Introduction to California state parks

Some generalities about California state parks, known for trails, mountains, etc, then list them out.

Trail at Big Basin Redwood State Park California

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Park Address: 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, CA 95006

Park Description: Big Basin is California's oldest state park.

Popular Park Sites: Redwood Forest, Redwood Loop Trail, Santa Cruz Mountain Range, Rancho Del Oso Nature and History Center, Berry Creek Falls Trail, Skyline To The Sea Trail, Howard King Trail, Blooms Creek Campground.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park Visitors Guide

The Cuyamaca Peak Cuyamaca State Park California

Cuyamaca State Park

Park Address: 14592-14674 CA-79, Julian, CA 92036

Park Description: The park includes 6,512-foot (1,985 m) Cuyamaca Peak, the second-highest point in San Diego County.

Popular Park Sites: Cuyamaca Peak Trail, Stonewall Peak Trail, Lake Cuyamaca, Oakzanita Peak Trail, Palomar and Volcan Mountains, Paso Picacho Campground, Green Valley Campground

Cuyamaca State Park Visitors Guide

View of Waves Breaking Along Shore at Salt Point State Park California

Salt Point State Park

Park Address: 25050 CA-1, Jenner, CA 95450

Park Description: The park covers 6,000 acres on the coast of Northern California, with 20 miles of hiking trails and over 6 miles of a rough rocky coast line including Salt Point which protrudes into the Pacific Ocean.

Popular Park Sites: Gerstle Cove, Stump Beach, Fisk Mill Cove, Woodside Campground, Ocean Cove Campground, Timber Cove.

Salt Point State Park Visitors Guide

Sunset at Sonoma Coast State Park California

Sonoma Coast State Park

Park Address: 3095 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923

Park Description: Some of the oldest natural history of this area related to mammals are a blueschrist rock formation about one mile (1.6 km) south of the Russian River.

Sonoma Coast State Park Visitors Guide

Crystal Cove State Park 

Park Address: 3095 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923

Park Description: Some of the oldest natural history of this area related to mammals are a blueschrist rock formation about one mile (1.6 km) south of the Russian River.

Popular Park Sites: Moro Creek, Deer Canyon Campground, Ranger Station, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Upper Moro Campground, Laguna Beach, Moro Ridge

Crystal Cove State Park Visitors Guide

walking a road in the redwood park

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Park Address: 17119 Avenue of the Giants, Weott, CA 95571

Park Description: Humboldt Redwoods State Park is a state park of California, United States, containing Rockefeller Forest, the world's largest remaining contiguous old-growth forest of coast redwoods.

Popular Park Sites: Grove Nature Loop, Johnson Trail Loop, Eel River, Duneo Creek Horse Camp, Blue Slide Day Horse Trail, Garden Club Grove Picnic Area, Bull Creek, Avenue of Giants Biking Trail, Hidden Springs Campground, Albee Creek Campground, Burlington Campground for RVs

Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitors Guide

Sea lions laying on Hearst San Simeon State Park

Hearst San Simeon State Park

Park Address: 500 San Simeon-Monterey Creek Rd, Cambria, CA 93428

Park Description: Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument contains Hearst Castle.

Hearst San Simeon State Park Visitors Guide

multiple of colors and flowers in a fiel in the Anza-Borrego Desert

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Park Address: 200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Park Description: The park takes its name from 18th century Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and borrego, a Spanish word for sheep.

Popular Park Sites: Galleta Meadows, Desert Gardens, Coyote Canyon, The Slot Trail, Borrego Palm Canyon, Palm Bowl Trail, Wind Cave, Bill Kenyon Overlook, Smugglers Canyon Trail, Elephant Tree Discovery Trail, Yaqui Well Nature Trail

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitors Guide

massive green tree in Prairie Creek State Park

Prairie Creek Redwood State Park

Park Address: 127011 Newton B. Drury Scenic Pkwy, Orick, CA 95555

Park Description: The 14,000 acre park is a coastal sanctuary for old-growth Coast Redwood trees.

Popular Park Sites: Elk Prairie Campground, Prairie Creek Trail, Miners Ridge Loop, Ossagon Trail Loop, Gold Bluffs Beach

Prairie Creek Redwood State Park Visitors Guide

aerial view of Emerald Bay

Emerald Bay State Park 

Park Address: 138 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Park Description: Park features include Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm, a 38-room mansion that is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States.

Popular Park Sites: Eagle Falls Waterfall, Eagle Creek, Emerald Bay, Baldwin Beach, Vikingsholm Trail,  Vikingsholm Castle, Rubicon Trail, Fannette Island, Mrs. Knight's Teahouse, Tahoe Queen Boat Tour

Emerald Bay State Park Visitors Guide

 at the top of the cliff at Julia Pfeiffer Burns

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Park Address: 52801 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920

Park Description: A main feature of the park is McWay Falls, which drops over a cliff of 80 feet into the Pacific Ocean.

Popular Park Sites: Partington Cove, The Tin House, Grimes Point Scenic Overlook, Seals Beach Overlook, Pacific Ocean, McWay Falls, Big Sur Mountains, Ewoldsen Trail, Esalen Institute, Hawthorne Gallery

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park Visitors Guide

looking across the lake at an snow tipped mountain at Donner Memorial 

Donner Memorial State Park

Park Address: 12593 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161

Park Description: Donner Memorial State Park is a state park of California, US, preserving the site of the Donner Camp, where members of the ill-fated Donner Party were trapped by weather during the winter of 1846–1847.

Popular Park Sites: Donner Lake, Donner Creek, Lakeside Interpretive Trail, Pioneer Monument, China Cove, Coldstream Canyon, Emigrant Trail, Pacific Crest Trails, Donner Memorial Visitor Center

Donner Memorial State Park Visitors Guide