111 state parks with swimming in California
111 of California’s 260 state parks list swimming. See these parks on a map
| Park | Entry | Camping | Lodging | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Molera State ParkLargely undeveloped Big Sur coast range, with fifteen miles of trail and the mouth of the Big Sur River. The… | $10 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Angel Island State ParkThe largest natural island in San Francisco Bay, with trails looking back at the city skyline, the Marin… | $3 / adult | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Asilomar State BeachA Pacific Grove shoreline of white sand and dune habitat, with a coastal trail above the beach. The historic… | Campsites | Lodge | ||
| Auburn State Recreation AreaThirty-odd thousand acres of gold country along two forks of the American River, with whitewater, swimming… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Austin Creek State Recreation AreaTwenty miles of trail across meadows, woodland and rolling Sonoma hills, reached through the redwoods at… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Bean Hollow State BeachA rugged stretch of the San Mateo coast known for pebbled shore, honeycombed tafoni rock and busy tide pools… | Day use only | |||
| Benbow State Recreation AreaDay use on the Wild and Scenic South Fork Eel River, with swimming, picnicking and wildlife watching. A quiet… | $8 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Bidwell-Sacramento River State ParkRiparian woodland and river frontage west of Chico, long a favourite fishing spot. Swimming, paddling and… | $6 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Big Basin Redwoods State ParkCalifornia's oldest state park, set aside in 1902 to protect ancient coast redwoods in the Santa Cruz… | $10 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Bolsa Chica State BeachA long Orange County strand that draws consistent surf, backed by a beachfront path and RV camping. Fire… | $15–$40 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Bothe-Napa Valley State ParkCoast redwood, tanoak, Douglas-fir and madrone on the wooded slopes above Napa Valley. Hiking, a summer… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Brannan Island State Recreation AreaA way into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, with boat access, swimming and some of the region's better… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Calaveras Big Trees State ParkTwo groves of giant sequoia — the North Grove and the South Grove — inside a mixed conifer forest above… | $10–$12 / vehicle | Campsites | Lodge | Book a campsite |
| Candlestick Point State Recreation AreaCalifornia's first urban state park, on the bay in San Francisco's Bayview-Hunters Point neighbourhood… | Day use only | |||
| Cardiff State BeachA gently sloping sand beach on the San Diego coast with comparatively warm water. Good for swimming and… | $12–$25 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Carlsbad State BeachA compact beach in the middle of Carlsbad, used for swimming, surfing, diving, fishing and beachcombing. The… | Day use only | |||
| Carpinteria State BeachA mile of white sand and rock outcrop twelve miles south of Santa Barbara, with tide pools at low water… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Castaic Lake State Recreation AreaTwenty-nine miles of shoreline on one of the State Water Project's largest recreational lakes, below the… | $12 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Caswell Memorial State ParkOne of California's last remaining riparian oak woodlands, on the Stanislaus River near Ripon. Old-growth… | $10–$12 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Cayucos State BeachA sheltered beach and fishing pier at the centre of the town of Cayucos, framed by historic buildings. Easy… | Day use only | |||
| China Camp State ParkOak woodland, panoramic bay views and more than a hundred acres of protected tidal salt marsh along San Pablo… | $5 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Clear Lake State ParkOn the shore of California's oldest and largest natural freshwater lake, with swimming, boating and fishing… | $8 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Corona del Mar State BeachA half mile of sand framed by cliffs and the rock jetty that forms the east entrance to Newport Harbor… | Day use only | |||
| Crystal Cove State ParkOne of Orange County's largest remaining stretches of open space and natural seashore, with tide pools, sandy… | $15–$20 / vehicle | Campsites | Lodge | |
| D. L. Bliss State ParkGranite shoreline and one of Lake Tahoe's most popular beaches, with trails along the bluffs above the water… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Dockweiler State BeachThree miles of shoreline under the Los Angeles airport flight path, operated by the county, with an RV park… | Campsites | |||
