The Fourth of July is one of the busiest days and weekends of the year at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Most popular park areas will fill up quickly with visitors and parking will be very limited. Please plan to arrive early, and have an alternative plan should your favorite spot already be occupied.
Brandy Creek Beach will have lifeguards on duty from 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The parking lots, picnic areas and beaches fill up early in the day. The parking lots often reach capacity between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Once the parking lots are full, all vehicles will be stopped at the Whiskeytown Dam. Visitors may wait 45-90 minutes at the dam until parking spaces open at Brandy Creek. Last year, park rangers stopped hundreds of cars after Brandy Creek Beach was full at 11:30 a.m. The Oak Bottom area is an alternative to Brandy Creek Beach. There is a small picnic area and beach. The Oak Bottom beach does not have lifeguards. This area also fills by 10:00 a.m., due to limited parking.
Smoking, pets, and alcohol are prohibited at Brandy Creek Beach, Oak Bottom Beach and East Beach areas. All fires must be in designated picnic areas or campgrounds in established fire rings or grills. The use or possession of all fireworks are prohibited at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
Please display your park entrance pass on the driver’s side of the dashboard of your vehicle. A $10.00 seven-day entrance pass may be purchased at the Visitor Center or at several other locations in the park. You may also purchase entrance passes at www.pay.gov. Due to recent thefts, please do not leave any valuable items in your vehicles and always lock your vehicle. Remember to not drink and drive or operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol. If you swim or boat, please wear a lifejacket! Please plan for a safe Fourth of July!
For further information, please go to the Visitor Center, which is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day, or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/WHIS -NPS
