Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Whiskeytown
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Whiskeytown. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (2)
Ghost Towns (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Whiskeytown the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:33 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:08 PM | 243° | 9h 35m |
| February | 7:05 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:08 PM | 5:46 PM | 254° | 10h 41m |
| March | 7:23 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:17 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:32 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:50 PM | 284° | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:21 PM | 296° | 14h 26m |
| June | 5:40 AM | 6:21 AM | 8:02 PM | 8:44 PM | 302° | 15h 04m |
| July | 5:53 AM | 6:33 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:41 PM | 300° | 14h 48m |
| August | 6:22 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:10 PM | 289° | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:52 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:21 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:22 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:32 PM | 259° | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:58 AM | 7:38 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:54 PM | 246° | 9h 56m |
| December | 7:28 AM | 8:11 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:45 PM | 240° | 9h 17m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.6136, -122.6023); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Whiskeytown, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:27 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:38 AM – 5:48 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:37 AM – 4:47 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:32 AM – 3:52 AM | 3.3 | 21° |
| June | 10:48 PM – 3:28 AM | 4.7 | 21° |
| July | 10:39 PM – 2:09 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| August | 9:52 PM – 12:02 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| September | 8:53 PM – 10:03 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 8:02 PM – 8:02 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Whiskeytown NRA is in a Mediterranean climate, which means hot, dry summers followed by cool, wet winters. Summer temperatures often reach the upper 90's to lower 100 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as the occasional thunderstorm. Winter brings snow to the upper elevations (only occasionally down to the lake level of 1,200'), and rain and ice. See the park weather page for the current weather.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 14% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (61%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $25.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Car From Interstate 5, take the Highway 44 West exit toward Downtown Redding and Eureka. From Downtown Redding, follow Highway 299 west toward Eureka for approximately 8 miles to reach the Visitor Center. Plane Commercial air service is available to Redding California located approximately 16 miles from Whiskeytown. Rental vehicles are available.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
Nearby parks
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