Just a short drive away from Redding, the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a haven for waterfall lovers. The park is the perfect place to explore the region’s natural beauty without exerting a lot of energy. The Crystal Creek Falls trail is a great waterfall hike for families. Not only is it an extremely easy trail, but it offers up the most breathtaking scenery. There are several waterfalls to be explored in the area and this trail takes you to two of them. Check it out if you’re nearby and looking for “waterfalls near me” – you’ve found them!
The Whiskeytown National Recreation Area takes up a whopping 42,500 acres and is centered around the majestic Whiskeytown Lake. The recreation area is a stunning place to spend the afternoon exploring the surrounding area.
daveynin/Flickr
The Crystal Creek Falls trail head is located on the western side of the lake, from the parking lot of the recreation area. The first waterfall is less than a mile from the beginning of the trail. The trail itself is ADA accessible and very simple, making it perfect for all ages and skill levels.
Roots Rated/GoogleMaps
As you progress farther down the trail, you’ll pass by a nice little picnic area. The trail brings you deeper and deeper into the area’s beautiful backcountry.
Jeff E/TripAdvisor
Eventually you’ll come to the breathtaking overlook of the first waterfall. Crystal Creek Falls is a man-made waterfall that was created when the river was diverted.
Don DeBold/Flickr The trail head of Crystal Creek Falls is right next to the trail head that takes you to Whiskeytown Falls. After a bit of backtracking (there are plenty of signs to keep you oriented), you’ll be just under 2 miles away from the second waterfall.
This trail is a bit more rugged and steep than the previous one. The hike to the second waterfall could easily take around two hours, so be sure to plan accordingly. You’ll definitely want to leave enough time to explore all the charming features of the trail.
Tammi Ross/Alltrails
After climbing through dense forest, you’ll find yourself at the foot of one of Northern California’s most prized waterfalls—Whiskeytown Falls. The 250-foot tall waterfall looks absolutely picturesque against the background of mossy green boulders.
Noemi Hernandez/Alltrails
You could definitely spend hours hanging out around the waterfall. It makes the picture perfect setting for a picnic. You can even climb around the area and get different vantage points of the waterfall.
Brian Falls/Alltrails You definitely won’t be disappointed by this simple hike. It just goes to show that you don’t have to go all the way out into the wilderness to enjoy stunning natural beauty!
Need more information? You can visit the National Park Service website for everything you’ll need.
daveynin/Flickr
Roots Rated/GoogleMaps
Jeff E/TripAdvisor
Don DeBold/Flickr
The trail head of Crystal Creek Falls is right next to the trail head that takes you to Whiskeytown Falls. After a bit of backtracking (there are plenty of signs to keep you oriented), you’ll be just under 2 miles away from the second waterfall.
Tammi Ross/Alltrails
Noemi Hernandez/Alltrails
Brian Falls/Alltrails
You definitely won’t be disappointed by this simple hike. It just goes to show that you don’t have to go all the way out into the wilderness to enjoy stunning natural beauty!
Have you visited Whiskeytown National Recreation Area? Be sure to check out these 10 Easily Accessible Waterfalls In Northern California for more simple waterfall hikes.
