List of California state parks facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

California is home to many amazing parks, historic places, and recreation areas managed by the California State Parks system. These special places protect beautiful natural landscapes, important historical sites, and offer tons of fun activities for everyone. From towering redwood forests to sunny beaches and ancient historical spots, California's state parks are perfect for exploring and learning about the Golden State.

General location of California's +139 State Parks

Discover California's Amazing State Parks
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Discover California's Amazing State Parks

California's state parks are incredibly diverse. They include everything from vast deserts to cool mountain lakes and wild coastlines. Each park offers a unique experience, whether you love hiking, swimming, learning about history, or just enjoying nature.

Explore Towering Redwood Forests

California is famous for its giant redwood trees, and many state parks protect these incredible forests.

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Sonoma County has beautiful coast redwoods.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County was California's very first state park, created in 1902 to save these amazing trees.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties protects two huge groves of giant sequoias.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park in Del Norte County is part of the larger Redwood National and State Parks, preserving old-growth redwoods.
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County features coast redwoods along the Van Duzen River.
Hendy Woods State Park in Mendocino County has two groves of old-growth coast redwoods.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County is known for its impressive Redwood Grove.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County has the world's largest remaining old-growth coast redwood forest, including the famous Stratosphere Giant tree.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in Del Norte County is another part of the Redwood National and State Parks, honoring explorer Jedediah Smith.
Portola Redwoods State Park in San Mateo County is a beautiful redwood-filled valley.
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County is also part of the Redwood National and State Parks.
Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County is another great spot to see redwoods.
Van Damme State Park in Mendocino County has a beach, a bog, and a unique pygmy forest.

Relax on Sunny California Beaches

California's coastline is stunning, and many state parks protect its beautiful beaches, perfect for swimming, surfing, and exploring tide pools.

Asilomar State Beach in Monterey County has rocky shores and sand dunes.
Bean Hollow State Beach in San Mateo County is great for fishing and beachcombing.
Bolsa Chica State Beach in Orange County is known for surf fishing.
Cardiff State Beach and Carlsbad State Beach in San Diego County offer sandy, warm-water beaches.
Carmel River State Beach in Monterey County protects a mile-long beach and a lagoon, attracting many birds.
Caspar Headlands State Beach in Mendocino County offers rugged coastal views.
Cayucos State Beach in San Luis Obispo County is a popular spot for swimming and surfing.
Corona del Mar State Beach in Orange County is a half-mile swimming beach.
Dockweiler State Beach in Los Angeles County has three miles of beach and a hang gliding training site.
Doheny State Beach in Orange County is popular for surfing and camping.
El Capitán State Beach in Santa Barbara County is a narrow beach where monarch butterflies gather in autumn.
Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura County has a surfing beach and an estuary.
Gray Whale Cove State Beach in San Mateo County is a great place to spot gray whales.
Greenwood State Beach in Mendocino County is a picturesque beach with a visitor center.
Half Moon Bay State Beach in San Mateo County has four popular sandy beaches.
Huntington State Beach in Orange County is a wide, flat beach in Huntington Beach.
Lighthouse Field State Beach in Santa Cruz County is home to the famous Steamer Lane surf break and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum.
Little River State Beach in Humboldt County has a broad open beach with dunes.
Malibu Lagoon State Beach in Los Angeles County is a beautiful coastal spot.
Manchester State Park in Mendocino County also features a lovely beach.
Mandalay State Beach in Ventura County is another great beach for relaxing.
Manresa State Beach in Santa Cruz County is a popular beach.
Marina State Beach in Monterey County is a beautiful coastal area.
McGrath State Beach in Ventura County is a nice beach spot.
Montara State Beach and Monterey State Beach in Monterey County offer more coastal beauty.
Moonlight State Beach in San Diego County is a small, popular beach.
Morro Strand State Beach in San Luis Obispo County is a scenic beach.
Moss Landing State Beach in Monterey County is a good spot for beach activities.
Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz County is known for its natural rock formations.
New Brighton State Beach in Santa Cruz County is a popular beach.
Pacifica State Beach in San Mateo County is a nice beach for visitors.
Pelican State Beach in Del Norte County is a small, scenic beach.
Pescadero State Beach in San Mateo County offers beautiful coastal views.
Pismo State Beach in San Luis Obispo County is a large beach area.
Point Dume State Beach in Los Angeles County is a beautiful beach.
Point Sal State Beach in Santa Barbara County is a rugged coastal area.
Pomponio State Beach in San Mateo County is another lovely beach.
Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County is a popular camping and beach spot.
Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach in Los Angeles County is a beautiful beach.
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda County is a nice beach on San Francisco Bay.
Salinas River State Beach in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties is a great place to explore.
San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura County is a popular beach.
San Clemente State Beach in Orange County is a beautiful beach.
San Elijo State Beach in San Diego County is a popular beach for camping.
San Gregorio State Beach in San Mateo County is a scenic beach.
San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County is a large beach area.
Santa Monica State Beach in Los Angeles County is a famous beach.
Schooner Gulch State Beach in Mendocino County is a beautiful beach.
Seacliff State Beach in Santa Cruz County is known for its pier and a concrete ship.
Silver Strand State Beach in San Diego County is a long, sandy beach.
South Carlsbad State Beach in San Diego County is a popular camping beach.
Sunset State Beach in Santa Cruz County is a nice beach for sunsets.
Thornton State Beach in San Mateo County offers beautiful coastal views.
Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego County is a scenic beach.
Trinidad State Beach in Humboldt County is a beautiful beach.
Twin Lakes State Beach in Santa Cruz County is a popular beach.
Westport-Union Landing State Beach in Mendocino County is a scenic beach.
Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles County is a popular beach.
Zmudowski State Beach in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties is a nice beach.

