California ParksMORE OUTSIDE. CLOSER TO HOME.
Sunlight through redwoods at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
FROM THE SIERRA TO THE PACIFIC

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California park.

Redwood shade. Desert mornings. A trail above the ocean. Find state parks, coastal escapes, and places to walk across California.

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Henry Cowell RedwoodsSANTA CRUZ COUNTY · FIND SOME SHADE
Photo: Alexander Hatley · source · CC BY 2.0 · resized and cropped
279 places to find your outsideOfficial sources, practical detailsExplore California counties58 counties · coverage in progressA little preparation goes a long wayCheck park notices before you go
A FEW PLACES TO START

Worth getting outside for.

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FOLLOW YOUR KIND OF OUTSIDE

What kind of day?

A long walk or a quick escape. Start with the places that suit your pace.

01
State parksBig scenery. A full day outside.
02
State beachesSalt air. A slower afternoon.
03
Natural areasTake the quieter path.
04
Historic sitesTake a walk through the past.
BEFORE YOU LACE UP

Know before you go.

All park notices

Closures, trail work, pests, wildlife, and access changes. Check the affected area and follow the official source for the latest details.

Closure noticeTrails & roads

Redwood National and State Parks: 44 Creek Bridge closure

Park-specific information

44 Creek Bridge is closed after an inspection identified damage. It lies north of 44 Camp, about seven miles south of Redwood Creek Trailhead and one mile north of the Tall Trees river crossing. NPS advises against crossing the ravine and says alternate routes…

Read the official notice: National Park Service: California visitor destinations ↗Source checked Nov 9, 2026
Closure noticeFacilities

Lassen Volcanic National Park: Juniper Lake campground and day-use closure

Park-specific information

Juniper Lake campground and day-use area are closed for maintenance and campground improvements. Potable water is unavailable in the campground. NPS separately states that Juniper Lake Road to the lake and trailheads is open; use caution around road crews and …

Read the official notice: National Park Service: California visitor destinations ↗Source checked Nov 9, 2026
Closure noticeTrails & roads

Tecolote Canyon Natural Park and Nature Center: Sewer-work trail closures

Park-specific information

The hiking trail from Mount Acadia Boulevard to Balboa Avenue is closed around the clock, with work planned through summer 2027. Trails within the golf course remain closed. The city now explicitly lists Phase 1a from the Nature Center to the USD access point …

Read the official notice: San Diego regional and open-space parks ↗Source checked Nov 9, 2026
TAKE A LITTLE KNOW-HOW WITH YOU

The field guides.

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THE FIELD GUIDE

Check campfire rules for your exact park

Wood, charcoal, and gas appliances can have different restrictions, and permission at one park does not carry over to another.

Read the guide THE FIELD GUIDE

Firewood and boat rules that protect California parks

Check destination-specific firewood restrictions and vessel inspection requirements before moving between parks.

Read the guide THE FIELD GUIDE

Plan around wildlife-area closures

A closed wildlife-viewing area can coexist with other visitor access; keep seasonal restrictions tied to the place named in the notice.

Read the guide
YOUR CORNER OF THE STATE

Start close to home.

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Alameda4 parks Alpine1 parks Amador1 parks Butte3 parks Calaveras1 parks Colusa1 parks Contra Costa3 parks Del Norte6 parks El Dorado8 parks Fresno2 parks Glenn1 parks Humboldt15 parks Imperial3 parks Inyo2 parks Kern4 parks Kings0 parks Lake3 parks Lassen1 parks Los Angeles23 parks Madera3 parks Marin7 parks Mariposa1 parks Mendocino22 parks Merced5 parks Modoc0 parks Mono3 parks Monterey18 parks Napa4 parks Nevada4 parks Orange8 parks Placer7 parks Plumas2 parks Riverside7 parks Sacramento11 parks San Benito4 parks San Bernardino5 parks San Diego26 parks San Francisco2 parks San Joaquin1 parks San Luis Obispo11 parks San Mateo16 parks Santa Barbara9 parks Santa Clara4 parks Santa Cruz15 parks Shasta5 parks Sierra0 parks Siskiyou1 parks Solano2 parks Sonoma13 parks Stanislaus3 parks Sutter0 parks Tehama3 parks Trinity1 parks Tulare2 parks Tuolumne4 parks Ventura9 parks Yolo1 parks Yuba1 parks
LESS SCROLLING. MORE STROLLING.

A change of scenery
could be just around the corner.

Find a public park near you and make a little time for outside.

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