| Doheny State BeachCalifornia's first state beach and a surfing landmark at Dana Point, with a long swimming stretch and a… | $15 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Donner Memorial State ParkTrails and lake access at the east end of Donner Lake, with a visitor center and monument to the pioneers who… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| 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… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| El Capitán State BeachSandy beach, rocky tide pools and stands of sycamore on the Santa Barbara coast. Swimming, fishing, surfing… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Emerald Bay State ParkRugged shoreline above blue-green water on Lake Tahoe's most photographed inlet, with Vikingsholm — a… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Emma Wood State BeachModerate water temperatures make this Ventura shoreline good for swimming, surfing and fishing. Campsites… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Folsom Lake State Recreation AreaA large foothill reservoir near Sacramento with waterskiing, boating, swimming and a long network of trails… | Campsites | Book a campsite | ||
| Gaviota State ParkSurfing, hiking and multi-use trails climbing from the Santa Barbara coast into oak woodland and chaparral… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| George J. Hatfield State Recreation AreaMore than a mile of Merced River frontage in the San Joaquin Valley, with fishing, wading, kayaking and… | $10–$12 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Gray Whale Cove State BeachA secluded cove below dramatic cliffs, reached by a long, steep staircase from the highway. Turquoise water… | Day use only | |||
| Grizzly Creek Redwoods State ParkBig trees and few people on the quiet Van Duzen River, thirty miles inland from the north coast. Swimming… | $8 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| 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… | $8 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Half Moon Bay State BeachFour miles of sand and gentle dune on the San Mateo coast, reliably cool and open to the horizon. Shore… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| 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… | Day use only | |||
| Hearst San Simeon State ParkCoastal bluffs and promontories with unbroken views of ocean and rocky shore, plus natural and cultural… | Campsites | Book a campsite | ||
| Hendy Woods State ParkTwo groves of towering redwoods in the Anderson Valley, warmer and less foggy than most coastal redwood… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Henry Cowell Redwoods State ParkA forty-acre grove of old-growth redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Felton, with ponderosa pine and… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Henry W. Coe State ParkNorthern California's largest state park, protecting 87,000 acres of hills and ridges in the Diablo Range… | $8 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Humboldt Lagoons State ParkPart of the largest lagoon system in the country, forty miles north of Eureka, with dunes, forest, prairie… | Campsites | |||
| Humboldt Redwoods State ParkThe largest remaining old-growth redwood forest in the world, threaded by the 32-mile Avenue of the Giants… | $8 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Huntington State BeachA wide Orange County strand drawing crowds year-round to surf, swim, sunbathe and fish. Fire rings and a… | $15 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Kings Beach State Recreation AreaA sandy beach and picnic tables under Jeffrey pines on Lake Tahoe's north shore. Swimming, boat rentals and a… | $10 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Lake Del Valle State Recreation AreaA State Water Project reservoir in central Alameda County with swimming, boating, fishing and horseback… | $5 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Lake Oroville State Recreation AreaThe reservoir behind the tallest dam in the country, which rises 770 feet above the Feather River streambed… | $8–$13 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Lake Perris State Recreation AreaA Southern California reservoir ringed by rugged hills and open space, built for watersports. Swimming… | $10–$20 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Leo Carrillo State ParkA mile and a half of Malibu-area beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beachcombing… | $12 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Leucadia State BeachA small, rocky Encinitas beach known locally as Beacon's, run by the city. Swimming, surfing, fishing and… | Day use only | |||
| Malakoff Diggins State Historic ParkThe site of California's largest hydraulic gold mine, where high-pressure water washed away whole hillsides… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Malibu Creek State ParkHiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, fishing and riding across the Santa Monica Mountains backcountry. The… | $12 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Malibu Lagoon State BeachNature trails around a restored lagoon with good bird watching, plus beach access at Surfrider. The historic… | $12 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Marina State BeachTall dunes and strong, steady wind make this Monterey Bay beach a favourite for hang gliding, kite flying and… | Day use only | |||
