14 Beautiful California State Parks You’ve Got to See
Look no further than these totally beautiful California State Parks if you want to get out and enjoy some fabulous California nature. This list of California State parks includes breathtaking California State beaches, gorgeous big trees in California, great California State Parks for camping, where to find red rocks in California and so much more 😍!
These beautiful California State Parks are great options for California day trips, California weekend getaways or California roadtrip stops. They are especially good choices if you are looking to get away from the crowds that can accompany some of California’s larger national parks, like Yosemite (even though Yosemite is totally gorgeous and I also recommend going there 😉).
This list of California State Parks is split up in two parts. First you will find beautiful Northern California State Parks followed by beautiful Southern California State Parks. There are so many great options, it will be hard not to add all of them to your next California roadtrip itinerary!
Beautiful California State Parks in Northern California
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is located on the west coast of California, 30 miles north of San Francisco. It is one of the most beautiful California State Parks and most beautiful locations in California for its gorgeous shoreline, its historic lighthouse, and amazing elephant seals! It has been inhabited for over 5,000 years, the first inhabitants were the Coast Miwok Indians, you will find 120 village sites in the park.
Point Reyes has 150 miles of trails, beaches and campgrounds. The lighthouse is stunning and has the most beautiful green glass I have ever seen in a lighthouse. The steps down are easy, but the back up is the hard part, also if it is a really windy day they will shut down the steps for safety reasons.
If you visit in the winter months, you may be able to see a whale migrating off the shoreline. The elephant seals are there year-round, but during mating and birthing season (December to March) is when the most seals are present. If you bring binoculars, you can look out from Elephant Seal Overlook. Be warned, there is an aroma from these friends.
If you have time, Tomales Point and the Tule Elk Reserve are about a 40-minute drive away, where you can see 400 elk roam free.
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Wilder Ranch State Park
Wilder Ranch is a beautiful California State Park north of Santa Cruz with the most gorgeous ocean views. Visitors can walk, bike, and hike along various trails in the park.
One of the best aspects of Wilder Ranch is that it is right next to the ocean. With one trail running along the water’s edge, the opportunities to watch the waves crash, view sea life and take amazing photos seems to never end!
Whether you are looking for a good workout running along the trails or a leisurely walk to soak up the ocean beauty, Wilder Ranch will not disappoint. When you’re done, you can head up or down Highway 1 along the coastline for a bite to eat. Whether you end up in Santa Cruz or Davenport, you can even enjoy more beach views while you eat!
By: Carrie Marie is Me
Pescadero State Beach
Pescadero State Beach is 15 miles south of Half Moon Bay and is part of a chain of Coastside beaches that string together some of California’s best coastline. And it goes beyond being a nice little beach, it has a few surprises in store for you.
The north end of the beach is a lovely, wide mile-long beach that is perfect for strolling, sand castles, making driftwood sculptures and simply chilling.
The south end of Pescadero State Beach has a rocky promontory which is great for tide-pooling.
East of the beach is an estuary that is fed by both Pescadero and Butano creeks. The estuary provides critical wildlife habitat and has hiking trails and a beachy area that has gentle flowing water which is very kid friendly.
Tips for visiting: If you are going on the weekend, get there early as parking fills up and you can’t safely park along the road. You can grab a nearby picnic from the Arcangeli in nearby Pescadero, they have amazing sandwiches and home make artichoke bread.
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Angel Island California State Park
Angel Island State Park is a beautiful and one of the most unique California State Parks with gorgeous San Francisco views and loads of history. And part of the fun of Angel Island is in getting there! You can reach Angel Island on one of two ferries–one leaves from Tiburon (Angel Island Ferry), and the other leaves from Pier 41 in San Francisco (Blue and Gold Fleet).
The first residents of Angel Island were the Miwok Indians, then it became a supply stop for Spanish explorers. It has been a cattle ranch, an immigration station, a military processing base, and a Nike missile base. Remnants of all of those parts of history are still found on the island in the buildings, docks, and trails.
When you land you’ll find a Visitor’s Center, a cafe, and bike rentals. Guided Segway or tram tours are also available–booking ahead is always recommended. Definitely take a few minutes to learn about the fascinating history of the island and plan your route to see all it has to offer. You can walk or ride the paved road that makes a 5-mile round trip circling the island and takes you past most of the historic sites and epic views of the Bay Area.
And make sure to take a little side trail down to one of the beaches–Perles beach is especially scenic. No matter where you roam on the island, you’ll get to experience a beautiful nature sanctuary just a boat ride away from the big city.
The island can be seen in a day, or you can spend more time exploring by reserving a campsite. A big bonus of camping on the island is the incredible nighttime view of San Francisco!
