California: 90 state parks, 62 state beaches, 53 historic sites, 30 recreation areas, 16 natural areas and 9 off-highway vehicle areas

Camping, trails, fees and current alerts are on each park’s page. See these parks on a map

Parks & natural areas 145

Admiral William Standley State Recreation AreaA small, rustic redwood grove on the south fork of the Eel River, close to the river's headwaters in inland…
Ahjumawi Lava Springs State ParkBoat-in only: jagged lava flows and black basalt meet spring-fed water in remote northeastern Shasta County…
Andrew Molera State ParkLargely undeveloped Big Sur coast range, with fifteen miles of trail and the mouth of the Big Sur River. The…
Angel Island State ParkThe largest natural island in San Francisco Bay, with trails looking back at the city skyline, the Marin…
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural ReserveThe western Mojave's most reliable poppy ground, where the state flower blooms alongside a wider wildflower…
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park ®California's largest state park: five hundred miles of dirt road, twelve wilderness areas and long stretches…
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural ReserveA stand of old coast redwoods in Sonoma County, spared when logging cleared most of the surrounding forest in…
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State ParkProtects a dense stand of native Joshua trees and junipers, once widespread across the Antelope Valley…
Auburn State Recreation AreaThirty-odd thousand acres of gold country along two forks of the American River, with whitewater, swimming…
Austin Creek State Recreation AreaTwenty miles of trail across meadows, woodland and rolling Sonoma hills, reached through the redwoods at…
Azalea State Natural ReserveA small north-coast reserve set aside for western azalea, which covers the ground in white and pink each…
Año Nuevo State ParkA rugged San Mateo peninsula where northern elephant seals haul out to breed, give birth and rest. Guided…
Benbow State Recreation AreaDay use on the Wild and Scenic South Fork Eel River, with swimming, picnicking and wildlife watching. A quiet…
Benicia State Recreation AreaTidal marsh, grassy hillside and rocky beach along the narrowest reach of the Carquinez Strait. Level trails…
Bethany Reservoir State Recreation AreaA reservoir at the northern end of the California Aqueduct, popular for fishing, boating, windsurfing and…
Bidwell-Sacramento River State ParkRiparian woodland and river frontage west of Chico, long a favourite fishing spot. Swimming, paddling and…
Big Basin Redwoods State ParkCalifornia's oldest state park, set aside in 1902 to protect ancient coast redwoods in the Santa Cruz…
Border Field State ParkDunes, salt marsh and horse-friendly trail in the far south-west corner of the United States. Important…
Bothe-Napa Valley State ParkCoast redwood, tanoak, Douglas-fir and madrone on the wooded slopes above Napa Valley. Hiking, a summer…
Brannan Island State Recreation AreaA way into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, with boat access, swimming and some of the region's better…
Burton Creek State ParkAn undeveloped park on the edge of Tahoe City with about six miles of trail, used for hiking and mountain…
Butano State ParkA redwood canyon in the Santa Cruz Mountains with hiking through the groves and ocean views from the ridge…
Calaveras Big Trees State ParkTwo groves of giant sequoia — the North Grove and the South Grove — inside a mixed conifer forest above…
Candlestick Point State Recreation AreaCalifornia's first urban state park, on the bay in San Francisco's Bayview-Hunters Point neighbourhood…
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation AreaAn off-highway vehicle area in the Diablo Range hills west of Tracy, with motorcycle, ATV and 4x4 terrain…
Caspar Headlands State Natural ReserveA short strip of rugged coastline north of Mendocino, with sculpted rock, wildflowers and heavy surf. Access…
Castaic Lake State Recreation AreaTwenty-nine miles of shoreline on one of the State Water Project's largest recreational lakes, below the…
Castle Crags State ParkGranite spires rising some six thousand feet over the upper Sacramento River give the park its name. Camping…
Castle Rock State ParkSculpted sandstone outcrops, deep forest and long views from one of the highest ridges in the Santa Cruz…
Caswell Memorial State ParkOne of California's last remaining riparian oak woodlands, on the Stanislaus River near Ripon. Old-growth…
China Camp State ParkOak woodland, panoramic bay views and more than a hundred acres of protected tidal salt marsh along San Pablo…