| 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… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| McConnell State Recreation AreaShaded riverbank on the Merced with grassy fields, quiet campsites, swimming and fishing. An easy Central… | $10–$12 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| McGrath State BeachRiverbank willow along the Santa Clara River and dunes at the shore make this one of California's best… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| 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… | Day use only | |||
| Millerton Lake State Recreation AreaMore than forty miles of shoreline on a Sierra foothill reservoir straddling Fresno and Madera counties… | $10–$12 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Mono Lake Tufa State Natural ReserveAn ancient lake in the eastern Sierra where calcium-rich springs meet carbonate water and precipitate… | $3 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Montara State BeachA sandy San Mateo beach set among dramatic rocky outcrops, reached by a staircase from the highway… | Day use only | |||
| Monterey State BeachThree stretches of golden sand between Monterey and Seaside, easy to reach and easy to walk. Best at sunset… | Day use only | |||
| Moonlight State BeachA city-run Encinitas beach popular with locals and visitors, with a snack bar, equipment rentals and a… | Day use only | |||
| Morro Strand State BeachA long strand looking out over the whole of Estero Bay, Morro Rock included. Surfing, kite surfing, fishing… | Campsites | Book a campsite | ||
| Moss Landing State BeachNorth of the fishing port, dunes shelter this beach from the afternoon wind and open onto the Monterey Bay… | Day use only | |||
| Mount Tamalpais State ParkDeep canyons and open hillsides north of the Golden Gate, cloaked in redwood, oak woodland, grassland and… | Campsites | Book a campsite | ||
| Navarro River Redwoods State ParkSecond-growth redwoods line the Navarro River the length of this Anderson Valley park. Camping, kayaking and… | Campsites | |||
| New Brighton State BeachBeach and bluff above Monterey Bay, named for the English resort, with sweeping views and trails on the… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation AreaA working coastal dune system open to off-highway vehicles, with swimming, surfing, surf fishing and hiking… | $5 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Pacifica State BeachA wide crescent of sand off Highway 1 marking the northern end of the San Mateo coast. Surf, a beachfront… | $9 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Pescadero State BeachLong sand running into a rocky tidal zone that is excellent for tide pooling. The Pescadero Marsh Natural… | $8 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Pfeiffer Big Sur State ParkCoast redwoods with the Big Sur River winding through them, and Big Sur's largest campground. A lodge, food… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Lodge | Book a campsite |
| Picacho State Recreation AreaA remote stretch of the lower Colorado River on California's south-eastern edge, reached by a long dirt road… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| 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… | Campsites | Lodge | ||
| Pismo State BeachCamping, hiking, swimming and surf fishing along the Central Coast dunes. The Monarch Butterfly Grove here is… | $5 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Point Dume State BeachHeadlands, cliffs, rocky coves and wide sand at the west end of Malibu. The bluff is one of the best places… | Day use only | |||
| Point Mugu State ParkFive miles of shoreline in the far western Santa Monica Mountains, with rocky bluff, sandy beach and dune… | $12 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Pomponio State BeachSweeping bluffs, broad sand flats and the creek that gives the beach its name meet in a windswept stretch of… | $8 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Portola Redwoods State ParkA hushed getaway from the South Bay, where trails follow meandering creeks and coast redwoods stand among… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Refugio State BeachPalms above the sand give this beach twenty-two miles west of Santa Barbara an oddly tropical feel, and the… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Reynolds Wayside CampgroundA small unit near Piercy preserving thirty-eight acres of old-growth coast redwood and Douglas fir. Swimming… | Day use only | |||
| Richardson Grove State ParkCoast redwoods more than three hundred feet tall stand over the South Fork of the Eel, part of the national… | $8 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| 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… | $10 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| 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… | Day use only | |||
