of whitewater tumbling down a granite face, filling the canyon with mist. Benches allow you to rest and take it in.