4.5Muir Woods National Monument(6.974 reviews) - Memorable trip to San Francisco all because Ms. Pep of Alegro Private Tours Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests
Muir Woods has a rich and varied history, from its use by the Coast Miwok people, to its early days of tourism and the Mount Tamalpais Mill Valley Scenic Railway, to an era of conservation, to modern preservation. In each era, the forest has been affected by the actions of humans, for better or for worse. Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this coastal redwood preserve features majestic redwoods and scenic hiking trails that draw more than 1.5 million visitors each year.See more..
4.5Cabrillo National Monument(4.873 reviews) - Worth The Drive Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • National Parks • Monuments & Statues
Stately monument honoring Cabrillo, discoverer of San Diego Bay, is located in Point Loma that overlooks the city and the Bay.See more..
4.5Bridalveil Falls(1.513 reviews) - Closed Up Close but Best Viewed from Afar National Parks • Waterfalls
The park works hard to make the trees accessible to folks with a wide variety of abilities. Several handicapped trails, pullovers for views and trees, paved trails with plenty of benches. The trees themselves are like sculptural pieces...weathered by time and fire, twisted, scarred and beautiful. They moved me in a way I was not anticipating. The obvious fire damage somehow makes the visit more soulful. Visiting after Labor day, midweek, no trouble finding parking. Bathrooms available at popular spots, trails clean well maintained. Plenty of information online or in handouts to plan your visit. Trails get busier/more crowded in late morning and early afternoonSee more..
5.0Redwood National Park(1.158 reviews) - Amazing 2 day trip State Parks • National Parks • Hiking Trails
This massive natural reservation, located on the scenic coastline of Northern California, consists of nearly 140,000 acres of stunning redwood rainforest. It's a must-visit spot for nature lovers who enjoy camping, fishing, and hiking. There are multiple trails to explore the park's many wonders, from its majestic sequoias and towering Douglas firs to the stunning Lady Bird Johnson Grove. You might even spot wildlife like the majestic Roosevelt elk and the colorful banana slug. The best time to visit is in summer—make sure to pack layers as it can get chilly. Admission to the park is free, but the three state parks within the park charge a day-use fee. – TripadvisorSee more..
4.5Kings Canyon(956 reviews) - Circular walk is spectacular but only for the fit and don’t attempt after 7am on hot days National Parks • Canyons
Kings Canyon National Park is named for this large canyon, perfect for hiking.See more..
5.0Joshua Tree National Park(742 reviews) - Stunning mountains and scenery Spent More than 3 hours National Parks
It’s easy to spend all day visiting the park as it’s huge and there are loads of trials to walk. We only chose a couple of short trials which we enjoyed. I would recommend baker trail. Plus the vastness of Turkey plains towards the south entrance is breathtaking. I would recommend the west entrance visitor centre, grab a map, ask a guide ( very helpful) to recommend a route and buy your ticket. Bring your own drink/ food as there are not restaurants in the park. There are toilets but not the flushing kind! Last flushing toilet is at the visitors centre on West entrance and south entrance ( didn’t use 29 Palms entrance but reckon there is there too)See more..
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the nation's largest national park in an urban area, encompasses nearly 81,000 acres. Spanning Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties, Golden Gate National Recreation Area also includes areas such as Alcatraz Island, Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Presidio of San Francisco, and the Marin Headlands.See more..
4.5Pinnacles National Park(592 reviews) - Fun park. Know what to expect. Spent More than 3 hours National Parks
This natural site has spire-like rock formations reaching 1,200 feet high.See more..
5.0Manzanar National Historic Site(511 reviews) - Incredibly important Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Historic Sites • National Parks
Manzanar NHS tells the stories of 120,000 Japanese Americans excluded from the West Coast and confined during WWII. Manzanar was the first of ten camps and held 11,070 people, 2/3 of them American citizens. Today, visitors explore the site by walking or driving to see foundations, trees, rock gardens, and stone alignments. Extensive exhibits feature historic photos, film footage and audio programs, a scale model, a children’s exhibit, and special programs. The visitor center is currently open 11 am to 4 pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It is closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The site itself is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Free admission.See more..
5.0Mount Tamalpais State Park(447 reviews) - Beautiful Day trip in January State Parks • Mountains • National Parks
Beautiful state park north of San Francisco.See more..
We planned to briefly stop here after leaving Burney Falls and on our way to Klamath Falls and then Crater lake. This is truly off the beaten path and out of the way. Make sure you have plenty of gas when driving here. We were coming from the south to the park and our GPS was confused and kind of took us all over the place until we finally seemed to get on the right roads. So we lost a lot of time and spent longer at Burney Falls than we had planned, so by the time we got here the visitor center was closed and it was sunset. Well since it was sunset every Deer decided to come out, we must have seen about 20 to 30 Deers total whilst driving through the park. We drove very slowly, as they were running all over the roads. The sunset wasn't anything spectacular, but it brought some pretty light to the Lava beds and we were the only car during our entire time in the park we never saw another human being. I'm sure it's a great park to spend the time exploring the lava caves. We said it was worth it just for the deer experience we had, plus another park checked off the list.See more..
