California State Parks & Beaches

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California State Parks & Beaches

Geography

Main article: Geography of California

A topographic map of California

Interactive GIS Web Map

 

 

A forest of redwood trees in Redwood National Park

Mount Shasta

Aerial view of the California Central Valley

Big Sur coast, south of Monterey at Bixby Bridge

Yosemite National Park

Snow on the Sierra Nevada in eastern California

Death Valley, in the Mojave Desert

Potato Harbor, named for its distinctive ovular and bumpy shape, on Santa Cruz Island

The coastline along Laguna Beach in Southern California

California is the 3rd largest state in the United States in area, after Alaska and Texas. California is often geographically bisected into two regions, Southern California, comprising the 10 southernmost counties, and Northern California, comprising the 48 northernmost counties.

In the middle of the state lies the California Central Valley, bounded by the Sierra Nevada in the east, the coastal mountain ranges in the west, the Cascade Range to the north and the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. The Central Valley is California’s productive agricultural heartland.

Divided in two by the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the northern portion, the Sacramento Valley serves as the watershed of the Sacramento River, while the southern portion, the San Joaquin Valley is the watershed for the San Joaquin River. Both areas derive their names from the rivers that flow through them. With dredging, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin Rivers have remained deep enough for several inland cities to be seaports.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a critical water supply hub for the state. Water is diverted from the delta and through an extensive network of pumps and canals that traverse nearly the length of the state, to the Central Valley and the State Water Projects and other needs. Water from the Delta provides drinking water for nearly 23 million people, almost two-thirds of the state’s population as well as water for farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley.

The Channel Islands are located off the Southern coast.

The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for “snowy range”) includes the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states, Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4,421 m). The range embraces Yosemite Valley, famous for its glacially carved domes, and Sequoia National Park, home to the giant sequoia trees, the largest living organisms on Earth, and the deep freshwater lake, Lake Tahoe, the largest lake in the state by volume.

To the east of the Sierra Nevada are Owens Valley and Mono Lake, an essential migratory bird habitat. In the western part of the state is Clear Lake, the largest freshwater lake by area entirely in California. Though Lake Tahoe is larger, it is divided by the California/Nevada border. The Sierra Nevada falls to Arctic temperatures in winter and has several dozen small glaciers, including Palisade Glacier, the southernmost glacier in the United States.

About 45 percent of the state’s total surface area is covered by forests, and California’s diversity of pine species is unmatched by any other state. California contains more forestland than any other state except Alaska. Many of the trees in the California White Mountains are the oldest in the world; an individual bristlecone pine is over 5,000 years old.

In the south is a large inland salt lake, the Salton Sea. The south-central desert is called the Mojave; to the northeast of the Mojave lies Death Valley, which contains the lowest and hottest place in North America, the Bad Water Basin at −279 feet (−85 m). The horizontal distance from the bottom of Death Valley to the top of Mount Whitney is less than 90 miles (140 km). Indeed, almost all of southeastern California is arid, hot desert, with routine extreme high temperatures during the summer. The southeastern border of California with Arizona is entirely formed by the Colorado River, from which the southern part of the state gets about half of its water.

Along the California coast are several major metropolitan areas, including the Greater Los Angeles Area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the San Diego metropolitan area.

As part of the Ring of Fire, California is subject to tsunamis, floods, droughts, Santa Ana winds, wildfires, landslides on steep terrain, and has several volcanoes. It has many earthquakes due to several faults running through the state, in particular the San Andreas Fault.

This is a list of parks, historic resources, reserves and recreation areas in the California State Parks system.

