Can’t-Miss California State Parks: 11 Destinations to Skip the Crowds & Get Outside

Not only does California have the most national parks of any state, but it also has over 280 state parks, sites, and beaches. They include everything from deserts and coastlines to high-country lakes, mountains, and prehistoric forests. And because these public lands are less well known than National Parks like Yosemite and Redwood, the crowds are almost always smaller, entry fees are often cheaper, and many allow dogs.

With so many outdoor and recreational opportunities in such a big state, it can be hard to pick which ones to visit. So we sourced info from locals and GearJunkie staff to round up the California state parks that you can’t miss next time you visit the Golden State.

Forest of Nicene Marks State Park

This park near Santa Cruz is one of the best places to see one of the state’s most iconic trees: redwoods. Here, trees as old as 120 years rise up to heights well over 100 feet. They are living fossils that will provide ample shade cover as you traverse the park’s miles of trails.

A massive earthquake here in 1989 created the Loma Prieta, a mountain in the park located at the epicenter.

Things to note: Dogs are not allowed in most areas of the park.

Must-do activity: Cycle up the Aptos Creek Fire Road to the top of Santa Rosalia Mountain for excellent views of the area.

Trails: 30 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Camping: No.

Fees: $8 day use vehicle fee.

Montaña de Oro State Park

The name of this park literally translates to Mountain of Gold, and once you visit, you’ll understand why. The 80,000-acre park, one of California’s largest state parks, has everything: sandy, pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs, and striking wildflowers. Young kids will love the chance to safely explore tide pools and spot starfish, sea anemones, and more unusual critters.

Things to note: The Islay Creek Campground offers 47 primitive campsites, which you can reserve online for $25 a night. Temperatures here can be significantly lower than inland, so be sure to bring layers. Dogs are not allowed anywhere in the park.

Must-do activity: Embark on the 3.9-mile Montaña de Oro Bluff Trail. Take one of the several access points down to the beach, and spend the day swimming, picnicking, and exploring before you head back.

Trails: 50 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails.

Camping: $25-390 campsites; $25 backcountry sites.

Fees: Free to enter

Red Rock Canyon State Park

Utah is famous for its national parks’ stunning, unusual rock formations known as hoodoos. To get a taste of them in California, head to Red Rock Canyon State Park. Located about 80 miles from Bakersfield, this canyon looks like something from the Red Planet.

Time, wind, and erosion has exposed multicolored striations in the cliffs. Most people associate the desert with barrenness, but the spring wildflowers here will convince you otherwise.

Things to note: As this is a desert, be sure to bring sun protection and more water than you think is necessary. Dogs are allowed in specific areas.

Must-do activity: Visit on a Saturday to participate in a free, docent-led walk to learn about the area’s flora and fauna and how they’ve adapted to this desert ecosystem.

Trails: 30 miles of trails and primitive roads, but there are no hiking restrictions in this park, so visitors can wander at will.

Camping: The Ricardo Campground has 50 sites for $25 a night and is first-come, first-served.

Fees: $6 day use vehicle fee

Año Nuevo State Park

Each year, over 10,000 elephant seals return to the beach at Año Nuevo to breed, give birth, and raise pups. Adult males can weigh up to 4,000 pounds and produce distinctive, loud roars. This isn’t the only wildlife you’ll spot here; it’s also a significant habitat for otters, harbor seals, and stellar sea lions.

If you dreamed about being a marine biologist as a kid, this is the place to live out that fantasy.

Things to note: Those visiting from December to March must participate in a guided walk to see the seals. At any other time of year, visitors can walk out to the viewing areas on their own. Elephant seals are wild animals, so be sure to always keep at least 25 feet away. No dogs are allowed.

Must-do activity: Walk the 4-mile Año Nuevo Point Trail loop to access multiple wildlife viewing points. Be sure to check in at the visitors center before departing; staff may close sections of trails to protect wildlife.

Trails: Nine short trails. The Año Nuevo Point Trail is the longest.

Camping: No; however, there is camping at the nearby Butano State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Fees: $10 vehicle day-use fee

Emerald Bay State Park

This park is one of the best places to see the state’s most iconic body of water, Lake Tahoe. Located above 6,000 feet, the park provides stellar views of the lake, Emerald Bay, and Fannette Island. The park is also home to a roaring waterfall, Eagle Falls, and multiple designated swimming beaches.