Chino Hills State ParkRolling grassland and valleys dotted with oak and sycamore where Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino…
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation AreaA 220-acre fenced riding area two miles west of Oroville — a shallow pit ringed by low hills, left behind…
Clear Lake State ParkOn the shore of California's oldest and largest natural freshwater lake, with swimming, boating and fishing…
Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation AreaCottonwood and willow shelter one of the state's better fishing reaches, for king salmon, steelhead, rainbow…
Crystal Cove State ParkOne of Orange County's largest remaining stretches of open space and natural seashore, with tide pools, sandy…
Cuyamaca Rancho State ParkMore than a hundred miles of riding and hiking trail in the mountains east of San Diego. The Cuyamaca Peak…
D. L. Bliss State ParkGranite shoreline and one of Lake Tahoe's most popular beaches, with trails along the bluffs above the water…
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State ParkRoughly half of this far-north park is old-growth coast redwood, and eight miles of it is wild coastline…
Donner Memorial State ParkTrails and lake access at the east end of Donner Lake, with a visitor center and monument to the pioneers who…
Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation AreaOver 26,000 acres on the western edge of the Mojave Desert, off State Route 14 — the second largest unit in…
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State ParkNearly two miles of Lake Tahoe frontage backed by dense pine, fir, aspen and cedar. The 1903 Hellman-Ehrman…
Emerald Bay State ParkRugged shoreline above blue-green water on Lake Tahoe's most photographed inlet, with Vikingsholm — a…
Estero Bluffs State ParkSea stacks, intertidal rock, wetland and low coastal terrace cut by several streams, on a scenic reach of the…
Folsom Lake State Recreation AreaA large foothill reservoir near Sacramento with waterskiing, boating, swimming and a long network of trails…
Fort Ord Dunes State ParkNearly a thousand acres of rolling dune habitat and four miles of Monterey Bay beach, on ground that was part…
Franks Tract State Recreation AreaA Delta island that flooded when its levee breached and is now entirely under water, reachable only by boat…
Fremont Peak State ParkA 3,169-foot summit with long views over Monterey Bay and the Salinas Valley, and an observatory whose…
Garrapata State ParkThe northernmost of the Big Sur parks, with two miles of coastline and a dramatic beach. One trail climbs…
Gaviota State ParkSurfing, hiking and multi-use trails climbing from the Santa Barbara coast into oak woodland and chaparral…
George J. Hatfield State Recreation AreaMore than a mile of Merced River frontage in the San Joaquin Valley, with fishing, wading, kayaking and…
Great Valley Grasslands State ParkOne of the Central Valley's few surviving stretches of intact native grassland, wetland and riparian…
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State ParkBig trees and few people on the quiet Van Duzen River, thirty miles inland from the north coast. Swimming…
Grover Hot Springs State ParkA mineral pool fed by six hot springs, set in alpine meadow and pine forest on the east side of the Sierra…
Harmony Headlands State ParkA short trail out to coastal marine terrace grassland, steep hills and wide Pacific views, three miles south…
Harry A. Merlo State Recreation AreaA quiet lagoon on the Humboldt County coast, best known among anglers. Small boats are welcome under a 5 mph…
Hearst San Simeon State ParkCoastal bluffs and promontories with unbroken views of ocean and rocky shore, plus natural and cultural…
Heber Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area343 acres of Imperial County sand — winding trails through creosote-studded dunes, larger fine-sand dunes and…
Hendy Woods State ParkTwo groves of towering redwoods in the Anderson Valley, warmer and less foggy than most coastal redwood…
Henry Cowell Redwoods State ParkA forty-acre grove of old-growth redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Felton, with ponderosa pine and…
Henry W. Coe State ParkNorthern California's largest state park, protecting 87,000 acres of hills and ridges in the Diablo Range…
Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation AreaCalifornia's first state vehicular recreation area, an hour south of San Jose, with nearly 200 miles of trail…
Humboldt Lagoons State ParkPart of the largest lagoon system in the country, forty miles north of Eureka, with dunes, forest, prairie…
