California state parks
Photo: Patrick Piemonte, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
California has a number of beautiful state parks in addition to a number of national parks, national monuments, and other national nature reserves. These parks are not as well known as their national counterparts and are somewhat more off the beaten path.
UnderstandCalifornia's diverse regional scenery is summarized by the national parks within the state: Death Valley National Park showcases the desert, Yosemite National Park the Sierra Nevada, and Kings Canyon/Sequoia the forest.
Shasta/CascadesThe Shasta Cascades region is the northeast corner of the state. It is wild and remote, with forests, mountains, lakes, and even the occasional volcano.
San Joaquin ValleyThe San Joaquin Valley, also called the Central Valley, runs through the interior of California. Its fertile soil makes it an important area for agriculture.
Sierra NevadaThe Sierra Nevada region is the place to go for sequoia trees and serious mountain sports.
North CoastThe North Coast is a great place for outdoor sports, including fishing. The vineyards are good but not as famous as Napa and Sonoma, and some areas are known for growing marijuana.
Sacramento ValleySacramento Valley is at the northern end of the San Joaquin Valley.
Gold CountryGold Country is the best destination for history buffs interested in the California gold rush.
Bay AreaThe San Francisco Bay Area is an urban area, but there are still plenty of parks, often on the smaller side.
Central CoastThe Central Coast runs along the ocean below the San Francisco Bay area.
Southern CaliforniaSouthern California is Hollywood and so much more.
DesertThe Desert region of California is at the southern end and inland.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "California state parks" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Patrick Piemonte, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons