California State Parks (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular California state park? ›

About California State Parks

California Department of Parks and Recreation manages 280 park units, which contain the finest and most diverse collection of natural, cultural, and recreational resources to be found within California.

California boasts nine national parks—more than any other state—and each has its own unique appeal. Death Valley is the biggest, the hottest, and the most foreboding. Joshua Tree possesses an otherworldly charm and so much dynamic flora. If you want to escape civilization, head to the Channel Islands.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. Five hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and many miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert.

Channel Islands National Park was the least-visited national park in California last year, and reaching Santa Rosa Island requires a three-hour boat ride from Ventura.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California's oldest State Park, established in 1902. Home to the largest continuous stand of Ancient Coast Redwoods south of San Francisco, the park consists of Old Growth and recovering Redwood Forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats.

California State Library Parks Pass: You can check out a free vehicle day-use pass at your local library with your library card and visit over 200 participating state parks.

Smallest California State Park

Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park – 0.11 acres.

Sue-meg Point - The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, at its December 8, 2022 meeting, approved the proposal to change the name of Patrick's Point in Humboldt County to Sue-meg Point. Renamed Patrick's Point State Park to Sue-meg State Park to honor the place name used by the Yurok people since time immemorial.

What is California's most visited national park? ›

Yosemite National Park, California's most visited national park, is lauded for its countless waterfall views. The best time to see the falls (like Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, and Chilnualna Falls, to name a few) is in the spring when snow melt is high. By August many of the falls have dried out.

Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in California — and the continental U.S. (topped in size only by Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska).

Simply, county parks are operated by local counties, state parks by the state of California, and national parks by the federal government. Each agency has their own pass program since policies, guidelines and operations are unique.

There were multiple attempts from the 1880s to the 1930s to designate Tahoe a national park, but each one fell short. The history of logging, combined with the development of tourism and private property ownership, left Tahoe lacking the “pristine” natural characteristics required to become a national park.

I've been to 34 US National Parks plus dozens more all around the world, and California's are worthy of their National Park designation in every way. In alphabetical order, we're talking about Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwoods, Sequoia, and Yosemite.

Universal Studios Hollywood: 11% Disney California Adventure: 7% SeaWorld San Diego: 2% LEGOLand California: 1%

Disneyland is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, and opened on July 17, 1955.

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.