5.0Sequoia National Park(353 reviews) - Totally worth it Spent More than 3 hours National Parks
I stayed at three rivers the night before. I drive south to north and only visited the Sequoia National park. We stopped at the visitor’s centers along the way and at General Sherman area. Plenty of spots to stop for amazing pictures. Bring good walking shoes and water. Food at restaurant locations are very expensive. Totally worth a visit. Finished our route in 5-6 hours.See more..
4.5Santa Monica Mountains(287 reviews) - Beautiful!! Mountains • National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Nice little museum with lots of information. Very well put together displays with lots of stuff to read. Made us very appreciative of all the hard work that women put into the war effort. The museum is bigger than it looks (it’s 2 large rooms) and took us about 1 ½ hours to go through (we tried to read everything). My son received a work book to complete to get a Junior Ranger badge which he enjoyed doing. He also liked exploring the rose garden and memorial (which was about a 5 minute drive away) and is a part of the NHP. If you enjoy history (especially WWII history) you will enjoy Rosie the Riveter NHP. There is a lot to learn here.See more..
4.5Del Valle Regional Park(155 reviews) - Perfect place to spend time with friends National Parks
We visited this place just a day before. Was not sure how it will be during Oct as most of the photos in Oct shows dry grass etc but I must say this place is fantastic even in summer. Visited Marin area of the park. Boating was on however rental timing are odd 6 am to 2.45 pm ( you need return boat by 5 pm) I really wish they could rent up to 4. This side has lot of benches, each bench has grill associated so you can enjoy grilling. Has small beach when you can go in water, has clean water. Has park store you can purchase some food / drinks and ice Big open ground to play or for group activities. Try to reach early to get bench( under tree) and to book boat. Lot of parking places ($6 charges)See more..
The world’s largest urban national park, extending more than 45 miles from the Hollywood Bow to Ventura, features a rich variety of plants and wildlife.See more..
4.0Paramount Ranch(120 reviews) - An Iconic Ranch to Ashes National Parks
This Old West town at Paramount Ranch, which is authentic enough to fool a ghost, was forsaken by Hollywood.See more..
4.5Sulphur Works(113 reviews) - Right by the road National Parks • Hot Springs & Geysers • Volcanos
The hot springs literally go under the road way. You can't get a site closer to your car than this. But do park and get out of your car (if you are able) and spend some time looking. The bubbling hot pots are amazing and the colors of the springs surprised me. Like a little bit of Yellowstone right here in Lassen.See more..
4.5Anacapa Island(104 reviews) - Beautiful place! National Parks • Islands
One of the five islands in the Channel Islands National Park, Anacapa is located an hour from Oxnard.See more..
We came here in early April and were able to hike the one mile to Sulphur Works and check out the geothermal sights - bubbling mud pools, steaming fumeroles, and lots of beautiful alien terrain. Afterwards, we went sledding down the massive hills located right behind the visitor center. Make sure to bring your own sled!See more..
Mountainous recreation area offers visitors outdoor activities such as hiking and boating, in addition to the many historical sites related to the California Gold Rush of 1849.See more..
5.0Shasta-Trinity National Forest(80 reviews) - TOTAL BLESS National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests • Volcanos
This was our first trip to this area of California. We read the Trip Advisor reviews and recommendations, so we were excited for our new adventure. Our trip to this forest was our most favorite. We took Hwy 89 to find the forest and then looked for signs to the McCloud waterfalls. Drive past the Fowler Campgrounds. We first found the Middle Falls, which was fairly close to the parking lot. We didn't see another soul during our hour visit to the falls. We took in the whole experience using all of our senses. We just stared at the beautiful blue water flowing over the rocks. It's not often we STOP everything and just "be" with nature. This is nature at its best. I'm glad my left foot was injured and we couldn't walk to the Upper Falls. This forced us to just stop and fully enjoy this magical experience.See more..
4.5Eldorado National Forest(77 reviews) - Bassi falls- Hidden gem Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM National Parks • Forests
The hiking areas are located within this forest.See more..
I was rerouted by waze for some amazing nite time view on my trip from LA to Sierra. My pics don't don't justice and im.sure day time. This is the most beautiful views my phone average could not capture what I was actually seeing for this mountain passage.See more..
4.5Cleveland National Forest(54 reviews) - So BIG and so many AMAZING trails to explore National Parks
Although near major metropolitan centers, this national forest is a well-preserved expanse of scenic beauty.See more..
...any one other human being a little like this guy has been for multitudes of people... I came about 10 minutes before closing. Needless to say, the "rangers" here were like being politely brusque about closing soon. I started talking to one of them and just got a bad vibe from her. I expressed surprise about the religious aspect of some of the items here and I think she misunderstood me. I think she wanted to misunderstand me. I gave thought that day about Cesar and our Latin American brothers and sisters who take of the fields that feed us all. We owe them so much. Thanks Cesar - even in death you inspire us to think of others before ourselves.See more..
