Redding, CA, United States
Brandy Creek Beach, Whiskeytown Lake
Brandy Creek Beach is the most popular of Whiskeytown Lake's four official swim beaches, with a long sandy shoreline, plenty of shade and summer kayak and paddleboard rentals. Personal watercraft are banned on the lake, and locals value its clear water. Sediment that washed in after the 2018 Carr Fire left the beach much shallower than it once was, and an entrance pass is required.
Photo: RoyalMayfair · CC BY-SA 4.0
Latest reading · SwimScore 87/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 31°C, wind 2 km/h, UV 6. Updated .
Know before you go
- Best conditions
- Summer; the lake is kept full from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and its water is known for about 30 feet of visibility.
- Getting in
- Whiskeytown National Recreation Area; the lake is about 8 miles west of Redding. An entrance pass is required and the park is cashless (card or Recreation.gov). No dogs or alcohol at Brandy Creek Beach.
- Parking & transport
- Ample parking at the beach.
- Season
- Memorial Day to Labor Day, when the lake is held full and rentals and the beach store operate.
- Watch for
- Much shallower than before the 2018 Carr Fire because of sediment washed down Brandy Creek
- Summer heat; the Whiskeytown area has recorded 120°F
- Facilities
- Shaded picnic areas · Beach store (summer) with snacks and beach gear · Kayak and paddleboard rentals (daily in summer) · Free youth life jacket loaners, Memorial Day to Labor Day · Brandy Creek RV Campground and Marina nearby
Sources: nps.gov, nps.gov, en.wikipedia.org
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Details
- Location
- Redding, CA, United States
- Type
- lake
- Coordinates
- 40.6180, -122.5715