Humboldt Redwoods State ParkThe largest remaining old-growth redwood forest in the world, threaded by the 32-mile Avenue of the Giants…
Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area19,000 acres in the Tejon Pass on the Interstate 5 corridor north of Los Angeles, with more than 130 miles of…
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State ParkTen thousand acres of primeval redwood grove with rhododendron, azalea and deep fern beds banked against…
John B. Dewitt Redwoods State Natural ReserveThree small old-growth redwood groves preserved in Humboldt County. A reserve set aside for the trees rather…
John Little State Natural ReserveA steep, rugged piece of the Big Sur coast where Lime Creek reaches the Pacific, kept for protection rather…
Jug Handle State Natural ReserveBeach access on the Mendocino coast and an ecological staircase trail where each marine terrace carries its…
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State ParkMcWay Falls drops eighty feet onto a cove beach here, viewed from a bluff-top trail. Redwoods stand inland…
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation AreaA county-run park in the Baldwin Hills with native coastal sage scrub, lawns, picnic sites, a fishing lake…
Kings Beach State Recreation AreaA sandy beach and picnic tables under Jeffrey pines on Lake Tahoe's north shore. Swimming, boat rentals and a…
Kruse Rhododendron State Natural ReserveMore than two miles of trail through quiet second-growth forest, fern beds and stands of rhododendron. Best…
Lake Del Valle State Recreation AreaA State Water Project reservoir in central Alameda County with swimming, boating, fishing and horseback…
Lake Oroville State Recreation AreaThe reservoir behind the tallest dam in the country, which rises 770 feet above the Feather River streambed…
Lake Perris State Recreation AreaA Southern California reservoir ringed by rugged hills and open space, built for watersports. Swimming…
Leo Carrillo State ParkA mile and a half of Malibu-area beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beachcombing…
Limekiln State ParkRedwoods, a nearly hundred-foot waterfall down a rock face, and the limekilns the park is named for, on the…
Los Osos Oaks State Natural ReserveAncient sand dunes covered in centuries-old coast live oak, still growing, nine miles west of San Luis…
MacKerricher State ParkBeach, bluff, headland, dune, forest and wetland strung along the Mendocino coast north of Fort Bragg. A good…
Mailliard Redwoods State Natural ReserveCoast redwood forest and its wildlife habitat kept in essentially natural condition along the Garcia River…
Malibu Creek State ParkHiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, fishing and riding across the Santa Monica Mountains backcountry. The…
Manchester State ParkBeach, sand dune and flat grassland on the Mendocino coast, with two streams that fish well for steelhead…
Marsh Creek State Park State Historic ParkDelta habitat and wildlife around the historic John Marsh Home, east of Brentwood. The site is not yet open…
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State ParkBurney Creek drops 129 feet here, fed by springs pouring straight out of the basalt cliff face so the falls…
McConnell State Recreation AreaShaded riverbank on the Merced with grassy fields, quiet campsites, swimming and fishing. An easy Central…
McLaughlin Eastshore State Park State SeashoreTidal marsh, mudflat and sub-tidal water along eight and a half miles of San Francisco Bay shoreline. A paved…
Mendocino Headlands State ParkWraps the village of Mendocino on three sides, with gentle bluff trails, sea stacks and hidden beaches. The…
Mendocino Woodlands State ParkA group camping retreat and environmental education center set in redwood forest north-east of Mendocino…
Millerton Lake State Recreation AreaMore than forty miles of shoreline on a Sierra foothill reservoir straddling Fresno and Madera counties…
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural ReserveAn ancient lake in the eastern Sierra where calcium-rich springs meet carbonate water and precipitate…
Montaña de Oro State ParkRugged cliffs, hidden sandy coves and coastal plain fifteen miles west of San Luis Obispo, with a historic…
Montgomery Woods State Natural ReserveA two-mile loop climbs a short, steep abandoned logging road, then levels into one of Mendocino's last…
Morro Bay State ParkA coastal park of estuary, volcanic peaks and the landmark of Morro Rock, with the Morro Bay Museum of…
Mount Diablo State ParkFrom the summit the view can run more than a hundred miles in every direction. Hikers, cyclists, riders and…
