California Park List

Admiral William Standley State Recreation Area is at an elevation of 1,700 feet in the Coastal Range. It is located near the headwaters of the south fork of the Eel River. The park features redwoods and is a popular spot for salmon and steelhead fishing. The area is also a ...

Afton Canyon's surface water makes it unique in the southern California desert. Known locally as "The Grand Canyon of the Mojave" for its dramatic geological formations, this is the only place where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round - providing significant riparian (riverbank) wildlife habitat amid the desert. ...

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum interprets the history and culture of the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians and other Cahuilla ...

Ahjumawi is a place of exceptional, even primeval, beauty. Brilliant aqua bays and tree studded islets only a few yards long dot the shoreline of Ja-She Creek, Crystal Springs, and Horr Pond. Over two thirds of the area is covered by recent (three to five thousand years) lava flows ...

This campground is shadowed by some of the most impressive peaks in the Sierra Nevada Range. Mt. Whitney, Lone Fine Peak, and Mt. Williamson rise to the west of the campground. Camping is in an open desert setting on an alluvial fan. Spread out to the east are the ...

This property is new and may not be available for public use, pending necessary planning, facility development and ...

Out in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the island of Alcatraz is a world unto itself. Isolation, one of the constants of island life for any inhabitant - soldier, guard, prisoner, bird or plant - is a recurrent theme in the unfolding history of Alcatraz. Alcatraz Island ...

The Alturas resource area encompasses a panorama of diversity, from evergreen forests to rocky lava flows to high desert plains. The recreational opportunities are as varied as the landscape. The visitor can camp in remote settings, hike the emigrant trails that dissect the lands, or watch herds of Pronghorn ...

The famous Giant Gap 14-mile run of the even more famous North Fork American River is one of California's top whitewater challenges, for experts only. Cliffs tower 2,000 feet above the river. Heaps of mine tailings and old cabin ruins border this roller-coaster ride through the historic Mother Lode. ...

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park contains oak woodlands, grass-covered hills, and tule marsh. One of the largest groups of people in prehistoric California, the Southeastern Pomo, knew this land as home. Today, descendants of those people still live nearby. Anderson Marsh's archaeological sites hold clues to the lives of ...

In the spectacular Big Sur area, this park is still relatively undeveloped and offers visitors great hiking, fishing and beachcombing. Miles of trails wind through meadows, beaches and hilltops. A primitive walk-in trail camp, popular with hikers and bikers, is located approximately one third mile from the parking area. The ...

In the middle of San Francisco Bay sits Angel Island State Park, offering spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands and Mount Tamalpais. The island is also alive with history. Three thousand years ago the island was a fishing and hunting site for Coastal Miwok Indians. ...

Located in southern California, lies the Angeles National Forest, encompassing 694,187 acres including almost the entire San Gabriel Mountain range. The Forest provides the striking backdrop to southern California's largest metropolitan area, the city of Los Angeles. Topography on the forest ranges from mountain peaks over 10,000 ...

The park, 60 miles north of San Francisco on the eastern edge of Santa Rosa offers miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail riding. For wildflower lovers, Annadel Park offers a great variety of flowers from early Spring until early Summer, especially on a hike around Lake ...

Fifty-five miles south of San Francisco and the Golden Gate, a low, rocky, windswept point juts out into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish maritime explorer Sebastian Vizcaino sailed by the point on January 3, 1603. His diarist and chaplain of the expedition, Father Antonio de la Ascension, named it ...

The purpose of Año Nuevo State Park, in San Mateo County, is to preserve and protect a substantial area on the western slope of the central Coast Range inland from Año Nuevo Point. The property contains a diversity of plant communities, including old growth forest freshwater marsh, red alder ...

The poppies are gone for the year but there are some wildflowers that bloom in other seasons; check the Research Notes for periodic updates. We had a fantastic poppy season this spring, which was a relief after two years of drought when the wildflower season was over before ...

Located in the Heart of California's Historic Mojave Desert on Piute Butte, the Antelope Valley Indian Museum stands against towering rock formations. The large boulders become a portion of its interior while timbers from Joshua trees cover supports for its roof. This folk art structure is listed on the ...

The Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is located in the San Francisco Bay-Delta area, along the southern shore of the San Joaquin River. It was the first National Wildlife Refuge in the country established to protect endangered plants and insects. Established in 1980, the refuge ...

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

The Arcata Field Office is responsible for the administration of natural resources, lands, and mineral programs on approximately 200,000 acres of public land in Northwestern California. The Area includes the 60,000 acre King Range National Conservation Area. We welcome you to BLM Arcata - Enjoy Your ...

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Located in the Russian River region 75 miles north of San Francisco, this 805-acre park features a magnificent grove of ancient redwoods, self-guided nature trails and picnic facilities.As you stroll through this beautiful old-growth redwood forest, you will seesome of the tallest and oldest trees ...

Added to the State Parks in 1988, Ripley Desert Woodland is located a few miles west of the Poppy Reserve on Lancaster Road at 210th Street West. Donated to the State by Arthur "Archie" Ripley, the park protects and preserves an impressive stand of native Joshuas and junipers which ...

Located on the Monterey Peninsula in the city of Pacific Grove, Asilomar (meaning "a refuge by the sea") State Beach and Conference Grounds offers overnight lodging and views of the forest, surf and sand. Asilomar State Beach is a narrow one-mile strip of sandy beach and rocky coves. ...

Located in the heart of the gold country, the Auburn State Recreation Area (Auburn SRA) is made up of over 38,000 acres, along 40 miles of the North and Middle Forks American River. Once teeming with thousands of gold miners, the area is now a natural area offering a ...

Austin Creek State Recreation Area is adjacent to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and is accessed through the same entrance. With open woodlands, rolling hills, and meadows, its topography offers a strong contrast to the dense, primeval redwood forest below. Here you will discover deep tree-lined ravines cooled by ...

The Autry is devoted to preserving and interpreting the rich history and traditions of the American West. With one of the most comprehensive collections of western history and art, its seven permanent galleries and special exhibitions offer material gathered from the many cultures and events that have shaped the ...

A reserve for western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale). Each spring, a profusion of pink and white blossoms scents the air. There is a picnic area available. Plan to visit in April and May when azaleas are in ...

The Caliente Range forms the western border of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, and Caliente Mountain is the highest point in San Luis Obispo County. This is an isolated area, with the Cuyama Valley and the Los Padres National Forest situated on the other side of the ...

The park is the site of a water-powered grist mill that was built in 1846. It was once the center of social activity as Napa Valley settlers gathered to have their corn and wheat ground into meal or flour. The owner of the mill was Dr. Edward Turner Bale. ...