Stanislaus National Forest, created on February 22, 1897, is among the oldest of the national forests. You can fish in over 800 miles of rivers and streams, stay in a campground, or hike. The Calaveras Big Trees State Park is also here.See more..
This region consists of 254,500 acres of scenic forest, lakes and mountain landscape, offering a wealth of recreational opportunities from hiking and canoeing to fishing and camping.See more..
5.0Lassen Volcanic National Park(23 reviews) - Great national park with lots to see and do Mountains • National Parks • Volcanos
This is a terrific park with many different landscapes and features. There are a few sights that are right off the main highway, like Sulphur Works, but you'll have to do at least a little walking/hiking to really experience the park. The hike to Lassen Peak is rather challenging but well worth it. At the summit you can find panoramic views as well as the youngest rocks in California, dating back to its eruption in 1915. The easy walk around Manzanita Lake also has pretty scenery and plenty of tranquility. The main visitor center has great displays on the geothermal history of the area, and Manzanita Lake has a small cafe, a store, and other basic amenities. Overall, one of the great, but overlooked, parks of California.See more..
This is a challenging park to visit due to its presence o a military base. We were able to visit as part of a tour group--about 28 of us with our group departing from John Muir NHS. The weather was beautiful by the water. The story is so important for the history of the area as well as US history. The first seeds of desegregation began here after this tragedy and it is important that we remember the loss of life and freedoms that occurred here. We had ample time to see the site before returning back to John Muir NHS.See more..
4.5Milagra Ridge(11 reviews) - A gem not intended to be disturbed. Spent 1-2 hours National Parks
As one of the national recreation areas, Milagra Ridge has history tracing back to thousands year ago as habitat of natives. Then there came the Spaniards to farm artichokes. The location was so strategic that US military deployed guns and nuclear ready missiles from WWII to the end of Cold War. Today, this is a small patch of refuge for several endangered specifies surrounded by urban developments. When I learned what a treasured land this is, I feel privileged living close to it and fortunate enough to run on the trails when weather is great. You can see the Farallan Islands, sprouting whales along the shore of Pacifica, passing cruise ships, and white sails. Enjoy and maintain.See more..
My wife and I have logged hundreds of miles of great hiking in this area-treasure that previously served the military as Fort Ord.See more..
4.5Ryan Ranch Homestead Site(7 reviews) - 2 Guys Hiking In Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • National Parks • Hiking Trails
First the Campground is closed currently and you have to used the main road and the Ryan Ranch Trail. Not well marked but has a well used path. The trail takes you into the area and you can see the Ranch Ruins on your left. We choose to go left off the path to the ruins, but the path comes around to an old entrance . Wander around to see all the different things, windmill on ground, pump house and many More things. Coming back the trail goes left to campground? We went right and back to the parking on the highway. Comfort station at highway. Next is Woderland ranch in Joshua Tree NPSee more..
The Snow Mountain Wilderness is located in this forest and is great for hiking.See more..
5.0San Gabriel Mountains National Monument(4 reviews) - Great Hikes Spent More than 3 hours National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas Excellent choice for hiking and outdoors for all levels. Beautiful mountain ranges to take in. Easy access from anywhere. See more..
5.0Plumas National Forest(2 reviews) - High Sierra Forest lands National Parks • Forests Cool , both in temp and in places to see. Enjoy a mountain towns atmosphere. Do not miss in quincy Grandma Janes, everithing there is delicious. The Pine Hill motel is the place to stay its right smack in the middle of this forest. See more..
Great nature areas. Large variety of settings, lakes, wildlife, terrains, etc. Good for hikes or a drive. See more..
4.0Kern National Wildlife Refuge(1 review) - A great birding spot during migratory periods Spent 2-3 hours National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas We visited the Refuge in late March towards the end of the migration and had a great afternoon driving one of the two auto tour routes. We were able to add several species of birds to our life list and saw many others that we had seen before in California during the spring migration. Visiting during the spring migration is helpful to bird identification but a fall visit would be interesting. At other times of the year one could see many of the endemic species and the website provides some of this information. If you are a non-birder or hunter you are likely to find this a less interesting stop unless you have binoculars and a bird book in hand. This is a remote refuge in the system without a friends group so services are pretty limited (hence 4 stars). The refuge personnel were willing to answer questions and give us some ideas. We would definitely visit again.See more..
3.0Silver Peak Wilderness(1 review) - The Silver Peak Wilderness is not in Goleta National Parks • Ferries A wilderness area in Los Padres National Forest.See more..
Little Critters Pack Station provides horse and mule pack trips to Klamath National Forest Wilderness Areas :Marble Mountain, Russian, and Trinity Alps. We provide drop pack service, deluxe vacations, and educational worshops in remote wilderness campsites.See more..
