California has 280 state parks, which provide a ton of opportunities to explore the Golden State’s panoramic beauty.
Today, you’ll learn about 12 of the most beautiful California State Parks. Let’s get right into it:
12. Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness, Riverside County
Mount San Jacinto State Park is renowned as one of the most beautiful state parks in California. It provides one of the best hiking places near Los Angeles.
Mount San Jacinto’s peak is over 10.800 feet high and on a clear day you won’t just see the desert, which is right at the foot of the mountain, but also the Pacific Ocean, which is more than 70 miles away.
If you want to visit Mount San Jacinto in Winter, make sure to be prepared for snow and ice.
11. Mendocino Headlands State Park, Mendocino County
Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind mixture of easy trails, rough coastline, and remote beaches? Then this park is perfect for you!
When hiking along the bluffs, you’ll get breathtaking views of hidden grottos and sea arches.
You won’t get bored: Mendocino Headlands State Park surrounds the seaside village of Mendocino, which is designated as a Historic Preservation District.
With Russian Gulch State Park to the north and Van Damme State Park to the south, there are two other beautiful parks to visit next door.
Mendocino Headlands State Park offers a unique blend of beauty, making it a must-visit among California’s most beautiful State Parks.
10. Bodie State Historic Park, Mono County
Bodie is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains northeast of Yosemite National Park.
It was once a booming town due to gold being discovered in the area in the 1870s. During the following decades, Bodie went into decline and was officially called a “ghost town” in 1915.
Being designated a State Historic Park in 1962, the small part of Bodie that survived is preserved in a state of “arrested decay”.
If you’re into history, this is one of the best State Parks in California for sure!
9. Morro Bay State Park, San Luis Obispo County
Morro Bay is a charming little beach town on Highway 1. You can easily walk from downtown to the State Park.
Including the lagoon and natural bay habitat, the park’s most eye-catching landmark is Morro Rock.
If you like fishing, sailing, or hiking, you’ll love this place! The pristine saltwater marsh in the northeast of the bay is home to a growing bird population, which makes bird watching to another popular activity in the park.
8. Montaña de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County
Featuring breathtaking coastal scenery and lots of plants and wildlife, this stretch of coast is one of the most beautiful of the Central Coast.
Be sure to hike the Bluff Trail, which is the highlight of the park. It offers opportunities for tide-pooling as well as access to pristine sandy beaches.
My recommendation would be to visit this park in spring, when the hills are covered with gold, orange, and yellow flowers.
7. McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, Shasta County
California’s second oldest State Park’s centerpiece is one of the most beautiful nature sites in the entire state: The 129-foot Burney Falls, providing an almost constant daily flow rate of 100 million gallons even during the dry summer months.
President Theodore Roosevelt called the falls “the Eighth Wonder of the World”.
The park’s scenery was created by erosion from streams and weather as well as by volcanic activity. Covered by black volcanic rock and surrounded by mountain summits, the park also includes a part of beautiful Lake Britton.
6. Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park, Del Norte County
This state park’s 10.000 acres are home to seven percent of all the old-growth redwoods left on Earth.
Walking under the giant trees is an awe inspiring experience, not just because of the towering trees above you, but also due to the lush and diverse vegetation on the ground.
And hiking is not the only thing to do there: You can snorkel, fish, kayak in Californias longest major free-flowing river, the Smith River, or drive on the historic Howland Hill Road.
If you love hiking, huge trees, and diverse wildlife, this is one of the most beautiful State Parks in California for sure!
5. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Monterey County
Preserved by two marine protected areas, Point Lobos is known as the “crown jewel” of California’s State Parks.
It’s one of the richest marine habitats in the state. Australian-born landscape artist Francis McComas called it the “greatest meeting of land and water in the world”.
Hike one of the trails in Point Lobos and discover seals on secluded beach coves and breathtaking cliffs.
4. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, Imperia County, Riverside County
California’s largest State Park is located in the Colorado Desert of Southern California.
Although it’s just two hours from San Diego, Anza-Borrego is a different world. You’ll discover cactus-spotted slopes, badlands, palm oases, and canyons.
Due to its size, there is a lot to see when exploring the 500 miles of dirt road, 110 miles of hiking trails, and 12 designated wilderness areas in Anza-Borrego: You may encounter mountain lions, bighorn sheep, greater roadrunners, and much more.
3. Emerald Bay State Park, El Dorado County
Mark Twain titled Lake Tahoe as “the fairest picture the whole earth affords”. Emerald Bay State Park is a big reason why: Its amazing bay with Fannette Island right in the middle boasts some of the best views of the entire lake.
This combined with Lake Tahoe’s crystal clear water makes the lake always worth visiting.
There are some scenic trails to hike in Emerald Bay State Park, other activities are stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, scuba diving, and swimming.
Be sure to enjoy the views from the Inspiration Point overlook!
2. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Monterey County
Located in Big Sur, this is one of California’s most popular state parks. Its centerpiece is the picturesque McWay Fall, probably the most famous waterfall in the Golden State.
The turquoise water in the breathtakingly beautiful bay, the magic 80-foot waterfall falling directly on the beach, and the view of the Pacific Ocean create a gorgeous experience.
The famous waterfall is not the only reason to visit Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: You can also expect to walk under huge redwood trees while hiking on one of the numerous trails.
If you’re lucky, you can spot California Condors, and experience scenic ocean views.
1. Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County
The number 1 spot in our list of the most beautiful State Parks in California is well earned.
This one-of-a-kind oceanfront park is one of the last examples of open spaces and natural seashores in Orange County.
It comprises miles of sandy beaches with turquoise waters and a sprawling expanse of inland wilderness.
Enjoy the rolling surf, explore the tide pools, hike the gently sloping hills and the wooded canyons, which offer a beautiful contrast to its metropolitan surroundings.
Crystal Cove State Park is one of the best day trips from Los Angeles if you enjoy nature: Go swimming or surfing, go diving and explore the offshore underwater area, look for seabirds and shore birds, or enjoy the backcountry on a mountain bike, on horseback, or on foot.
These 12 state parks showcase the unparalleled beauty of California, making them some of the most beautiful state parks in California.
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