General location of California State Parks

Contents

List of Parks & Beaches

Park name Classification County or
counties
Area Year established Remarks
acres ha
Admiral William Standley State Recreation Area State recreation area Mendocino 45 18 1944 Boasts redwoods plus salmon and steelhead fishing on the Eel River.
Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park State park Shasta 5,930 2,400 1975 Preserves a wilderness of freshwater springs and geologically recent lava flows.
Albany State Marine Reserve Park property Alameda 1985 In development, not open to public
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park State historic park Lake 1,298 525 1982 Preserves a tule marsh and ancient archaeological sites of the Pomo people.
Andrew Molera State Park State park Monterey 4,766 1,929 1968 Offers a primitive walk-in campground on the Big Sur coast.
Angel Island State Park State park Marin and San Francisco 756 306 1955 Interprets an island in San Francisco Bay whose history encompasses Coast Miwok prehistory, ranching, the 1910–1940 Angel Island Immigration Station, and long military use.
Annadel State Park State park Sonoma 5,092 2,061 1971 Supports a variety of day-use activities at the northern end of Sonoma Valley.
Ano Nuevo State Park !Año Nuevo State Park State park San Mateo 4,209 1,703 1985 Encompasses Año Nuevo Island and Año Nuevo Point, which boasts the world’s largest mainland rookery of northern elephant seals.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State natural reserve Los Angeles 1,781 721 1976 Showcases the state’s most-consistent blooms of California poppy, in the high Mojave Desert.
Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park State historic park Los Angeles 397 161 1979 Interprets the Native American cultures of the Great Basin and surrounding regions in a 1928 folk art building on the NRHP.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park State park San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside 585,930 237,120 1933 Preserves a vast tract of the Colorado Desert in California’s largest state park.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Sonoma 752 304 1934 Preserves a grove of coast redwoods.
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park State park Los Angeles 566 229 1993 Preserves a remnant stand of Joshua trees and junipers in the Antelope Valley.
Asilomar State Beach State beach Monterey 107 43 1951 Balances protection of rocky coast and dune habitat with public access. The 1913 Asilomar Conference Grounds are a National Historic Landmark.
Auburn State Recreation Area State recreation area El Dorado and Placer 42,377 17,149 1966 Offers numerous recreational opportunities along the North and Middle Forks of the American River.
Austin Creek State Recreation Area State recreation area Sonoma 5,927 2,399 1964 Features a rugged wilderness on Austin Creek, adjacent to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve.
Azalea State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Humboldt 30 12 1943 Harbors a profusion of spring-blooming western azaleas.
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park State historic park Napa 0.75 0.30 1974 Showcases a restored 1846 water-powered grist mill in Napa Valley. The mill is on the NRHP.
Bean Hollow State Beach State beach San Mateo 44 18 1958 Offers fishing and beachcombing among tide pools.
Benbow Lake State Recreation Area State recreation area Humboldt 1,142 462 1958 Centers on a reservoir on the South Fork Eel River.
Benicia Capitol State Historic Park State historic park Solano 0.86 0.35 1951 Interprets the third and oldest-surviving California capitol, used 1853–54. The building is on the NRHP.
Benicia State Recreation Area State recreation area Solano 447 181 1957 Preserves a tidal wetland on the Carquinez Strait.
Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area State recreation area Alameda 609 246 1974 Offers windsurfing and other water recreation on the Bethany Reservoir.
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park State historic park Butte 5.2 2.1 1964 Offers tours of the 1868 Victorian mansion of influential settlers John and Annie Bidwell. The mansion is on the NRHP.
Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park State park Butte and Glenn 349 141 1979 Preserves riparian habitat on the Sacramento River and its tributary Big Chico Creek.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park State park Santa Cruz 18,050 7,300 1902 Established as California’s first state park, to preserve coast redwoods on Waddell Creek.
Bodie State Historic Park State historic park Mono 1,016 411 1962 Preserves the ghost town of Bodie, whose gold-mining heyday ran from 1877–1881, and is now a National Historic Landmark.
Bolsa Chica State Beach State beach Orange 169 68 1960 Offers surf fishing and catching grunion by hand.
Border Field State Park State park San Diego 1,316 533 1972 Occupies the southwestern most point of the contiguous U.S., on the Mexico – United States border. Part of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park State park Napa and Sonoma 1,991 806 1960 Contains the farthest inland coast redwoods in a California state park.
Brannan Island State Recreation Area State recreation area Sacramento 329 133 1952 Offers water recreation amid a maze of channels in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.
Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park property San Mateo 1,325 536 1979 Encompasses a hidden valley with a historic ranch established in 1857.
Burton Creek State Park State park Placer 1,890 760 1976 Offers 6 miles (9.7 km) of unpaved roadway for hiking and cross-country skiing.
Butano State Park State park San Mateo 4,728 1,913 1956 Showcases a secluded redwood-filled valley.
Butte City Project Park property Butte 37 15 2007 In development, not open to public
Calaveras Big Trees State Park State park Calaveras and Tuolumne 6,498 2,630 1931 Protects two large groves of giant sequoias.
