Whiskeytown Dam is protected from flooding by a circular structure located a short distance from shore. Called the Glory Hole because it resembles the trumpet-shaped morning glory flower, it allows overflow lake waters to drain. Water cresting the rim of the Glory Hole is funneled under the dam, emptying into Clear Creek below. The Glory Hole is a functional feature of Whiskeytown Dam and is not designed for recreational use. It is 260 feet deep and has no safety devices to prevent fatal falls. Whiskeytown Dam is an earth and rock fill dam, 282 feet high, with a crest length of 2,250 feet.