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Address: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Whiskeytown, CA 96095, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Waterfalls Near Me August 01, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the best waterfall hikes in Northern California? Hoo, boy, we don’t even really know where to start for this one. There are hundreds of amazing waterfalls in Northern California, and most of them are accessible via a hike. Do the hike to Feather Falls via the Upper Trail, a glorious hike that leads you past one of the best swimming holes in Northern California near Fey Creek and up to the 410-foot-tall Feather Falls. Another excellent waterfall hike in Northern California is the hike to Hedge Creek Falls, a 30-foot-tall fall that also doubles as a fun cave hike. Trust us… you’ll see. Where are some wonderful hiking trails with waterfalls in Northern California? Ah, the list goes on. In fact, it doesn’t seem to end. More favorite hiking trails with waterfalls in Northern California include the trail to Potem Falls, which is an easy, 0.3-mile hike through paradise. You also can’t miss hiking to Berry Creek Falls, a hard (but worth it) 9.5-mile hike through Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Take the Skyline Trail to the Sea and Sunset Trails – you cannot possibly miss the falls. Other waterfalls accessible by hike include Mist Falls, within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Alamere Falls, on Point Reyes National Seashore, and so many more. Where is Crystal Creek Falls in Northern California? Crystal Creek Falls in Northern California is a double-tiered waterfall near Redding. To access it, you’ll want to take Highway 299 along the western side of the park to Crystal Creek Road. Follow it for two miles, and then you’ll see the Crystal Creek Fall trailhead and parking lot on the left. Bring water and stay hydrated – this trail is short and easy, being flat and paved, but water is still very important. Make sure to bring some even when it’s not hot outside!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Waterfalls Near Me
August 01, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the best waterfall hikes in Northern California? Hoo, boy, we don’t even really know where to start for this one. There are hundreds of amazing waterfalls in Northern California, and most of them are accessible via a hike. Do the hike to Feather Falls via the Upper Trail, a glorious hike that leads you past one of the best swimming holes in Northern California near Fey Creek and up to the 410-foot-tall Feather Falls. Another excellent waterfall hike in Northern California is the hike to Hedge Creek Falls, a 30-foot-tall fall that also doubles as a fun cave hike. Trust us… you’ll see. Where are some wonderful hiking trails with waterfalls in Northern California? Ah, the list goes on. In fact, it doesn’t seem to end. More favorite hiking trails with waterfalls in Northern California include the trail to Potem Falls, which is an easy, 0.3-mile hike through paradise. You also can’t miss hiking to Berry Creek Falls, a hard (but worth it) 9.5-mile hike through Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Take the Skyline Trail to the Sea and Sunset Trails – you cannot possibly miss the falls. Other waterfalls accessible by hike include Mist Falls, within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Alamere Falls, on Point Reyes National Seashore, and so many more. Where is Crystal Creek Falls in Northern California? Crystal Creek Falls in Northern California is a double-tiered waterfall near Redding. To access it, you’ll want to take Highway 299 along the western side of the park to Crystal Creek Road. Follow it for two miles, and then you’ll see the Crystal Creek Fall trailhead and parking lot on the left. Bring water and stay hydrated – this trail is short and easy, being flat and paved, but water is still very important. Make sure to bring some even when it’s not hot outside!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Hoo, boy, we don’t even really know where to start for this one. There are hundreds of amazing waterfalls in Northern California, and most of them are accessible via a hike. Do the hike to Feather Falls via the Upper Trail, a glorious hike that leads you past one of the best swimming holes in Northern California near Fey Creek and up to the 410-foot-tall Feather Falls. Another excellent waterfall hike in Northern California is the hike to Hedge Creek Falls, a 30-foot-tall fall that also doubles as a fun cave hike. Trust us… you’ll see.
Where are some wonderful hiking trails with waterfalls in Northern California?
Ah, the list goes on. In fact, it doesn’t seem to end. More favorite hiking trails with waterfalls in Northern California include the trail to Potem Falls, which is an easy, 0.3-mile hike through paradise. You also can’t miss hiking to Berry Creek Falls, a hard (but worth it) 9.5-mile hike through Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Take the Skyline Trail to the Sea and Sunset Trails – you cannot possibly miss the falls. Other waterfalls accessible by hike include Mist Falls, within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Alamere Falls, on Point Reyes National Seashore, and so many more.
Where is Crystal Creek Falls in Northern California?
Crystal Creek Falls in Northern California is a double-tiered waterfall near Redding. To access it, you’ll want to take Highway 299 along the western side of the park to Crystal Creek Road. Follow it for two miles, and then you’ll see the Crystal Creek Fall trailhead and parking lot on the left. Bring water and stay hydrated – this trail is short and easy, being flat and paved, but water is still very important. Make sure to bring some even when it’s not hot outside!