Mount San Jacinto State ParkTwo parks in one: a high country of granite peaks, sub-alpine forest and mountain meadow reached by the Palm…
Mount Tamalpais State ParkDeep canyons and open hillsides north of the Golden Gate, cloaked in redwood, oak woodland, grassland and…
Navarro River Redwoods State ParkSecond-growth redwoods line the Navarro River the length of this Anderson Valley park. Camping, kayaking and…
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation AreaA working coastal dune system open to off-highway vehicles, with swimming, surfing, surf fishing and hiking…
Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation AreaRoughly 85,000 acres of desert open to off-highway exploration, bordering Anza-Borrego — Blowsand Hill and…
Pacheco State ParkWhat remains of a Mexican land grant in the hills above Pacheco Pass, with spring wildflowers and long views…
Palomar Mountain State ParkConifer forest, quiet meadows and long views in northern San Diego County — one of the few places in Southern…
Pfeiffer Big Sur State ParkCoast redwoods with the Big Sur River winding through them, and Big Sur's largest campground. A lodge, food…
Picacho State Recreation AreaA remote stretch of the lower Colorado River on California's south-eastern edge, reached by a long dirt road…
Placerita Canyon State ParkBetween the San Gabriel Mountains and the Mojave, this canyon holds the site of California's first gold…
Plumas-Eureka State ParkHigh on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, with alpine lakes, forest and the remains of a major Gold…
Point Lobos State Natural ReserveHeadlands, coves and rolling meadow, with an offshore reserve that is among the richest underwater habitats…
Point Mugu State ParkFive miles of shoreline in the far western Santa Monica Mountains, with rocky bluff, sandy beach and dune…
Portola Redwoods State ParkA hushed getaway from the South Bay, where trails follow meandering creeks and coast redwoods stand among…
Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation AreaAn off-highway riding park on old dredge tailings near Rancho Cordova, with motocross tracks and separate…
Prairie Creek Redwoods State ParkOld-growth coast redwood with ferns spilling down steep canyon walls and Roosevelt elk grazing the meadows…
Providence Mountains State Recreation AreaA remote Mojave park of long views and timeless desert, and the way in to Mitchell Caverns. The limestone…
Red Rock Canyon State ParkDesert cliffs, buttes and vividly coloured rock formations where the southern Sierra Nevada meets the El Paso…
Reynolds Wayside CampgroundA small unit near Piercy preserving thirty-eight acres of old-growth coast redwood and Douglas fir. Swimming…
Richardson Grove State ParkCoast redwoods more than three hundred feet tall stand over the South Fork of the Eel, part of the national…
Rio de Los Angeles State Park State Recreation AreaA restored patch of river wetland in the middle of industrial and residential Los Angeles, run with the city…
Robert Louis Stevenson State ParkAn undeveloped Napa County park whose trails climb to the summit of Mount St. Helena, with views over Napa…
Russian Gulch State ParkA forested walk leads to a 36-foot waterfall, and the headland holds the Punch Bowl, a collapsed sea cave. A…
Saddleback Butte State ParkNative Joshua tree woodland around a granite butte in the Antelope Valley, protecting high-desert plants and…
Salt Point State ParkSix miles of rugged Sonoma coast running from kelp-fringed coves and sandstone bluffs up into forested hills…
Salton Sea State Recreation AreaOne of the world's largest inland seas, created when Colorado River floodwaters broke into the Imperial…
Samuel P. Taylor State ParkShaded walking under tall redwoods along Lagunitas Creek, and a hard climb to Barnabe Peak — one of Marin's…
San Bruno Mountain State ParkAt the northern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains, holding rare butterflies and a long list of birds and…
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation AreaThree lakes in the grassy hills of the western San Joaquin Valley near Pacheco Pass, storing Delta runoff…
Silverwood Lake State Recreation AreaThe highest reservoir in the State Water Project, in the San Bernardino National Forest, with snow-capped…
Sinkyone Wilderness State ParkThe Lost Coast at its most rugged: coastal bluff, black sand beaches and a herd of Roosevelt elk, the largest…
Smithe Redwoods State Natural ReserveThe Frank and Bess Smithe Grove of redwoods, with a sixty-foot waterfall and a picnic area. Fishing and…
Sonoma Coast State ParkA string of beaches from Bodega Bay to the Russian River, with secluded coves, rugged headlands, natural…
