Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco)
Search results
Our new reservation system improves service delivery to our visitors online and in our park units. You’ll be able to explore California’s outdoor recreational opportunities in a more modern way via interactive maps and other online tools. Go invent your adventure! View the FAQs. MAKE A RESERVATION
- Online Reservations
For example, on August 1 a visitor will be able to reserve a...
- Camping
The $7.99 reservation fee is non-refundable. If you cancel a...
- Jobs
About: State Park equipment Operators work with bulldozers,...
- Reservations and Fees
Feel the breeze through the pines, smell an aromatic...
- Contact Us
(800) 444-PARK (7275) Camping Refunds...
- GRANTS
Grant Opportunities. It’s not just about the state parks....
- Online Reservations
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
- McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- Emerald Bay State Park
- Bodie State Historic Park
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
- Año Nuevo State Park
- Columbia State Historic Park
One of the best known state parks in California, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is home to the impossibly picturesque McWay Falls. The 80-foot waterfall tumbles from the cliffs onto a pristine beach below. The park features a number of hiking trails of varying length and difficulty, some of them offering beautiful coastal views. Look for Californi...
The 129-foot Burney Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in California. The fan-shaped waterfall is relatively full year-round, and drops into a beautiful plunge pool. Burney Falls can be accessed via the one-mile Burney Falls Loop Trail in the park. The trail takes you around the gorgeous falls, and you can view them from an overlook abov...
Located in the Colorado Desert in Southern California, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of the best day trips from Palm Springsyou can do if you enjoy nature. It also makes for one of the easiest weekend getaways from San Diego, being less than 2 hours away by road! Featuring dramatic desert scapes, a number of cool slot canyons, and beautiful...
Just a few miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey is the strikingly beautiful Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, called the “crown jewel” of the California State Parks system. With a fascinating history of whaling and abalone harvesting and the essence of California’s coastal beauty concentrated into a few square miles, Point Lobos State Par...
You’ll find Emerald Bay State Park on the scenic west shore of Lake Tahoe, one of the most beautifullakes in California. Lake Tahoe straddles the California-Nevada border, and Emerald Bay is on the California side. Emerald Bay is designated a National Natural Landmark. Accessed via Highway 89, the road that runs around the lake, the park is a few m...
Bodie State Historic Park is located off the scenic Highway 395corridor, northeast of Yosemite National Park. The park preserves the remnants of a gold boom-and-bust town, with structures left in a state of “arrested decay.” Gold was discovered in the area towards the last quarter of the 19th century. When a mine caved in, large deposits were revea...
Our favorite among the redwoods parks in California, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park contains a wealth of old-growth redwoods, some of the largest (by trunk size) you’ll find anywhere. The park is one of the parks that make up the Redwood National and State Parks. Walking along a misty trail under the shade of the giant old trees in the park is ...
Pigeon Point Lighthouse, at 115 feet, is one of the tallest light stations in the United States. The light was first lit in 1872, and the station continues to function as an active lighthouse today. Pigeon Point Light Station Historic Park is located in Pescadero, about an hour’s drive south of San Francisco. If you enjoy photographing sunsets, pla...
Located a little over an hour’s drive south of San Francisco along the coast, Año Nuevo State Park is famous for its pinniped rookeries. Guided tours are offered from mid December until the end of March, breeding time for the elephant seals. For much of the rest of the year, you can visit on a self-guided tour, by permit. Seals can be seen year rou...
Located in the heart of Gold Country, a little over an hour’s drive from Sacramento, Columbia State Historic Park preserves the California gold rush town of Columbia, where huge amounts of gold were mined between 1850 and 1860. The town declined in subsequent years, with buildings torn down and many people leaving, but unlike most of the other gold...
Jan 9, 2023 · National parks in California are an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, graced with generally mild weather and flush with jaw-dropping scenery at every turn. Of course, that means you might have...
Jul 6, 2016 · We've culled together 30 must-do California outdoor adventures and destinations below. From easily accessible yet strikingly scenic waterfalls and state parks to multi-day backpacking excursions and demanding climbing routes, there's something in here for everyone.
- JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK—With a stunningly stark, almost witchy beauty, it’s easy to fall under Joshua Tree National Park’s spell. We show you how to explore Indian Cove Nature Trail; climb at Echo Cove; hike among giant boulders on Arch Rock Trail; walk among cacti in Cholla Cactus Garden; relax at the Pioneertown Motel; kick back to live music at Pappy & Harriet’s; and watch the sunset at Keys View.
- CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK—This remote destination encompasses five islands off the Southern California coast where wraparound beauty and abundant plant and animal life are the star attractions.
- YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK—Known for its waterfalls, giant sequoia trees, and sheer granite cliffs, you can spend weeks exploring Yosemite National Park. Watch rock climbers scale the towering El Capitan.
- LAKE TAHOE—No matter the season, Lake Tahoe is a haven for outdoor adventure. Climb aboard a kayak on Lake Tahoe; sample inventive craft brews at FiftyFifty Brewing Company; find easy access to the slopes by staying at The Village at Squaw Valley; bike the Truckee River Bike Trail; and hike in Emerald Bay State Park.
Apr 8, 2024 · 1. Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful destinations in The United States. Covering almost 750,000 acres, 95% of which is designated “wilderness,” Yosemite is a nature-lover’s paradise. Since I live in Southern California, I flew into San Francisco and rented a campervan to explore Yosemite.
California is home to 280 state parks, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. The top 10 state parks in California offer unique attractions and natural beauty. Activities in these state parks include hiking, camping, and wildlife spotting. From redwood forests to stunning beaches, there’s something for everyone in California’s state parks.