Point Lobos State Reserve
Point Lobos State Reserve is a quiet and unassuming, yet gorgeous, California State Park that is a perfect place to visit on a Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea weekend getaway. In the early 1900s, the area was home to the whaling and abalone industry. You can still find a small cabin built by Chinese fishermen from that time at Whalers Cove that is now a cultural history museum you can visit.
Point Lobos has miles of hiking trails along the beautiful, rocky coast with hidden beaches with gorgeous turquoise water around every turn. Plus the area is great for picnicking, wildflower viewing (in spring and early summer), tidepooling, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, and even scuba diving.
The S. Shore Trail/Bird Island trail is an easy trail along the coast that you can walk on for as long or as short as you’d like. Top areas to see along this trail are Weston Beach, Hidden Beach, China Cove, and Gibson Beach. When we visited in June, we saw a mama and baby otter along with tons of seals and baby seals!
This state park in California is strictly for day-use only from 8 am-5 pm every day (last car can enter at 4:30 pm) and no camping is available. And I recommend getting there early in the day because parking can be tricky to find within the park.
By: Destination Daydreamer (me)
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Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Calaveras Big Trees, located near Arnold, CA, was declared a state park in 1931 and ranks near the top of some of the most beautiful California State Parks. And if you are looking for big trees in California, this state park has you covered! Calaveras Big Trees State Park consists of Sequoia trees native to the Sierra Nevada mountains that are up to 3,000 years old!
The park protects two Sequoia tree groves, the North Grove and the South Grove. These trails weave between ginormous trees, some still standing and some fallen. Other attractions include the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, the Lava Bluff Trail, and Bradley Trail.
Although the park is called Calaveras Big Trees, one cannot fathom how giant they really are. That is until they are standing right at the base of the tree looking up 300 feet into the sky. Witnessing these magnificent trees makes visitors appreciate nature but also realize that several tourists don’t care for the area the way they should.
When exploring the sequoias, visitors may notice that some of the trees are burned or dead. These trees suffered in forest fires because tourists picked away their protective layer of bark. By visiting Calaveras Big Trees, visitors will learn both about the importance of the park and of protecting nature
Garrapata State Park
Garrapata State Park is located just a few miles south of Carmel, in the northern part of the beautiful Big Sur Coast. It is known for its many hiking trails and wild beauty and a must-visit California state park.
In Garrapata State Park, hiking is one of the most popular activities. There are many trails that run along the coastal bluffs on the water side, and a trail runs into Soberanes Canyon and up into the ridges on the opposite side as well.
The inland trail is strenuous and takes up 2-3 hours, so if you are visiting for a brief period, stick to the many trails on the coastal side for water views and wildflowers in season.Garrapata State Beach is also part of the park. The beach is excellent for strolling and sunbathing, but swimming is not advised because the surf here is quite dangerous. It is a great place from which to watch the sun set.
Garrapata State Park is free, and parking is along the side of California Highway 1.
Bodie State Historical Park
Bodie State Historic Park is a step back in time. Once a booming California gold town of 10,000 residents in the late 1800’s, Bodie is now a preserved look into history for its visitors. The abandoned town rests among natural fields and a blue sky in the Easter Sierra, making it one of the most beautiful state parks in California. Bodie is often visited on the way to or from Yosemite National Park.
From 1877 to 1882, the small mining town of Bodie produced around $35 million in gold and silver. It was a notorious boomtown, attracting people from all over, looking to try their luck at striking rich. To this day, visitors can walk through the main streets of the town, seeing the various houses, stores, churches, and saloons.
The beauty of Bodie invokes a bit of a dark appreciation, as the town now sits in a memorialized state of “arrested decay.” Each of the buildings are preserved in their state of abandonment from the 1800’s. The stores still have canned goods on the shelves, original newspapers can be found in the buildings, and the old wooden pews can still be seen in the church.
After walking through the main roads, other must-sees include the gold mine and the abandoned cars in the fields. The stark contrast of rusting, abandoned cars and aging, wooden buildings against the clear blue skies of Bodie make this place a photographer’s paradise and one of the most beautiful state parks in California.
Limekiln California State Park
Limekiln State Park is definitely a gem among California’s wealth of state parks. Located right along the Pacific Coast Highway, the state park is an excellent mix of history and nature.
The park was the site of a limestone mining operation in the late 1880s and had four huge kilns erected during this time. These kilns are one of the highlights of visiting the park, as they continue to stand surrounded by new growth redwoods.
The park features multiple trails that are great for nearly every skill level. The easiest trail takes you back to the limekilns themselves and runs along a beautiful creek that flows through the park. If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, then you can seek out the Limekiln Falls. Limekiln SP is also a great place to camp if you are traveling along the PCH. Its centrally located and perfect for exploring up and down the Big Sur coast and should be in anyone’s list of top ten places along the Pacific Coast.