South Yuba River State ParkA swift, cold river cutting a granite canyon in the Sierra foothills, with seasonal wildflowers along the…
Standish-Hickey State Recreation AreaThe southern gateway to redwood country, on the South Fork of the Eel. Camping, swimming and fishing, with…
Sugarloaf Ridge State ParkThe headwaters of Sonoma Creek run through gorge, canyon and open meadow below rock outcrops, with redwoods…
Sutter Buttes State ParkA property in the Sutter Buttes acquired by California State Parks in 2003. It is currently closed to the…
Tahoe State Recreation AreaA compact campground in groves of ponderosa and Jeffrey pine, right in Tahoe City with shops and restaurants…
The Forest of Nisene Marks State ParkDense second- and third-growth redwood rising from near sea level into steep coastal mountains near Santa…
Tolowa Dunes State ParkAn ancient dune complex on the far north coast that has grown into several distinct communities — ocean…
Tomales Bay State ParkSheltered coves, beaches and tidal marsh on the eastern edge of the Point Reyes Peninsula, with a bishop pine…
Topanga State ParkAmong the largest wildlands lying inside a major city, mostly within Los Angeles city limits in the Santa…
Torrey Pines State Natural ReserveHome of the Torrey pine, the rarest pine in the country, on bluffs inside urban San Diego. One of Southern…
Trione-Annadel State ParkMiles of trail for hiking, mountain biking and trail riding right at the edge of Santa Rosa. Wildflowers run…
Tule Elk State Natural ReserveProtects a small herd of tule elk, a California subspecies once hunted almost to extinction, along with…
Turlock Lake State Recreation AreaTwenty-six miles of shoreline between the Tuolumne River to the north and Turlock Lake to the south. Built…
Van Damme State ParkTwo campgrounds and the Fern Canyon trail system on the Mendocino coast, ending in a pygmy forest where…
Washoe Meadows State ParkUndeveloped meadow and woodland in the valley below the escarpment up to Echo Summit. Quiet walking, fishing…
Wilder Ranch State ParkA coastal park just north of Santa Cruz built around early California ranching: a working dairy farm, an 1840…
Woodson Bridge State Recreation AreaOak woodland along the Sacramento River between Chico and Red Bluff, with a shaded campground and a little…

Historic sites & museums 53

Anderson Marsh State Historic ParkFreshwater marsh and oak woodland near Lower Lake, layered with a cultural record reaching back some 14,000…
Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic ParkA regional museum holding Native American collections from the Antelope Valley, the California coast, the…
Bale Grist Mill State Historic ParkA fully restored water-powered grist mill in the heart of Napa Valley, built in 1846 by Edward Turner Bale…
Benicia Capitol State Historic ParkCalifornia's third seat of government, used in 1853 and 1854 and the only capitol surviving from before…
Bidwell Mansion State Historic ParkA three-storey, twenty-six-room Victorian house in central Chico, built as the home of pioneers John and…
Bodie State Historic ParkA gold-mining boom town held in what the park calls arrested decay — buildings stabilised but never restored…
California Citrus State Historic ParkA living museum of citrus groves, period buildings and interpretive exhibits telling how the fruit shaped…
California State CapitolHome of the California Legislature since 1869, with museum rooms, exhibits and public tours. Sessions are…
Chumash Painted Cave State Historic ParkA small sandstone cave above Santa Barbara holding some of the finest surviving Chumash rock art. A…
Colonel Allensworth State Historic ParkRestored and reconstructed buildings mark the town founded, financed and governed by African Americans in the…
Columbia State Historic ParkA Gold Rush town once called the gem of the southern mines, kept as a working street of shops, saloons and a…
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic ParkThe last Spanish fortress built in Alta California, preserved between the Santa Ynez mountains and the sea…
Empire Mine State Historic ParkThe surface works, owner's house and gardens of one of California's oldest, deepest and richest gold mines…
Folsom Powerhouse State Historic ParkAn 1895 plant that was among the oldest hydroelectric facilities in the world and one of the first in the…
Fort Humboldt State Historic ParkA remote military post established in 1853 on a bluff above Humboldt Bay. Exhibits cover the fort and the…
Fort Ross State Historic ParkThe reconstructed stockade and surviving buildings of North America's southernmost Russian colony, founded in…