California Citrus State Historic Park State historic park Riverside 248 100 1984 Interprets the influence of the state’s citrus industry.
California State Capitol Museum Park property Sacramento 40 16 1982 Offers exhibits and tours of the California State Capitol and its grounds.
California State Mining and Mineral Museum Park property Mariposa 1999 Exhibits the official state mineral collection and displays on the region’s influential mining heritage.
California State Railroad Museum Point of interest Sacramento 1976 Celebrates the history of rail transportation in California with museum displays, 21 restored locomotives, and a heritage railway along the Sacramento River.
Candlestick Point State Recreation Area State recreation area San Francisco 204 83 1972 Constitutes California’s first urban state recreation area, on the west shore of San Francisco Bay.
Cardiff State Beach State beach San Diego 507 205 1949 Provides a sandy, warm-water beach outside San Diego.
Carlsbad State Beach State beach San Diego 44 18 1933 Features a small beach at the foot of coastal bluffs.
Carmel River State Beach State beach Monterey 297 120 1953 Protects a 1-mile-long (1.6 km) beach and a lagoon at the mouth of the Carmel River which attracts many migratory birds.
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area State vehicular recreation area Alameda and San Joaquin 5,075 2,054 1979 Provides off-roading opportunities in the Diablo Range around the former town site of Carnegie.
Carpinteria State Beach State beach Santa Barbara and Ventura 62 25 1932 Offers a mile-long beach in the city of Carpentaria.
Caspar Headlands State Beach State beach Mendocino 75 30 1972
Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Mendocino 2.7 1.1 1972 Preserves a small strip of rugged coastline.
Castaic Lake State Recreation Area State recreation area Los Angeles 4,224 1,709 1965 Features 29 miles (47 km) of shoreline on Castaic Lake.
Castle Crags State Park State park Shasta 3,905 1,580 1934 Provides access to the Castle Crags Wilderness, with its 6,000-foot-tall (1,800 m) rock crags.
Castle Rock State Park State park Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo 5,242 2,121 1968 Encompasses a wild forest with rock climbing opportunities along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Castro Adobe Park property Santa Cruz 1 0.40 2002 Comprises the grand 1849 hacienda of the prominent Castro family on their Rancho San Andrés. In development, not open to public. The hacienda is on the NRHP.
Caswell Memorial State Park State park San Joaquin 258 104 1952 Preserves a riparian forest along the Stanislaus River.
Cayucos State Beach State beach San Luis Obispo 16 6.5 1940 Provides a swimming and surfing beach in the beach town of Cayucos.
China Camp State Park State park Marin 1,514 613 1976 Surrounds a 1880s Chinese American shrimp-fishing village and salt marshes on San Pablo Bay.
Chino Hills State Park State park Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino 14,173 5,736 1981 Preserves a large tract of the Chino Hills.
Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park State historic park Santa Barbara 7.5 3.0 1976 Preserves a sandstone cave bearing rock art of the Chumash people.
Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area State vehicular recreation area Butte 220 89 1981 Provides off-roading opportunities in the shallow clay pit excavated for material to build the Oroville Dam.
Clear Lake State Park State park Lake 590 240 1949 Provides recreation opportunities on the southwest shore of Clear Lake, the largest freshwater lake within California’s borders.
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park State historic park Tulare 3,715 1,503 1973 Interprets the town of Allensworth, founded in 1908 as a haven for African Americans by Colonel Allen Allensworth and other community leaders. The town is a district on the NRHP.
Columbia State Historic Park State historic park Tuolumne 273 110 1946 Interprets Columbia’s preserved Gold Rush-era downtown, a National Historic Landmark District.
Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area State recreation area Colusa 301 122 1955 Adjoins a stretch of the Sacramento River known for its fishing.
Corona del Mar State Beach State beach Orange 30 12 1947 Provides a half-mile-long swimming beach adjacent to the Newport Beach harbor jetty.
Cowell Ranch/John Marsh State Historic Park State historic park Contra Costa 3,676 1,488 1981 Includes Rancho Los Meganos and the 1856 ranch house of John Marsh. In development, not open to public.
Crystal Cove State Park State park Orange 3,936 1,593 1979 Encompasses cliff bound coastline, inland chaparral canyons, and the NRHP-listed Crystal Cove Historic District of 1920s and 30s beach cottages.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park State park San Diego 24,693 9,993 1933 Preserves an expansive tract of forests and meadows above 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in the Laguna Mountains, on the former Rancho Cuyamaca.
D. L. Bliss State Park State park El Dorado 2,149 870 1929 Features a balancing rock and the Rubicon Point Light on the shore of Lake Tahoe.
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park State park Del Norte 31,261 12,651 1925 Preserves old-growth coast redwoods and is managed cooperatively with RNSP.
Delta Meadows Park property Sacramento 472 191 1985 Preserves undeveloped wet meadows and sloughs in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. Closed to the public.
Dockweiler State Beach State beach Los Angeles 91 37 1948 Features 3 miles (4.8 km) of beach and a hang gliding training site, adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport.
Doheny State Beach State beach Orange 254 103 1931 Offers surfing and beach-front camping in Dana Point.