Note: As of March 2021, trails in the park are closed due to damage from the Dolan Fire in late 2020.
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Beautiful California State Parks in Southern California
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, CA is one of the best places to get your poppy fix in Southern California and a must-visit from this list of California State Parks. Poppy season is March through May, and the fields are densely packed with not only vibrant orange poppies but also other gorgeous wildflowers — especially after a rainy season.
While it does get crowded given the popularity of the park (everyone wants their poppy photo!), there are eight miles of easily walkable trails to explore, all of which are lined with beautiful flowers. This means there are plenty of opportunities to get away from the crowds and find some peace and quiet amidst the poppies!
Whether you’re a photographer or simply love to get out in nature, this reserve is the perfect spot to snap some photos and get a break from the busy SoCal cities.
By: Sea to Sequoia
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Old Town is a beautiful place in San Diego that was designated to be a California State Park in 1968. Now, this is not your typical idea of what you may think of when you hear the words “state park.” Old Town is a place filled with beautiful architecture that resembles Spanish influence.
They are most known for the delicious Mexican food within a unique setting. You can find cute boutiques, delicious coffee shops, and an overall quaint atmosphere to Old Town.
Some of the top things to do here is to visit historic sites such as the Whaley House, which is known to be the most haunted house in America, as well as the Serra Museum which has beautiful architecture and exhibits the history of Old Town’s original inhabitants.
If you happen to be in San Diego on May 5th, Old Town throws a huge celebration in honor of Cinco de Mayo.
Everything is within walking distance of each other. I recommend taking your time to walk around and enjoy the history of this place. Once you are finished, then stop by Cafe Coyote for a delicious Hispanic-inspired meal!
If you are looking for more about Old Town then I recommend taking a guided tour through this Historic State Park!
By: Chelsey Explores
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Red Rock Canyon State Park boasts massive cathedral-like sandstone and volcanic rock formations shooting out of the ground, some soaring over 300 feet high making it an amazing state park in California.
This hidden gem is located less than 2 hours from Los Angeles and it makes a perfect day trip getaway. Hagen Canyon Nature Trail and Red Cliffs Nature Trail are two of the park’s most popular hikes. They both are located right off Highway 14, making them easily accessible for any vehicle to reach. Both trails are less than 2 miles roundtrip and are home to some of the most incredible rock formations in the entire park.
I plan my trips here from the Fall to Spring months because summer temperatures often hover above 100°. Check the weather before visiting and always bring plenty of water!
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Anza-Borrego State Park
Anza-Borrego State Park is hands down one of the most beautiful state parks in California, especially if you love desert landscapes. Located on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay and Cahuilla, the park is about an hour and a half from Palm Springs or San Diego, and two and a half hours from Los Angeles.
Since it IS in the desert, the best seasons to visit are in the spring and fall, though spring is arguably the best time to visit as you will have the opportunity to witness the immense amount of desert wildflower blooms throughout the valley. You will also avoid the scorching heat, which can reach the triple digits by May.
The best things to do in Anza-Borrego State Park are hiking and camping, where you can explore slot canyons, hidden oases, and pictographs. It is also one of the few parks left in the country that allows open-camping or backcountry camping (camping outside of campsites!) free of charge.
Though, if camping isn’t your style, you could rent a chic cabin just outside of the park in Borrego Springs, the only town in California officially designated as a “Dark Sky Community,” and has an amazing collection of giant sculptures scattered throughout the town.
Montaña de Oro California State Park
Located just 6 miles south of Morro Bay, Montaña de Oro is known for spectacular scenery, including Spring wildflowers and Miguelito Shale rock formations. The massive jagged rocks here were created by volcanic activity and erosion, once making up the ancient sea’s floor.
Montaña de Oro is one of California’s largest State Parks, and its unique habitat covers over 8,000 acres, including 7 miles of shoreline, 3 unique beaches, and vibrant tide pools.
Over 20 hiking trails are also found here, which reach across the hills and the beaches. From the beautiful Bluffs Trail overlooking the rugged coastline to the Valencia Peak Trail leading to one of the highest overlooks in the park…there’s something for everyone at this state park.
Check out these other posts, I know you’ll love them:
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- The Ultimate Guide to Biking the Golden Gate Bridge
- Joshua Tree National Park: 7 Tips to Love Bouldering as a Beginner
- 19 Unique Airbnbs in California You Need to Experience
- Summer Weekend Getaway to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea
There’s your list of 14 beautiful California State Parks you’ve got to see!
Let me know if you’ve been to any state parks on this list or if you have any questions about any of them in the comments below. I’m a real person who loves to talk travel!
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