The Hike In Northern California That Takes You To Not One, But TWO Insanely Beautiful Waterfalls

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 particularly great waterfall hike for families; not only is it an extremely easy trail, but it offers up the most breathtaking scenery! Craving a waterfall hike in NorCal this season? There are several waterfalls to be explored in the area and this trail takes you to two of 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.

The Crystal Creek Falls trailhead 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.

As you progress farther down the trail, you'll pass by a nice little spot to stop for a picnic.

Soon, the trail brings you deeper and deeper into the area's beautiful backcountry.

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.

The trailhead of Crystal Creek Falls is right next to the trailhead 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 two miles away from the second waterfall.

The Whiskeytown Falls 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 gorgeous natural features of the trail.

Rugged though it may be, it's absolutely phenomenal!

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!

You could 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.

You definitely won't be disappointed by this quiet waterfall hike in NorCal. It just goes to show that you don't have to go all the way out into the wilderness to enjoy stunning natural beauty!

In fact, you might want to dive right in!

You can visit the National Park Service website for additional trail info, weather conditions, and other things to do in this spectacular park. Hint: there are a few more waterfalls in store! Grab the AllTrails+ app to help stay on track and find them all.

Have you visited Whiskeytown National Recreation Area?

Be sure to check out these accessible waterfalls in NorCal for even more short and sweet waterfall hikes.