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State Parks in California

The most common natural landscapes in California state parks are beaches and coastal bluffs along the Pacific Ocean, or groves of giant redwood trees, these latter found close to the coast from Santa Cruz north to the Oregon border. Other parks feature mountains, waterfalls, grassland, rock formations and desert areas. Around 60 of the parks were scheduled for closure during summer 2012, due to the state budget defecit, however access to all is still possible.

Other California listings: national parks, monuments, recreation areas and historic sites and state natural reserves.

Sandy beach at Andrew Molera State Park
Sandy beach at Andrew Molera State Park
Palm trees; Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Palm trees; Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Redwood Trail, Big Basin Redwoods Stata Park
Redwood Trail, Big Basin Redwoods Stata Park
Fallen tree, Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Fallen tree, Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Mount Shasta, from Castle Crags State Park
Mount Shasta, from Castle Crags State Park


Park Features Location
Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park Bays, creeks and tiny islands, surrounded by lava flows. Park reachable only by boat Shasta County, near McArthur and Burney
Andrew Molera State Park Big Sur coastline, meadows and inland redwood forests Along Hwy 1, 20 miles south of Carmel
Angel Island State Park Forested island in San Francisco Bay, with several historic buildings Accessed by ferry from San Francisco, Vallejo or Tiburon
Annadel State Park Meadows and wooded hills, with many trails Sonoma Mountains, east of Santa Rosa along US 101
Año Nuevo State Park Island and undeveloped stretch of the coastline, providing a variety of wildlife habitats San Mateo County, 55 miles south of San Francisco
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park California's largest state park - rugged desert wilderness, cacti, wildflowers, oases, badlands, narrow canyons and mountains East of San Diego, near the Salton Sea
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park Joshua trees and juniper bushes Antelope Valley, near Lancaster
Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park River lined by dense woodland, popular for fishing and boating Five miles west of Chico, Butte County
Big Basin Redwoods State Park Atmospheric old growth redwood forest In the hills southwest of Santa Cruz
Border Field State Park Salt marshes and sand dunes, home to several rare bird species South of San Diego, adjoining the Mexican border
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park Coastal redwoods and small streams - hiking and horse riding available Napa Valley, between Calistoga and St Helena
Burton Creek State Park Hiking and skiing through forested terrain Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe
Butano State Park Shady mountain canyon with redwood trees Near Pescadero, west of Santa Cruz
Calaveras Big Trees State Park Giant sequoia in the northern Sierra Nevada Along CA 4, 20 miles northeast of Angels Camp
Castle Crags State Park Granite rock formations and a section of the Sacramento River Near Mt Shasta, just off interstate 5
Castle Rock State Park Mixed fir/redwood forest and rock formations, along the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains; many trails CA 35, a few miles from Santa Cruz
Caswell Memorial State Park Oak woodland and riparian habitats beside the Stanislaus River South of Stockton, near Hwy 99
China Camp State Park Marsh, oak woodland and meadows beside San Pablo Bay Peninsula just northeast of San Rafael
Chino Hills State Park Grassy hills, patches of woodland, spring wildflowers; 60 miles of trails Ten miles northwest of Corona, Orange County
Clear Lake State Park Wooded section of the shoreline of 43,785 acre Clear Lake West side of the lake, a few miles from Lakeport

