Day Tripping: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area proud to provide services to the disabled

WHISKEYTOWN, Calif. — When travelers visit the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area they are often left in awe of the area’s spectacular sites; including beautiful cascading waterfalls, fishing at Whiskeytown Lake and in the area’s many surrounding creeks and waterways, abundant hiking, walking and equestrian trails, and well-kept campsites. 

Thankfully, in large part due to entrance fees collected over the years, the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has been able to create and maintain a series of paved trails for those with disabilities, ensuring they are able to access as many areas within their parks as possible.

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Saying they are proud to provide services to the disabled, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area recently explained, “We strive to make Whiskeytown as accessible to as many different people as possible and in particular we’ve used your entrance fee dollars over the years to create and maintain a series of paved trails.”

“This is why we think it’s awesome that Ross Perry, a park visitor, gave us a shout out recently and shared this photo with us,” recreation area officials explained in a recent social media post.

In the photo, Ross’s 96-year-old grandfather can be seen sitting in a wheelchair while enjoying the view of the cascade from the end of the paved Crystal Creek Falls Trail.

“That…Photo…Is…AWESOME…” Whiskeytown National Recreation Area recently said; adding they are proud to provide services to the disabled. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area photo

In addition to the wheelchair accessible Crystal Creek Falls Trail, other short, flat and 10-foot wide paved trails at Whiskeytown include the first quarter-mile of the Guardian Rock Trail to the overlook of Lower Clear Creek Canyon, the self-guiding interpretive trail from Tower House Historic District parking lot to the Camden House front yard, and the Brandy Creek Beach picnic area trail.

Additionally, several campsites at Oak Bottom Tent Campground, as well as several picnic areas throughout the park, nearly all restrooms, and the fishing piers at both Whiskey Creek and Oak Bottom meet American Disability Act (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) accessibility standards.

Nearby Oak Bottom Beach offers activities for the whole family with wheelchair access throughout and features a small, wheelchair accessible convenience store that offers a variety of items including cold beverages, snacks and basic camping necessities. The store also offers boat, kayak and paddle board rentals for a fun day exploring the lake and viewing the bountiful wildlife. 

Many of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area’s trails, camping sites, and fishing spots feature wide, flat, paved walkways, that are wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area photo

Whiskeytown Lake is formed by Whiskeytown Dam on Clear Creek, with additional water supplied by Lewiston Reservoir. Fishing opportunities at the lake – including several fishing spots that are wheelchair accessible – are plentiful, and include rainbow and German brown trout; largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass; and kokanee salmon.

Contacted for more information, a park representative said, “Come on down and see for yourself, everything that Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has to offer!”

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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.