| Russian Gulch State ParkA forested walk leads to a 36-foot waterfall, and the headland holds the Punch Bowl, a collapsed sea cave. A… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Salinas River State BeachBeach and dune forming part of Monterey Bay's coastal dune system, home to a long list of bird species. A… | Day use only | |||
| Salton Sea State Recreation AreaOne of the world's largest inland seas, created when Colorado River floodwaters broke into the Imperial… | $7 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| San Buenaventura State BeachTwo miles of Ventura sand with a small lagoon, plenty of wildlife and an easygoing retro feel. Swimming… | $10 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| San Clemente State BeachOne of California's oldest state beaches, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, with sandstone cliffs… | $15–$20 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| San Elijo State BeachA narrow strand with a bluff-top campground looking straight out to sea, on the San Diego coast. The reef… | $8–$20 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| San Gregorio State BeachCoastal bluff, a winding creek and wide ocean views, with a driftwood-strewn estuary that shelters birds and… | $8 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| San Luis Reservoir State Recreation AreaThree lakes in the grassy hills of the western San Joaquin Valley near Pacheco Pass, storing Delta runoff… | $10–$12 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| San Onofre State BeachThree distinct sections and a beach known worldwide for its surf, which is to host Olympic competition at the… | $15–$20 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Santa Monica State BeachTwo miles of county-run beach with a pier, shops, picnic areas and volleyball and basketball courts. A bike… | Day use only | |||
| Seacliff State BeachA swimming and picnic beach near Santa Cruz, long defined by the S.S. Palo Alto — a concrete ship built in… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | ||
| Silver Strand State BeachSand on both the Pacific and San Diego Bay, fifteen minutes south of downtown. Birding, camping, swimming… | $12–$20 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Silverwood Lake State Recreation AreaThe highest reservoir in the State Water Project, in the San Bernardino National Forest, with snow-capped… | $10–$20 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| Smithe Redwoods State Natural ReserveThe Frank and Bess Smithe Grove of redwoods, with a sixty-foot waterfall and a picnic area. Fishing and… | Day use only | |||
| Sonoma Coast State ParkA string of beaches from Bodega Bay to the Russian River, with secluded coves, rugged headlands, natural… | $10 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| South Carlsbad State BeachA bluff-top campground looking out to sea, with stairs down to the sand. Swimming, surfing, skin diving… | $10–$20 / vehicle | Campsites | Book a campsite | |
| South Yuba River State ParkA swift, cold river cutting a granite canyon in the Sierra foothills, with seasonal wildflowers along the… | $10 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Standish-Hickey State Recreation AreaThe southern gateway to redwood country, on the South Fork of the Eel. Camping, swimming and fishing, with… | Campsites | |||
| Tomales Bay State ParkSheltered coves, beaches and tidal marsh on the eastern edge of the Point Reyes Peninsula, with a bishop pine… | $8 / vehicle | Day use only | ||
| Torrey Pines State BeachA San Diego beach between La Jolla and Del Mar, below red-hued bluffs and beside a lagoon. Swimming, surf… | Day use only | |||
| Turlock Lake State Recreation AreaTwenty-six miles of shoreline between the Tuolumne River to the north and Turlock Lake to the south. Built… | Campsites | |||
| Twin Lakes State BeachA mile of sand beside the small-craft harbour in Santa Cruz, popular for swimming and picnicking. Warm… | Day use only | |||
| Will Rogers State BeachA county-run Pacific Palisades beach with volleyball courts, a playground and gymnastic equipment. A bike… | Day use only | |||
| Zmudowski State BeachA quiet Monterey Bay beach taking in the Pajaro River estuary. Fishing, birdwatching and horseback riding on… | Day use only |
More California lists
All 260 California state parks
State parks with swimming in other states
- Alabama15
- Alaska7
- Arizona14
- Arkansas19
- Colorado21
- Connecticut26
- Georgia19
- Hawaiʻi9
- Idaho17
- Illinois12
- Indiana28
- Iowa33
- Kansas11
- Kentucky25
- Louisiana16
- Maryland19
- Massachusetts48
- Minnesota32
- Mississippi7
- Missouri28
- Montana27
- Nebraska32
- Nevada9
- New Hampshire30
- New Mexico14
- New York87
- North Carolina16
- North Dakota7
- Oklahoma29
- Oregon30
- Pennsylvania51
- Rhode Island14
- South Carolina29
- South Dakota35
- Tennessee34
- Texas63
- Utah27
- Vermont37
- Virginia12
- Washington87
- West Virginia19
- Wisconsin32
- Wyoming8