Fort Tejon State Historic ParkA U.S. Army frontier post garrisoned from 1854 to 1864, on the main route between the Central Valley and…
Governor's Mansion State Historic ParkCalifornia's executive mansion, built in 1877 and bought by the state in 1903 for $32,500 as a home for…
Hearst San Simeon State Historical MonumentHearst Castle: the estate William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan built above San Simeon, with a…
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic ParkHome to North America's largest collection of bedrock mortars and to California's largest roundhouse still in…
Jack London State Historic ParkThe Sonoma Valley ranch where writer and adventurer Jack London settled, with the cottage, Beauty Ranch, the…
La Purísima Mission State Historic ParkThe most completely restored of California's Spanish missions, founded in 1787 on Chumash land near Lompoc…
Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic ParkAn elegant 1856 brick Victorian that served as the office of three California governors in the 1860s, among…
Los Angeles State Historic ParkAn urban park beside Chinatown, with wide paths, meadow planting and a clear view of the downtown skyline…
Los Encinos State Historic ParkThe site of the village of Siutcanga in the San Fernando Valley, with exhibits on the farming enterprises of…
Malakoff Diggins State Historic ParkThe site of California's largest hydraulic gold mine, where high-pressure water washed away whole hillsides…
Marconi Conference Center State Historic ParkA hillside above Tomales Bay that began as a Marconi wireless receiving station and now runs as a conference…
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic ParkColoma, on the South Fork of the American River, where James Marshall found gold in 1848 and started the Gold…
Monterey State Historic ParkA collection of historic buildings through downtown Monterey, among them California's First Theater and the…
Old Sacramento State Historic ParkMore than fifty historic buildings on the riverfront, from Sacramento's years as the western end of the Pony…
Old Town San Diego State Historic ParkHistoric buildings and living-history programs bring back Mexican California's rancho period and the early…
Olompali State Historic ParkEast-facing slopes of 1,558-foot Mount Burdell look over the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay. The name comes…
Petaluma Adobe State Historic ParkThe huge adobe at the centre of the largest private rancho in California between 1834 and 1846, and one of…
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic ParkThe 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse has guided mariners from this cliff since 1872 and is among the tallest…
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic ParkA headland pushing into the Pacific, holding a fully restored lighthouse with three original keepers' houses…
Point Sur State Historic ParkThe only complete turn-of-the-century light station open to the public in California, on a 361-foot volcanic…
Pío Pico State Historic ParkThe adobe home and gardens of Pío Pico, governor of Mexican California before and during the Mexican-American…
Railtown 1897 State Historic ParkA working steam-era railroad with historic locomotives, maintenance shops and a roundhouse, with a long…
San Juan Bautista State Historic ParkThe plaza and restored Spanish, Mexican and American buildings of what was once the largest town in central…
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic ParkTrails, an outdoor amphitheatre and a visitor center commemorating the Kumeyaay and the soldiers who fought…
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic ParkThe only surviving building of California's twelfth mission — a restored adobe that housed Native workers and…
Santa Susana Pass State Historic ParkHigh narrow ridges and deep canyons crossed by what was once a stretch of the Butterfield Overland stage…
Shasta State Historic ParkBrick shells, streets and remnants of the town that was Northern California's centre of mining, commerce and…
Sonoma State Historic ParkSeveral historic sites around Sonoma Plaza, in the heart of wine country and the birthplace of the California…
State Indian Museum State Historic ParkA museum since 1940 telling the story of California's Indigenous cultures, from an eighteen-foot Yurok…
Sutter's Fort State Historic ParkThe oldest restored fort in the West, in midtown Sacramento, with rooms and exhibits interpreting early…
Tomo-Kahni State Historic ParkTomo-Kahni — Winter Village — was a Kawaiisu village site in the Tehachapi Mountains. It can be visited on…