Oddly enough, the land’s former owner had a replica of an ancient Scandinavian home built by the bay. Visitors can tour Vikingsholm, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

This is also prime territory for rainbow, brown, and Mackinaw trout, as well as Kokanee salmon. All anglers over the age of 16 need a fishing license, which can be obtained online.

Things to note: Emerald Bay, along with neighboring park D.J. Bliss, is home to 250 campsites, which you can reserve online. There are also 20 primitive campsites only accessible by boat. Campgrounds are typically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Must-do activity: Park at the Eagle Falls Overlook and hike 1 mile down to Vikingsholm. Tour the property, and then take a dip in the lake or rent a kayak. Finish the day with a detour up to Eagle Falls before heading back to the car.

Trails: 13 miles of hiking trails.

Camping: No.

Fees: $10 day use vehicle fee

Mount San Jacinto State Park

Mount San Jacinto really delivers bang for its buck. The park offers a taste of true wilderness, with multiple staggering granite peaks, including the tallest point in the state park system, San Jacinto Peak (10,834 feet).

In the summer, while the rest of Southern California is swelteringly hot, the temperatures here usually stay below 70 in the region. Designated backcountry campsites require a hike in, but reward the effort with peace and quiet.

Things to note: The park is located right next to the San Bernardino National Forest. Visit both to maximize your outdoor fun. All-day wilderness hikers need a permit, which they can obtain at a ranger’s station. Dogs are generally allowed in developed areas, but nowhere in the backcountry.

Must-do activity: Sometimes, to really appreciate the outdoors, we have to see it from a different perspective, and the park has a method of transport that’ll help you do just that. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway starts in the desert and climbs to 8,500 feet, allowing visitors to see how the landscape changes as the elevation rises.

Trails: 50+ miles of hiking, backpacking, and equestrian trails.

Camping: The park has numerous developed and backcountry campgrounds. Backcountry camping requires a $5 wilderness permit. Developed sites may vary, but are typically $25 for tent sites, $35 for electric sites, and $45 for full RV hookups.

Fees: Free to enter, but parking fees are typically $10-15.

Malibu Creek State Park

This park is a must-visit for thrill-seekers who enjoy sports like mountain biking and rock climbing. The unusual, tufa-like pocketed rock here is popular with climbers, and there are over 100 bolted sport routes ranging from 5.5 to 5.14. It’s also got 35 miles of biking-friendly trails, with options for novices and hardcore bikers alike.

After all that activity, relax with a dip in the ocean at Malibu Lagoon State Beach, which is right next door.

Things to note: Dogs are not allowed on trails here.

Must-do activity: Back when it was private land, 20th Century Fox owned most of this area and used it to film iconic movies like Planet of the Apes and shows like M*A*S*H. If climbing and mountain biking aren’t your vibe, take the 5-mile hike to tour the TV show’s former film set.

Trails: 35 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.

Camping: Camping here is in high demand and requires entry into a monthly lottery system. Standard sites are around $45 a night.

Fees: $12 all-day parking for standard vehicles (with hourly options as well). There is also $3-per-hour parking for visitors planning a shorter trip.

Castle Rock State Park

For a taste of the lush forests and cool, foggy weather that define the Central Coast, head to Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Here, centuries of erosion and earthquakes have created strikingly unusual sandstone formations called tafoni. The area is also home to red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, and peregrine falcons, so be sure to bring your binoculars.

Castle Rock is part of a three-park system of backcountry camps, which allow hikers to explore more remote parts of the area.

Things to note: Rock climbing is popular here, but the sandstone can be fragile, so be sure not to climb after a rainstorm. During spring and summer, the park can get overcrowded on weekends, so try visiting on weekdays. Dogs are not allowed anywhere in the park. Bikes are only allowed on some trails.

Must-do activity: Visit in the spring to make the most of wildflower season; you’ll spot rare blooms like pink or purple Chinese houses, lilac slender phlox, deep blue sky lupine, pink farewell-to-spring, and golden elegant madia.

Trails: 34 miles of hiking and equestrian trails.