Sea arch, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Sea arch, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
Trail to the coast, Harmony Headlands SP
Trail to the coast, Harmony Headlands SP
Dark cliffs, Humboldt Lagoons State Park
Dark cliffs, Humboldt Lagoons State Park
US 199, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
US 199, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Crystal Cove State Park Sandy beaches, tidepools and undeveloped woodland, plus an undersea park open for scuba diving Between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, Orange County
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Pine/oak woodland, grassy hills, meadows and small streams - over 100 miles of trails Cuyamaca Mountains, northeast of San Diego
D. L. Bliss State Park Forest and promontory on the west shore of Lake Tahoe Ten miles north of South Lake Tahoe
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park Tall but rather inaccessible redwoods adjoining the Pacific Ocean Part of Redwood National and State Parks - near Crescent City
Donner Memorial State Park Wooded land next to Donner Lake, with museum and relics from the Donner Party On the edge of Truckee, close to I-80
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park Historic mansion on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, surrounded by pine forest 18 miles north of South Lake Tahoe
Emerald Bay State Park Beautiful inlet on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, containing Fannette Island; also has a reproduction Viking castle Nine miles north of South Lake Tahoe
Estero Bluffs State Park Coastal hills, cliffs, wetlands and secluded beaches - varied plant and wildlife habitats Along Hwy 1 between Morro Bay and Cambria
Fort Ord Dunes State Park Bluffs and a sandy beach Seven miles north of Monterey, just off CA 1
Fremont Peak State Park Grasslands and wooded hills in the Gabilan Range, with views of Monterey Bay Near Salinas, Hollister and San Juan Baptista
Garrapata State Park Beaches and rock formations on the Big Sur coast Seven miles south of Carmel along Hwy 1
Gaviota State Park Beach, pier and grassy hills overlooking the Channel Islands 30 miles west of Santa Barbara via US 101
Great Valley Grasslands State Park Grassland and marshes in the Central Valley; few visitor facilities Hwy 165, 28 miles south of Modesto
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park Two small groves of coastal redwoods beside a winding river Hwy 36, Humboldt County, 37 miles from Eureka
Grover Hot Springs State Park Pine forest and meadows, plus a swimming pool fed by hot springs In the eastern Sierra Nevada, 34 miles from South Lake Tahoe
Harmony Headlands State Park Grassy hills and eroded sandstone formations beside the Pacific Ocean; limited facilities Along Hwy 1 between Morro Bay and Cambria
Hearst San Simeon State Park Two sections; coastal bluffs alongside the Pacific Ocean, and Hearst Castle, the extravagant home of William Randolph Hearst CA 1, north of Cambria
Hendy Woods State Park Two redwood groves beside the Navarro River Anderson Valley, Mendocino County - 27 miles from Ukiah
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Trails an through ancient redwood forest Along Hwy 9, north of Santa Cruz
Henry W. Coe State Park Large, undeveloped area of hills, ridges, valleys and forest East side of Santa Clara Valley, near Morgan Hill
Humboldt Lagoons State Park Coastal lagoons and long, windswept beaches US 101, near Redwood National Park
Humboldt Redwoods State Park Large area of dense forest, with many huge old growth redwoods US 101, 45 miles south of Eureka
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Scenic redwood forest along the Smith River Part of Redwood National and State Parks - near Crescent City
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Pretty section of the Big Sur coastline, bordered by steep, wooded hills Hwy 1, 38 miles south of Carmel


McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
Morro Rock, overlooking Morro Bay State Park
Morro Rock, overlooking Morro Bay State Park
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park
Abalone Point, Patricks Point State Park
Abalone Point, Patricks Point State Park
Shady trail at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Shady trail at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Leo Carrillo State Park Pacific Ocean beach, part of Santa Monica Mountains NRA Hwy 1, 28 miles from Santa Monica
Limekiln State Park Small part of the Big Sur coast plus a few miles of Limekiln Creek and an adjacent redwood forest Hwy 1, 53 miles south of Carmel
MacKerricher State Park Variety of coastal landscapes including dunes, tidepools and eroded rock formations Hwy 1, just north of Fort Bragg, Mendocino County
Malibu Creek State Park Oak, sycamore and chaparral hills either side of a wide, shallow stream Four miles south of US 101 - part of Santa Monica Mountains NRA
Manchester State Park Long beach with sand dunes, next to Point Arena Hwy 1, Mendocino County
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park Spectacular cascade waterfall in wooded country adjacent to Lake Britton Shasta National Forest, north of Lassen Volcanic National Park
Mendocino Headlands State Park Beaches, cliffs and grassy hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean Either side of Mendocino, just off Hwy 1
Mendocino Woodlands State Park Group campsite and environmental learning center in second growth redwood forest Seven miles east of Mendocino
Montaña de Oro State Park Beaches, cliffs and a sizeable hilly area along the Pacific coast South of Morro Bay and west of San Luis Obispo
Morro Bay State Park Hills, marsh, beach and coastal wetlands, plus the conspicuous landmark of Morro Rock Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County
Mount Diablo State Park Scenic, forested mountain - many trails and viewpoints East of Concord and I-680
Mount San Jacinto State Park Granite summit and cool pine forests high above Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley Hwy 243 through the San Bernardino National Forest; also reached by the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Mount Tamalpais State Park Redwood groves surrounded by oak-covered hills; many miles of trails, and views over San Francisco Bay West of Mill Valley, along US 101
Navarro River Redwoods State Park Second growth redwood trees along the Navarro River, ending at a small beach by the ocean Hwy 128, 20 miles south of Fort Bragg, Mendocino County
Pacheco State Park Grassy hills and floral meadows with fine views over the Central Valley 14 miles from interstate 5, near Los Banos
Palomar Mountain State Park Cool, forested mountain; hiking, camping and fishing are available Cleveland National Forest - off Hwy 76, southeast of Temecula
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Several miles of land in the forested canyon of the Big Sur River, including groves of coastal redwoods Hwy 1, 28 miles south of Carmel
Placerita Canyon State Park Hilly country with streams and oak woodland; contains site of the first gold to be discovered in California (1842) North of San Fernando, close to the 14 Freeway
Plumas-Eureka State Park Forested hills in the northern Sierra Nevada, plus museum and relics from the gold mining era Five miles from Blairsden/Graeagle, on Hwy 89
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park Grassy peninsula along the Mendocino Coast, home to a historic lighthouse Between Mendocino and Fort Bragg, just off Hwy 1
Point Mugu State Park Beaches, bluffs, hills and sand dunes alongside the Pacific Ocean Hwy 1, 30 miles from Santa Monica - part of Santa Monica Mountains NRA
Portola Redwoods State Park Redwood, fir and oak trees covering hilly terrain in the Santa Cruz Mountains 30 miles west of San Jose
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park The best collection of giant redwood trees in California Part of Redwood National and State Parks - near Crescent City