Wassama Round House State Historic ParkThe traditional meeting place of the Southern Sierra Miwok, still used as a ceremonial site today. A small…
Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic ParkSteel towers wrapped in wire mesh, coated in mortar and set with tile, glass, shell, pottery and stone — a…
Weaverville Joss House State Historic ParkThe Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds, built in 1874 and the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in…
Will Rogers State Historic ParkThe Pacific Palisades ranch of the 1930s columnist, radio star and film actor Will Rogers and his wife Betty…
William B. Ide Adobe State Historic ParkAn 1852 adobe homestead above the Sacramento River, named for a leader of the short-lived Bear Flag Revolt…
Woodland Opera House State Historic ParkA fully working nineteenth-century theatre twenty miles north-west of Sacramento, with elegantly restored…

Beaches 62

Asilomar State BeachA Pacific Grove shoreline of white sand and dune habitat, with a coastal trail above the beach. The historic…
Bean Hollow State BeachA rugged stretch of the San Mateo coast known for pebbled shore, honeycombed tafoni rock and busy tide pools…
Bolsa Chica State BeachA long Orange County strand that draws consistent surf, backed by a beachfront path and RV camping. Fire…
Cardiff State BeachA gently sloping sand beach on the San Diego coast with comparatively warm water. Good for swimming and…
Carlsbad State BeachA compact beach in the middle of Carlsbad, used for swimming, surfing, diving, fishing and beachcombing. The…
Carmel River State BeachThe Carmel River pools into a lagoon that draws waterfowl and songbirds before reaching the Pacific here. A…
Carpinteria State BeachA mile of white sand and rock outcrop twelve miles south of Santa Barbara, with tide pools at low water…
Caspar Headlands State BeachA small Mendocino coast beach tucked beside the headlands, and a reliable spot to watch for migrating grey…
Cayucos State BeachA sheltered beach and fishing pier at the centre of the town of Cayucos, framed by historic buildings. Easy…
Corona del Mar State BeachA half mile of sand framed by cliffs and the rock jetty that forms the east entrance to Newport Harbor…
Dockweiler State BeachThree miles of shoreline under the Los Angeles airport flight path, operated by the county, with an RV park…
Doheny State BeachCalifornia's first state beach and a surfing landmark at Dana Point, with a long swimming stretch and a…
El Capitán State BeachSandy beach, rocky tide pools and stands of sycamore on the Santa Barbara coast. Swimming, fishing, surfing…
Emma Wood State BeachModerate water temperatures make this Ventura shoreline good for swimming, surfing and fishing. Campsites…
Gray Whale Cove State BeachA secluded cove below dramatic cliffs, reached by a long, steep staircase from the highway. Turquoise water…
Greenwood State BeachBeach access on the Mendocino coast with a visitor center telling how the lumber town of Elk worked in the…
Half Moon Bay State BeachFour miles of sand and gentle dune on the San Mateo coast, reliably cool and open to the horizon. Shore…
Huntington State BeachA wide Orange County strand drawing crowds year-round to surf, swim, sunbathe and fish. Fire rings and a…
Leucadia State BeachA small, rocky Encinitas beach known locally as Beacon's, run by the city. Swimming, surfing, fishing and…
Lighthouse Field State BeachOne of the last open headlands in any Californian city, drawing surfers, birds and overwintering monarch…
Little River State BeachDunes and a broad, open beach thirteen miles north of Eureka. Long enough for walking, riding and surf…
Malibu Lagoon State BeachNature trails around a restored lagoon with good bird watching, plus beach access at Surfrider. The historic…
Mandalay State BeachAn undeveloped Oxnard shoreline of sand, coastal dune and wetland, including sensitive dune habitat. Parts…
Manresa State BeachA long open reach of sand on Monterey Bay, good for surf fishing and clamming. A walk-in campground sits on…
Marina State BeachTall dunes and strong, steady wind make this Monterey Bay beach a favourite for hang gliding, kite flying and…
McGrath State BeachRiverbank willow along the Santa Clara River and dunes at the shore make this one of California's best…
Montara State BeachA sandy San Mateo beach set among dramatic rocky outcrops, reached by a staircase from the highway…
Monterey State BeachThree stretches of golden sand between Monterey and Seaside, easy to reach and easy to walk. Best at sunset…
Moonlight State BeachA city-run Encinitas beach popular with locals and visitors, with a snack bar, equipment rentals and a…
