California has more national parks than any other state in the United States. With such a wealth of choices, deciding which national park to visit can be tough. So we've made things easier for you – here's our list of the best national parks in California. Embrace the great outdoors in America’s Golden State.
The information in this article is inspired by the Rough Guide to California, your essential guide for visiting California.
The eerily beautiful landscape of Lassen Volcanic National Park is unlike anything else in California. Its scorched earth, steaming fumaroles and belching mud pools are more Mars than Mendocino County. Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park for its otherworldly landscapes. The names on the park map say it all: Hot Rock, Cinder Cone, Boiling Springs Lake, and the Sulphur Works.
June to October, when the roads are clear from snow. You will want to rent a car.
Lassen Volcanic National Park — one of the best national parks in California © Shutterstock
Just three hours away from Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is undoubtedly one of the best national parks in California. This desert area is surprisingly chock-full of life despite its harsh and unforgiving environment. Explore during sunrise or sunset when the whole desert floor is bathed in red light.
Joshua Tree National Park is best visited in the winter, when temperatures are more benign.
There are so many beautiful places unique to the United States — don't miss our list of the 20 places to embrace the great outdoors in the USA.
Silhouettes of Joshua Trees — in one of many national parks in California © Shutterstock
California’s newest national park, approved in 2012, is the result of a series of volcanic eruptions and the seismic shifting of the San Andreas Fault. In this park, you'll find craggy spires, chaparral hills and talus caves that make for wacky wildlife heaven. If you're wondering what to see in California, Pinnacles is high on the list for a unique experience.
March through April
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Craggy Pinnacles National Park, California © Shutterstock
Want to feel like a literary legend? For a taste of what life must have been like for Gulliver when he made land in Brobdingnag, head to the far reaches of Northern California and Redwood National Park. The trees here are some of the largest on the planet. These arboreal monsters can grow as high as a 35-storey building and whose trunks are so thick you could drive a double-decker bus through them – sideways.
The park’s impressive 131, 000 acres are divided into distinct areas: Prairie Creek Redwood, Del Norte Coast Redwood and Jedediah Smith Redwood state parks.
Summertime
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Redwood National Park in California © 2009photofriends/Shutterstock
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Channel islands national park is the only coastal national park you'll find in Southern California. It encompasses the Anacapa, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Barbara islands. One of the least visited of America’s national parks (with fewer than 250,000 annual visitors), the isolated Channel Islands are often called the “North American Galapagos.” Over 150 endemic or unique species are found here.
the Autumn
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The gorgeous shores of Channel Islands National Park in California © Shutterstock
There is a stunning view literally around every corner in Yosemite National Park. This park contains over 800 miles of trails that run through thick pine forests and alpine meadows, past towering cliffs and tumbling waterfalls, down scooped-out valleys and up over the High Sierra. It's no wonder the park regularly tops lists of the best national parks in California.
Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the US. Our guide to the most beautiful places in the US offers even more inspiring travel destinations.
With an average of nearly four million visitors a year, it’s advisable to avoid this park on weekends and holidays. Don’t let that deter you — the park is massive enough to endure the crowds. It's best if you visit at any time of year out of high summer (including winter, when waterfalls turn to ice and trails are blocked by snow).
Want to go beyond Yosemite? We recommend visiting nearby Mammoth Lakes in California. Learn more about Mammoth Lakes.
Yosemite National Park — one of America's most famous parks © Shutterstock
Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are less visited than Yosemite, but they do still attract over 1.2 million visitors each year. Come to this area to witness the 2,000-meter-deep Kings Canyon, with deep granite walls originally carved by glaciers. Or to see groves of giant, ancient sequoia trees — some of the most ancient in the world.
The summertime
Enjoy the peace of solitude? See our guide to the best places to travel alone.
Kings Canyon along the Rae Lakes Loop hiking trail in Kings Canyon National Park, California © Wasim Muklashy/Shutterstock
The lowest point on the North American continent, Death Valley can be intensely hot in summer but is awash with colourful desert wildflowers and cactus blooms in spring. Not for the faint-hearted, this park is known for its extremely harsh conditions and indomitable heat. Located 140 miles from Las Vegas, the nearest town to this desert is Pahrump, California. The nearest grocery store is a 97 km drive away.
For most, visit in the Winter or Spring. For the adventurous, visit during the white-hot summer. Today the valley’s fearsome reputation seems to attract as many as it intimidates.
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Death Valley National Park in California © Jon Manjeot/Shutterstock
Point Reyes national park is a seashore park and an untouched paradise. It is one of the country's most frequented National parks and for good reason. Gloomy forests suddenly open on lush, sweeping meadows, while the coast is rockbound with occasional pocket beaches. The park is open only to those who wish to walk or ride a horse.
Spring and autumn are usually the best. The summertime in this area is cooler and sometimes hit with seasonal storms.
Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, California © yhelfman/Shutterstock
From awe-inspiring cliffs to standing next to some of the largest trees on the planet — California is sure to please with these stunning national parks. Feeling inspired to plan a trip? Check out the snapshot Rough Guide to California or the Rough Guides to the Southwest United States. If you travel further in the United States, read more about the best time to go, the best places to visit and the best things to do in the United States. For inspiration use the US itineraries from The Rough Guide to the USA and our local travel experts. A bit more hands-on, learn about getting there, getting around the country and where to stay once you are there.
If you prefer to plan and book your trip to California without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.
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Top image: Yosemite falls, California © Shutterstock