Step Back in Time at Historic Parks

California's history is rich and varied, and state historic parks help us learn about the past.

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park in Lake County protects ancient sites of the Pomo people.
Angel Island State Park in Marin and San Francisco Counties tells the story of early Native Americans, ranching, and the Angel Island Immigration Station.
Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park in Los Angeles County shows Native American cultures in a unique 1928 building.
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park in Napa County has a restored 1846 water-powered mill.
Benicia Capitol State Historic Park in Solano County was California's third capitol building, used from 1853 to 1854.
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park in Butte County offers tours of the 1868 Victorian mansion of John and Annie Bidwell.
Bodie State Historic Park in Mono County preserves the ghost town of Bodie, a gold-mining town from the late 1800s.
California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside County explains the history of California's citrus industry.
California State Capitol Museum in Sacramento County offers tours of the California State Capitol building.
Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park in Santa Barbara County protects a sandstone cave with ancient rock art from the Chumash people.
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in Tulare County tells the story of Allensworth, a town founded in 1908 by African Americans.
Columbia State Historic Park in Tuolumne County preserves a Gold Rush-era downtown.
Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County includes a historic district of 1920s and 1930s beach cottages.
Donner Memorial State Park in Nevada and Placer Counties marks the spot where the Donner Party was trapped by snow in 1846-1847.
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park in Santa Barbara County preserves parts of a Spanish fort from 1782.
Empire Mine State Historic Park in Nevada County offers tours of an underground gold mine that operated from 1850 to 1956.
Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park in Sacramento County shows an 1895 hydroelectric plant.
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park in Humboldt County tells about the U.S. Army's presence and relations with Native Americans, and has a logging museum.
Fort Ross State Historic Park in Sonoma County is a reconstructed Russian outpost from 1812-1841.
Fort Tejon State Historic Park in Kern County was a U.S. Army fort from 1854-1864.
Governor's Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento County was home to 13 California governors.
Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument in San Luis Obispo County offers tours of William Randolph Hearst's amazing "Hearst Castle."
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park in Amador County has an outcrop with 1,185 holes where Native Americans ground acorns.
Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma County contains structures from author Jack London's ranch.
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve in Mendocino County shows different stages of land formation along the coast.
La Purísima Mission State Historic Park in Santa Barbara County has the most completely restored Spanish mission in California.
Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento County offers tours of Governor Leland Stanford's 1856 mansion.
Limekiln State Park in Monterey County has four old lime kilns from 1887.
Los Angeles State Historic Park in Los Angeles County is an urban open space where many travelers first arrived in Los Angeles.
Los Encinos State Historic Park in Los Angeles County is a historic site.
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park in Nevada County preserves the largest hydraulic mining site in California.
Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park in Marin County is a historic site.
Marsh Creek State Historic Park in Contra Costa County features the Stone House of John Marsh. (Currently closed for development).
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in El Dorado County marks where gold was discovered in 1848, starting the California Gold Rush.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park in Sacramento County includes the California State Railroad Museum, with old locomotives and a heritage railway.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in San Diego County preserves the historic Old Town area.
Olompali State Historic Park in Marin County is a historic site.
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park in Sonoma County is a historic adobe building.
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park in San Mateo County has a historic lighthouse.
Pío Pico State Historic Park in Los Angeles County is a historic site.
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park in Mendocino County has a historic lighthouse.
Point Sur State Historic Park in Monterey County contains the 1889 Point Sur Lighthouse.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Tuolumne County is a historic railway site.
Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe in Santa Cruz County is a grand 1849 hacienda. (Currently closed for development).
San Juan Bautista State Historic Park in San Benito County is a historic site.
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park in San Diego County marks a historic battlefield.
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park in Santa Cruz County is a historic mission site.
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park in Los Angeles County is a historic pass.
Shasta State Historic Park in Shasta County is a historic town site.
Sonoma State Historic Park in Sonoma County is a historic site.
State Indian Museum in Sacramento County teaches about California's diverse Native American cultures.
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park in Sacramento County is a reconstructed fort from the 1800s.
Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park in Kern County is a historic site.
Wassama Round House State Historic Park in Madera County is a historic site.
Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park in Los Angeles County features unique art towers.
Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park in Trinity County is a historic Chinese temple.
William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park in Tehama County is a historic adobe building.
Woodland Opera House State Historic Park in Yolo County is a historic opera house.