Morro Strand State BeachA long strand looking out over the whole of Estero Bay, Morro Rock included. Surfing, kite surfing, fishing…
Moss Landing State BeachNorth of the fishing port, dunes shelter this beach from the afternoon wind and open onto the Monterey Bay…
Natural Bridges State BeachA wave-carved sea arch, sheltered family beach and busy tide pools at the edge of Santa Cruz. Monarch…
New Brighton State BeachBeach and bluff above Monterey Bay, named for the English resort, with sweeping views and trails on the…
Pacifica State BeachA wide crescent of sand off Highway 1 marking the northern end of the San Mateo coast. Surf, a beachfront…
Pelican State BeachCalifornia's northernmost beach, undeveloped and secluded right on the Oregon line. Best for walking and…
Pescadero State BeachLong sand running into a rocky tidal zone that is excellent for tide pooling. The Pescadero Marsh Natural…
Pismo State BeachCamping, hiking, swimming and surf fishing along the Central Coast dunes. The Monarch Butterfly Grove here is…
Point Dume State BeachHeadlands, cliffs, rocky coves and wide sand at the west end of Malibu. The bluff is one of the best places…
Point Sal State BeachExceptional views over coastline, beach and steep mountain slope in north-western Santa Barbara County…
Pomponio State BeachSweeping bluffs, broad sand flats and the creek that gives the beach its name meet in a windswept stretch of…
Refugio State BeachPalms above the sand give this beach twenty-two miles west of Santa Barbara an oddly tropical feel, and the…
Robert H. Meyer Memorial State BeachThree pocket beaches on the Malibu coast — El Matador, La Piedra and El Pescador — each reached by a path and…
Robert W. Crown Memorial State BeachTwo and a half miles of Alameda bayshore backed by lawns, picnic grounds and a bicycle path. Until the Second…
Salinas River State BeachBeach and dune forming part of Monterey Bay's coastal dune system, home to a long list of bird species. A…
San Buenaventura State BeachTwo miles of Ventura sand with a small lagoon, plenty of wildlife and an easygoing retro feel. Swimming…
San Clemente State BeachOne of California's oldest state beaches, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, with sandstone cliffs…
San Elijo State BeachA narrow strand with a bluff-top campground looking straight out to sea, on the San Diego coast. The reef…
San Gregorio State BeachCoastal bluff, a winding creek and wide ocean views, with a driftwood-strewn estuary that shelters birds and…
San Onofre State BeachThree distinct sections and a beach known worldwide for its surf, which is to host Olympic competition at the…
Santa Monica State BeachTwo miles of county-run beach with a pier, shops, picnic areas and volleyball and basketball courts. A bike…
Schooner Gulch State BeachBeach and headland on a scenic reach of the Mendocino coast, good for fishing, picnicking and surfing. Low…
Seacliff State BeachA swimming and picnic beach near Santa Cruz, long defined by the S.S. Palo Alto — a concrete ship built in…
Silver Strand State BeachSand on both the Pacific and San Diego Bay, fifteen minutes south of downtown. Birding, camping, swimming…
South Carlsbad State BeachA bluff-top campground looking out to sea, with stairs down to the sand. Swimming, surfing, skin diving…
Sunset State BeachPines, high sand dunes and ocean-side picnic spots between Santa Cruz and Monterey, bordered by farmland. The…
Thornton State BeachA bluff-top parcel on the coast at Daly City, above the ocean south of San Francisco. The park is not…
Torrey Pines State BeachA San Diego beach between La Jolla and Del Mar, below red-hued bluffs and beside a lagoon. Swimming, surf…
Trinidad State BeachA secluded Humboldt cove with sandy beach, dense conifer forest and open bluff above. Sea stacks and long…
Twin Lakes State BeachA mile of sand beside the small-craft harbour in Santa Cruz, popular for swimming and picnicking. Warm…
Westport-Union Landing State BeachMore than three miles of rugged Mendocino coastline with three campgrounds strung along the bluffs. Ocean…
Will Rogers State BeachA county-run Pacific Palisades beach with volleyball courts, a playground and gymnastic equipment. A bike…
Zmudowski State BeachA quiet Monterey Bay beach taking in the Pajaro River estuary. Fishing, birdwatching and horseback riding on…

1 New Year’s Day hike in California, 2027

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California: 90 state parks, 62 state beaches, 53 historic sites, 30 recreation areas, 16 natural areas and 9 off-highway vehicle areas

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