All parks › Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $25[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- June[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 763,798[3]
- Campgrounds
- 8[4]
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a National Park System unit in California[5]. NPS lists a private vehicle entrance fee of $25, and the park is open around the clock all year[1][6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Per Person[7] | $15 |
| Motorcycle[8] | $20 |
| Private Vehicle[1] | $25 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $55 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[11] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[11] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[11] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[11] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[11] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[11] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[11] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS lists the park as open all year, at any hour, though some areas have seasonal closures or limited hours[6]. Parts of the park also stay closed because of hazards left by the Carr Fire[6]. NPS describes a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters[12]. Summer temperatures can reach the upper 90s to lower 100s Fahrenheit[12]. In 2025 the busiest month was June with 135,464 recreation visits[2]. The quietest month in 2025 was December with 16,071 visits[2].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 33,153 |
| February | 37,748 |
| March | 67,515 |
| April | 58,803 |
| May | 96,825 |
| June | 135,464 |
| July | 99,676 |
| August | 85,178 |
| September | 69,586 |
| October | 32,270 |
| November | 31,509 |
| December | 16,071 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 8 campgrounds here[4]. Brandy Creek RV Campground has 15 sites, and Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground has 9[4]. Nightly fees for individual sites listed by NPS are $20[4].
- Brandy Creek RV Campground, 15 sites[4]
- Peltier Bridge Primitive Campground, 9 sites
- Sheep Camp Primitive Campground, 4 sites
- Whiskey Creek Group Picnic Area, 3 sites
- Dry Creek Group Campground, 2 sites
- Horse Camp Primitive Campground, 2 sites
- Crystal Creek Primitive Campground, 2 sites
- Brandy Creek Primitive Campground, 2 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, where pets are allowed, they must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less[13]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted[13]. NPS marks pets as permitted for 3 of its 4 listed things to do here[14].
Before you go
- NPS lists a Private Vehicle fee of $25, good for 7 days at this park only[1].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[10]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[11].
- NPS lists an Annual Entrance pass for $55 that also covers three other named parks[9].
- NPS points to Recreation.gov for fee passes[1].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm on the official park page before you go[6].
Questions people ask
- How much is the Whiskeytown entrance fee?
- NPS lists $25 for a Private Vehicle, $20 for a Motorcycle and $15 for a Per Person entry, each good for 7 days[7][8][1].
- Does Whiskeytown accept the America the Beautiful pass?
- Yes, NPS says the park accepts it for entrance[10]. The Resident Annual Pass is listed at $80[11].
- What is the busiest month at Whiskeytown?
- In 2025 the busiest month was June with 135,464 recreation visits[2]. December was the quietest with 16,071[2].
- Can I bring my dog to Whiskeytown?
- Where pets are allowed, they must be kept in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less[13]. NPS lists pets as permitted for 3 of 4 things to do here[14].
- Is Whiskeytown open year-round?
- Yes, NPS lists it as open all year at any hour, but some areas have seasonal closures or limited hours[6].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $25. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 816,608, 2022: 1,505,134, 2023: 920,311, 2024: 812,244, 2025: 763,798. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (list on this page). National Park Service
- Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Recreation Area) in California. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area: The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Certain areas of the park are subject to seasonal and COVID-19 temporary closures or limited hours. Some areas of the park remain closed due to hazardous... National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $20. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $55. National Park Service
- Whiskeytown National Recreation Area accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- NPS lists 4 things to do at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area: Gold Panning at Whiskeytown NRA, Hike to Whiskeytown Falls, Paddling on Whiskeytown Lake, Swimming at Whiskeytown Lake. Pets permitted on 3 of them (Gold Panning at Whiskeytown NRA, Hike to... National Park Service