8 Incredible California State Parks to Visit

Fort Ord Dunes State Park is in Marina, Monterey County. This location used to be an old military base along the coast, which opened to the public as a state park in 2009. Fort Ord extends to about 4 miles of coastline; here, you’ll get sights of dunes and hiking trails that lead you to the ocean. It is an excellent place for kids to play on the dunes; dogs are not allowed near the ocean or hiking trails leading to the beach.

If you are looking for a state park to see those amazing redwood trees of California, you have to visit Henry Cowell State Park. This state park is located in Felton, and there are numerous trails to hike throughout the forest where you will see a grove of old-growth coast redwoods. This location is great for exploring, hiking, and biking, and they also have a campground.

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is located in Aptos, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This place is great for hiking because you are surrounded by so much wilderness on every corner. There are creeks, waterfalls, redwood trees, and stunning views of Santa Cruz throughout the trails.

Castle Rock State Park is in Los Gatos along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The views from the top of Douglas fir trees are spectacular! What attracts people here is not only hikers but also climbers. Along the trails, you see sandstone formations with unique patterns, making them ideal for bouldering and rock climbing.

This state park is unique because it is located on an island. Angel Island State Park is in the San Francisco Bay. To get there, you have to take a ferry; there are two places you can take one from: Golden Gate or Tiburon. Things to see are a historical immigration station, or you can hike to Mount Livermore, which offers spectacular views of San Francisco on a clear day. There is also a place for camping; reservations are required.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park is one of the prettiest and most spectacular state parks located in Arnold. What makes this park so different than many others is that you will find two groves of giant sequoias – the world’s largest trees. You will also see the Stanislaus River and natural meadows in the park. Check out the best hiking trails to hike at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where you can visit both the North and South Groves.

One of the most secluded state parks I have visited in California has been Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. This park is found in Nevada City in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is home to the largest hydraulic gold mine and has a lot of history from the Gold Rush era. On your visit, you should stop by the visitor center and check out the historical buildings. There are campsites, caves, waterfalls, and several hiking trails where you can see huge cliffs carved by jets of water used as a gold-mining technique that washed entire mountains away to find gold.

Another unique and low-key state park to visit is Grover Hot Spring State Park in Markleeville. This beautiful site is known for its swimming pool complex that holds a regular pool and a hot spring pool that is fed by natural hot springs in the park. There are also several hiking trails and a campground for overnight stays.