Adventure in Deserts and Mountains

California's state parks also include vast deserts and high mountain areas, offering unique landscapes and wildlife.

Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park in Shasta County preserves a wilderness of freshwater springs and lava flows.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties is California's largest state park, protecting a huge desert area.
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park in Los Angeles County preserves Joshua trees and junipers.
Castle Crags State Park in Shasta County offers access to tall rock crags.
Castle Rock State Park in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo Counties has wild forests and rock climbing.
Chino Hills State Park in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties preserves a large area of the Chino Hills.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego County protects forests and meadows in the Laguna Mountains.
Grover Hot Springs State Park in Alpine County has hot springs that feed a swimming pool in an alpine meadow.
Henry W. Coe State Park in Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties is a huge wilderness of ridges and canyons.
Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County offers amazing views.
Mount San Jacinto State Park in Riverside County is a beautiful mountain park.
Mount Tamalpais State Park in Marin County offers stunning views of San Francisco Bay.
Palomar Mountain State Park in San Diego County is a mountain park.
Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County is a large coastal mountain park.
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area in San Bernardino County is currently closed to the public.
Red Rock Canyon State Park in Kern County is known for its colorful rock formations.
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park in Napa, Sonoma, and Lake Counties is named after the famous author.
Saddleback Butte State Park in Los Angeles County is a desert park.
Salton Sea State Recreation Area in Imperial and Riverside Counties is located on the Salton Sea.
Sutter Buttes State Park in Sutter County is a new park in development with no public access yet.
Topanga State Park in Los Angeles County is a large park in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Fun at Lakes and Recreation Areas

Many state parks are centered around lakes and rivers, offering great opportunities for water sports, fishing, and camping.

Admiral William Standley State Recreation Area in Mendocino County is great for fishing on the Eel River.
Auburn State Recreation Area in El Dorado and Placer Counties offers many activities along the American River.
Austin Creek State Recreation Area in Sonoma County is a rugged wilderness area.
Benicia State Recreation Area in Solano County preserves a tidal wetland.
Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area in Alameda County is popular for windsurfing.
Brannan Island State Recreation Area in Sacramento County offers water recreation in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.
Burton Creek State Park in Placer County has trails for hiking and cross-country skiing.
Castaic Lake State Recreation Area in Los Angeles County has a long shoreline on Castaic Lake.
Clear Lake State Park in Lake County offers recreation on Clear Lake, California's largest freshwater lake.
Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area in Colusa County is known for fishing on the Sacramento River.
D. L. Bliss State Park in El Dorado County features a balancing rock on Lake Tahoe.
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park in El Dorado County is on Lake Tahoe and includes a historic summer home.
Emerald Bay State Park in El Dorado County has Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay and the Vikingsholm mansion.
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area in El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento Counties surrounds Folsom and Natoma Lakes.
Franks Tract State Recreation Area in Contra Costa County is a flooded area in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, accessible only by water.
George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area in Merced County is next to the Merced River.
Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area in Humboldt County offers fishing on Big Lagoon.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area in Placer County is on the north shore of Lake Tahoe.
Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area in Alameda County surrounds Lake Del Valle.
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area in Butte County surrounds Lake Oroville.
Lake Perris State Recreation Area in Riverside County is a reservoir with an Indian museum.
Lake Valley State Recreation Area in El Dorado County has an 18-hole golf course.
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Shasta County is known for its beautiful waterfalls.
McConnell State Recreation Area in Merced County is a recreation area.
Millerton Lake State Recreation Area in Fresno and Madera Counties includes shoreline on Millerton Lake and a historic courthouse.
Morro Bay State Park in San Luis Obispo County is a state park near Morro Bay.
Navarro River Redwoods State Park in Mendocino County is a park along the Navarro River.
Picacho State Recreation Area in Imperial County is a recreation area.
Rio de Los Angeles State Park State Recreation Area in Los Angeles County is an urban open space.
Russian Gulch State Park in Mendocino County is a beautiful park.
Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County is a coastal park.
Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Marin County is a state park.
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area in Merced County is a large reservoir.
Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area in San Bernardino County is a recreation area.
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park in Mendocino and Humboldt Counties is a wilderness park.
South Yuba River State Park in Nevada County is a park along the South Yuba River.
Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area in Mendocino County is a recreation area.
Tahoe State Recreation Area in Placer County is a campground on Lake Tahoe.
Tolowa Dunes State Park in Del Norte County is a park with dunes.
Tomales Bay State Park in Marin County is managed by the National Park Service.
Trione-Annadel State Park in Sonoma County offers day-use activities.
Turlock Lake State Recreation Area in Stanislaus County is a recreation area.
Washoe Meadows State Park in El Dorado County is a state park.
Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area in Tehama County is a recreation area.

Unique Natural Wonders

Some state parks protect very specific or unusual natural features.

Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park in Shasta County protects lava flows.
Albany State Marine Reserve in Alameda County is a park property.
Año Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County has the world's largest mainland rookery of northern elephant seals.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Los Angeles County showcases the state's most consistent blooms of California poppies.
Azalea State Natural Reserve in Humboldt County has many spring-blooming western azaleas.
Burleigh H. Murray Ranch in San Mateo County has a historic ranch in a hidden valley.
Butte City Project in Butte County is a park in development.
California Indian Heritage Center State Park in Yolo County is an undeveloped property planned to replace the State Indian Museum.
California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa County exhibits the state's mineral collection.
Cambria State Marine Conservation Area in San Luis Obispo County is California's first state marine park.
Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve in Mendocino County preserves a small strip of rugged coastline.
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area in Butte County offers off-roading in a clay pit.
Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County has cliffbound coastline and chaparral canyons.
Delta Meadows in Sacramento County preserves undeveloped wetlands and sloughs. (Closed to the public).
Dos Rios State Park in Stanislaus County is the newest park (opening 2024), a large floodplain restoration project.
Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation Area in Kern County is the newest and second largest vehicular recreation area.
Estero Bluffs State Park in San Luis Obispo County preserves diverse coastal habitats.
Fremont Peak State Park in Monterey and San Benito Counties offers views and a night sky observatory.
Garrapata State Park in Monterey County preserves a hidden stretch of wild coast.
Gaviota State Park in Santa Barbara County has a popular beach area.
Great Valley Grasslands State Park in Merced County preserves a remnant of native grasslands.
Harmony Headlands State Park in San Luis Obispo County preserves undeveloped Pacific coast.
Hatton Canyon in Monterey County is a canyon saved from a freeway route. (In development, not open to public).
Hearst San Simeon State Park in San Luis Obispo County preserves rocky coast and rare habitats like Monterey pine forests.
Heber Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area in Imperial County attracts ATV riders to sandy dunes.
Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area in San Benito County offers off-roading tracks.
Humboldt Lagoons State Park in Humboldt County protects part of the largest lagoon system in the U.S.
Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties offers many miles of off-highway tracks.
Indio Hills Palms in Riverside County has many California fan palms growing along the San Andreas Fault.
Ishxenta State Park in Monterey County is closed to the public except for limited tours.
John B. Dewitt Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Humboldt County has undeveloped redwood groves. (In development, not open to the public).
John Little State Natural Reserve in Monterey County protects rugged cliffs on the Big Sur coast.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Monterey County stretches from the Big Sur coast to ridges, including the iconic McWay Falls.
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles County offers urban open space.
Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve in Sonoma County has spring-blooming rhododendrons.
Leucadia State Beach in San Diego County is a small, rocky beach.
Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve in San Luis Obispo County is a natural reserve.
MacKerricher State Park in Mendocino County is a state park.
Mailliard Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Mendocino County is a natural reserve.
Malibu Creek State Park in Los Angeles County is a state park.
Mendocino Headlands State Park in Mendocino County is a state park.
Mendocino Woodlands State Park in Mendocino County is a state park.
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve in Mono County protects unique tufa formations.
Montaña de Oro State Park in San Luis Obispo County is a state park.
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve in Mendocino County is a natural reserve.
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area in San Luis Obispo County offers off-roading on dunes.
Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area in Imperial and San Diego Counties offers off-roading next to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Pacheco State Park in Merced and Santa Clara Counties is a state park.
Placerita Canyon State Park in Los Angeles County is a state park.
Plumas-Eureka State Park in Plumas County is a state park.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Monterey County is a beautiful natural reserve.
Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area in Sacramento County offers off-roading and a go-kart track.
Reynolds Wayside Campground in Mendocino County preserves old-growth redwoods. (Campground removed).
Stone Lake in Sacramento County is a park property.
Sue-meg State Park in Humboldt County was formerly Patrick's Point State Park.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma and Napa Counties is managed by non-profits.
San Timoteo Canyon in Riverside County is a park property.
Tule Elk State Natural Reserve in Kern County protects tule elk.
Verdugo Mountains in Los Angeles County is a park property.
Ward Creek Project in Placer County is a park property.
Wilder Ranch State Park in Santa Cruz County is a state park.
Wildwood Canyon in Riverside County is a park in development.