- Admiral William Standley State Recreation Area
- 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
- Afton Canyon
- 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
- Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
- The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum interprets the history and culture of the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians and other Cahuilla
- Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park
- 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,
- Alabama Hills Recreation Management Area
- 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
- Albany State Marine Reserve Park Property
- This property is new and may not be available for public use, pending necessary planning, facility development and
- Alcatraz Island
- 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
- Alturas Recreation Area
- 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.
- American River North Middle South Forks
- 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
- Anderson Marsh State Historic Park
- 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
- Andrew Molera State Park
- 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.
- Angel Island State Park
- 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
- Angeles National Forest
- 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
- Annadel State Park
- 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,
- Año Nuevo State Natural Reserve
- 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
- Año Nuevo State Park
- 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
- Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve
- 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
- Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park
- 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
- Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge
- 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
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- 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
- Arcata Recreation Management Area
- 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
- Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
- 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
- Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park
- 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
- Asilomar State Beach
- 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
- Auburn State Recreation Area
- 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
- Austin Creek State Recreation Area
- 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
- Autry Museum of Western Heritage
- 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,
- Azalea State Natural Reserve
- 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
- Bakersfield Recreation Sites
- 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
- Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
- 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
