In the spring of 2004, Park wildlife biologist Russ Weatherbee, was viewing contour maps on his computer when he noticed a portion of Crystal Creek that dropped very steeply in a short distance. By examining aerial photographs, he could see what appeared to be white water between the trees. Weatherbee and park geologist, Brian Rasmussen, drove up Crystal Creek Road and then bush-whacked through the hills. They found a spectacular 220-foot waterfall which has been christened “Whiskeytown Falls”.
It is likely that many generations of local residents knew about the waterfall, but did not widely share their knowledge. In the 1950s, Arthur Coggins, the property owner, harvested the trees. Temporary roads were constructed and the East Fork of Crystal Creek, near the falls, was logged. Once the loggers left, the logging roads began to wash away, vegetation grew over the old paths, and the forest regenerated, concealing the waterfall.
For a variety of reasons, the existence of Whiskeytown Falls remained a secret. At a fortieth year reunion of Park employees in 2005, former Rangers Jack Holland and Henry LaSalla recalled finding the falls in 1968 while locating property lines on Shasta Bally. Then parked superintendent, Leon Mitchell, agreed that they would not publicize it because they did not think they could adequately patrol the new park lands with a small, limited staff.
In the 1970s, Holland and LaSalla transferred to other parks, Mitchell passed away, and the falls are only mentioned in the park’s 1976 master plan. It devotes only one sentence to describing the falls.
Knowledge of the falls faded quietly away, until resurrected by Weatherbee. Today, people from all over the world have heard about the discovery of this hidden waterfall through extensive press coverage.
After two summers of work, the National Park Service opened the trail to Whiskeytown Falls. The trail itself has been named in honor of James K. Carr, one of Redding’s native sons. James Carr was appointed Undersecretary of the Interior during President Kennedy‘s administration and championed the legislation which made the area a unit of the National Park Service in November 1965. By developing the James K. Carr Trail, Whiskeytown continues to expand on exceptional recreational opportunities for the public.
