Updated July 2026
Whiskeytown Falls
A three-tiered, ~220-ft waterfall on a tributary of Crystal Creek that was 'lost' until rediscovered in 2004 after a decades-old mapping error. Reached by the steep James K. Carr Trail from Crystal Creek Road.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check National Park Service (Whiskeytown NRA) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Whiskeytown Falls drops about 220 feet. That makes it the 73rd-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 89% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The James K. Carr Trail reaches it about 3.4 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 700 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous. The nearest town is Redding. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with National Park Service (Whiskeytown NRA) for closures and current conditions.
spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More California waterfalls
- Alamere Falls · 40 ft
- Bassi Falls · 109 ft
- Berry Creek Falls · 70 ft
- Big Falls · 500 ft
- Bridalveil Fall · 617 ft
- Burney Falls · 129 ft
- Carlon Falls · 35 ft
- Cascade Falls · 200 ft
Sources
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