Camping: Backpack-only; sites cost $15 a night. They can be reserved online in advance.

Fees: $10 day-use vehicle fee (or $3 per hour).

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

With a name like Calaveras Big Trees, you can be sure you’ll get awesome views of some giant sequoias at this park. The trees, some of which are up to 2,000 years old, reach heights of up to 325 feet. With multiple picnic areas, there’s no better place to unpack the cooler and enjoy an al fresco lunch.

The park is also a great access point for the Stanislaus River and Beaver Creek, which are teeming with rainbow trout.

Things to note: It is critical to stay on trails to protect the sequoias’ fragile root systems. There are black bears in the area, so be sure to use the provided bear lockers in campgrounds for all scented items. Dogs are generally allowed in developed areas, but not on trails or in the trees.

Must-do activity: If you’ve got some hiking experience and sturdy boots, take on the rugged 8-mile River Canyon Trail. This hike showcases the trees in quiet, less-visited groves and offers views of the river.

Trails: 25 miles of hiking trails.

Camping: Standard campsites are typically $35 a night. There are also group campsites and cabins available for rent.

Fees: $10 day-use vehicle fee.

Limekiln State Park

Big Sur is one of the most famous sections of coastline in the world, and Limekiln State Park is a terrific place to explore it. The park offers inland, forested hikes among the redwoods, as well as beach access and views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. 

History buffs will appreciate the opportunity to visit massive furnaces that once produced the mortar used to build San Francisco’s first buildings.

Things to note: Poison oak can be widespread here, so be sure to wear pants and stay on the trail. Dogs are allowed in developed areas but not on any trails.

Must-do activity: The Falls Creek is an accessible, family-friendly 1.2-mile trail that shows off the best the park has to offer: beach views, forest trails, and a 100-foot waterfall.

Trails: 3 miles of (short) maintained hiking trails.

Camping: After years of closures due to mudslides, camping at Limekiln finally reopened in April 2026. Reserve sites in advance online. Standard sites are $50 a night if you arrive by vehicle and $5 a night if you arrive by bike or on foot.

Fees: $10 day-use vehicle fee.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

One of the beauties of California is its sheer number of diverse ecosystems. You can drive from the ocean to the mountains in just a few hours. Anza-Borrego is one of the best spots to explore an often under-appreciated landscape: the desert. This park, located right outside San Diego, has unusual flora and fauna, like bighorn sheep, barrel and fishhook cacti, and desert lilies.

It’s also one of five state parks through which the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) passes. Around 30 miles of the trail traverses the park, making for a great weekend backpacking itinerary.

Things to note: The Anza Borrego Foundation, a nonprofit, provides up-to-date information on wildflower blooms. For milder temperatures, the best time to visit the park is November to March. Dogs are allowed in developed areas and on dirt roads, but not on trails or in the backcountry.

Must-do activity: Most of the park’s trails are on the shorter side, so try combining a few for the ultimate experience. Hike the 1-mile Cactus Loop Nature Trail to see the cacti, and then walk the half-mile Narrow Earth Nature Trail to observe the desert’s geology.

Trails: 110+ miles of designated hiking trails, and 500+ miles of dirt roads for mountain biking and overlanding.

Camping: Standard sites are $35 a night; full-hookup sites are $45 a night. Hike-in backcountry sites are $5. There are also group sites and cabins available for rent.

Fees: $10 day-use vehicle fee

What to Know Before Visiting California State Parks

State Passes

If you plan on visiting multiple parks, it’s probably more cost-effective to purchase an annual pass.

The state offers multiple passes, depending on where you plan to visit. The Golden Poppy Annual Vehicle Day Pass ($125) covers entry into 114 popular state parks. The Historian Passport Day Use Admission Annual Pass ($50) covers admission for up to four people at parks that charge per person.

There is also the free California State Library Pass, which allows California residents the ability to check out a free vehicle day-use pass that works at over 200 state parks.

Camping Tips

Especially at popular parks, try to reserve your site online in advance.

It’s important to note that in most places, dispersed camping is not allowed. As in any outdoor area, be sure to practice Leave No Trace ethics.

Prepare appropriately, check the weather before you go, and let others know about your plans (especially if you’re heading out alone).