Formations at Red Rock Canyon State Park
Formations at Red Rock Canyon State Park
Summit view, Saddleback Butte
Summit view, Saddleback Butte State Park
Tafoni (eroded rocks) at Salt Point State Park
Tafoni (eroded rocks) at Salt Point State Park
Grey sand beach at Sonoma Coast State Park
Grey sand beach at Sonoma Coast State Park
Reflections - Tomales Bay State Park
Reflections - Tomales Bay State Park
Red Rock Canyon State Park Colorful, eroded rock formations at the edge of the Mojave Desert Hwy 14, 27 miles from Ridgecrest
Richardson Grove State Park Coastal redwoods along the South Fork of the Eel River - southernmost of the old growth redwood parks US 101, Humboldt County
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park Wooded hillsides just north of Napa Valley - honeymoon location for the famous author Five miles from Calistoga on Hwy 29
Russian Gulch State Park Beach, rocky headland and a forested river canyon Hwy 1, Mendocino County, near Fort Bragg
Saddleback Butte State Park Mojave Desert peak surrounded by a forest of Joshua trees 11 miles north of Hwy 138, near Palmdale
Salt Point State Park Pacific Ocean beaches, bluffs, forest, grassland and amazing rock formations Hwy 1, Sonoma County
Samuel P. Taylor State Park Hilly country with coastal redwoods and grasslands, good for hiking Just off Hwy 1, near Point Reyes
San Bruno Mountain State Park Undeveloped grassy ridge rising above San Francisco and its suburbs - summit has excellent views Accessed from US 101 or I-280
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park Remote wilderness bordering the Pacific Ocean - part of the Lost Coast 25 miles from US 101 via winding mountain roads; in Mendocino County
Sonoma Coast State Park Collection of beaches, coves and cliffs extending for 15 miles along the Pacific Coast of Sonoma County Hwy 1, between Bodega Bay and Jenner
South Yuba River State Park 20 mile stretch of the Yuba River as it flows through a rocky, forested canyon. Includes a historic covered bridge East of Bridgeport, in the western Sierra Nevada foothills
Sue-meg (Patricks Point) State Park Thickly wooded promontory, tide pools and Pacific Ocean beaches US 101, near Redwood National Park
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Wooded mountains with streams, eroded rocks, meadows and chaparral; 25 miles of trails Seven miles east of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County
Sutter Buttes State Park Lava flows on the north side of a volcanic dome. Park is not yet open 15 miles northwest of Yuba City
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Second growth redwoods and steep-sided coastal mountains, with relics from former logging operations North of Aptos, along Hwy 1 - near Santa Cruz
Tolowa Dunes State Park Wetlands and sand dunes bordering the Pacific Ocean - diverse wildlife habitats Two miles north of Crescent City
Tomales Bay State Park Shallow bay adjacent to Point Reyes - site of the San Andreas Fault Hwy 1, Marin County
Topanga State Park Hilly land with oak woodland and grassy meadows - part of Santa Monica Mountains NRA East side of Hwy 27 between CA 1 and the San Fernando Valley
Van Damme State Park Wooded canyon with abundant ferns and unusual plants, leading to a beach on the Pacific Ocean Three miles south of Mendocino, along Hwy 1
Washoe Meadows State Park Forest and meadows along Angora Creek, once home to Native American tribes. Park is not yet developed Two miles from South Lake Tahoe
Wilder Ranch State Park Historic ranch surrounded by extensive grassland and forest, plus riparian habitats and a section of coastline West of Santa Cruz along Hwy 1



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