Quick stop at Wiskeytown National Scenic Area

Wiskeytown National Scenic Area is a great place to experience the natural beauty of northern California. Our trip to Whiskeytown was on our route north back to Oregon after spending Christmas in Arizona. It was a quick last minute detour, but we look forward to returning someday to spend more time exploring.

Whiskeytown was once a gold mining settlement during the California Gold Rush of 1849. Now, this area draws people looking to swim, sail, kayak, fish and hike…you can even pan for gold during the summer months. Check the website for schedule details.

We arrived at the Visitor’s Center, got our National Parks Passports stamped and found out what our options were in the area. We decided on a quick walk over to see Camden House and then another stop at Clear Creek Falls.

Most of what we could experience was done just by walking around the area. The Camden House wasn’t open for tours while we were there, so we just enjoyed the nice Christmas decorations they had hanging up. If you look closely on the detail shot of the door knob, the keyhole doesn’t exist. The door handle is purely decorative!

Just after sunset we ventured along the 1/4 mile paved trail to discover Crystal Creek falls. As with most waterfall hikes, you can hear the waterfall before you actually see it. This is a waterfall is easy to access and is a must see at Whiskeytown. The trail is flat, paved and short making it a nice trail for anyone enjoys beautiful scenery. Next time we’re in the area, I’d like to try the Whiskeytown Waterfall challenge and hike to all four waterfalls.

Related posts:

10 Reasons to get a National Parks Pass Family Adventures with our National Parks Passport Experience the Beautiful John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Lunch at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco America the Beautiful National Parks Pass One Day in Rocky Mountain National Park More Great Places to Visit on your trip to Waco, Texas Quick Bites in St Augustine