Donner Memorial State Park State park Nevada and Placer 3,293 1,333 1928 Interprets the site where the Donner Party was trapped by weather in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846–1847, now a National Historic Landmark.
Eastshore State Park State seashore Alameda and Contra Costa 442 179 1985 Encompasses several remnant and restored parcels along the East Bay waterfront.
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park State park El Dorado 2,324 940 1965 Comprises the Lake Tahoe estate and 1903 summer home of banker Isaias W. Hellman.
El Capitán State Beach State beach Santa Barbara 2,634 1,066 1953 Features a narrow beach at the foot of coastal bluffs where monarch butterflies congregate in autumn.
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park State historic park Santa Barbara 5.8 2.3 1966 Preserves components of a Spanish presidio dating back to 1782, now on the NRHP.
Emerald Bay State Park State park El Dorado 1,533 620 1953 Contains Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay and Fannette Island plus the 1929 Vikingsholm mansion, which is on the NRHP.
Emeryville Crescent State Marine Reserve Park property Alameda and Contra Costa 1985 Preserves a marsh on San Francisco Bay, managed as part of Eastshore State Park. Closed to the public.
Emma Wood State Beach State beach Ventura 112 45 1957 Contains a surfing beach and an estuary at the mouth of the Ventura River.
Empire Mine State Historic Park State historic park Nevada 853 345 1975 Offers tours of an underground gold mine which operated from 1850 to 1956, plus its surface surroundings. The mine is on the NRHP.
Estero Bluffs State Park State park San Luis Obispo 353 143 2000 Preserves diverse coastal habitats on Estero Bay.
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area State recreation area El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento 19,564 7,917 1956 Surrounds Folsom and Natoma Lakes, reservoirs on the American River.
Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park State historic park Sacramento 35 14 1956 Interprets an 1895 hydroelectricity plant, now a National Historic and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Forest of Nisene Marks State Park !The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park State park Santa Cruz 10,223 4,137 1963 Preserves a tract of secondary forest donated by the family of former owner Nisene Marks.
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park State historic park Humboldt 18 7.3 1955 Situated on its commanding bluff adjacent to Humboldt Bay, park interprets relations between U.S. army (present at fort 1853–1870), Native American groups, and settlers. Site includes a logging museum and logging equipment displays.
Fort Ord Dunes State Park State park Monterey 980 400 2009 Reclaims coastline overlooking Monterey Bay on former property of the decommissioned Fort Ord.
Fort Ross State Historic Park State historic park Sonoma 3,393 1,373 1909 Interprets the partially reconstructed Fort Ross, an 1812–1841 Russian-American Company outpost that was the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the Americas. The fort is a National Historic Landmark.
Fort Tejon State Historic Park State historic park Kern 647 262 1940 Interprets the U.S. Army fort staffed 1854–1864 to monitor the Sebastian Indian Reservation. The fort is on the NRHP.
Franks Tract State Recreation Area State recreation area Contra Costa 3,523 1,426 1959 Encompasses a flooded area in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta accessible only by water.
Fremont Peak State Park State park Monterey and San Benito 162 66 1934 Provides views of the surrounding landscape from atop Fremont Peak and of the night sky from the Fremont Peak Observatory.
Garrapata State Park State park Monterey 2,939 1,189 1979 Preserves a largely hidden stretch of wild coast.
Gaviota State Park State park Santa Barbara 2,787 1,128 1953 Flanks the narrow gorge of Gaviota Creek, which funnels Sundowner winds onto the popular beach area.
George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area State recreation area Merced 46.5 18.8 1953 Adjoins the Merced River.
Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park State historic park Sacramento 0.78 0.32 1903 Interprets the 1877 mansion that housed 13 of California’s governors and their families from 1903 to 1967.
Gray Whale Cove State Beach State beach San Mateo 3.1 1.3 1966 Embraces a steep-walled cove, near the Devil’s Slide, where gray whales are often seen close to shore.
Great Valley Grasslands State Park State park Merced 2,826 1,144 1982 Preserves a remnant of the native grasslands once extensive in the Central Valley.
Greenwood State Beach State beach Mendocino 47 19 1978 Features a picturesque beach in Elk and a visitor center interpreting the town’s lumbering history.
Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park State park Humboldt 430 170 1943 Harbors groves of coast redwoods in three separate units along the Van Duzen River.
Grover Hot Springs State Park State park Alpine 553 224 1959 Boasts hot springs that feed a swimming pool complex in an alpine meadow.
Half Moon Bay State Beach State beach San Mateo 181 73 1956 Encompasses four popular sandy beaches on Half Moon Bay.
Harmony Headlands State Park State park San Luis Obispo 748 303 2003 Preserves an undeveloped parcel of Pacific coast.
Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area State recreation area Humboldt 955 386 1982 Offers fishing on Big Lagoon adjacent to Humboldt Lagoons State Park
Hatton Canyon Park property Monterey 130 53 2002 Preserves a canyon in Carmel saved from a planned freeway route. In development, not open to public.
Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument State historical monument San Luis Obispo 209 85 1958 Offers tours of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’s opulent 115-room “Hearst Castle,” designed by architect Julia Morgan between 1919 and 1947.
Hearst San Simeon State Park State park San Luis Obispo 2,309 934 1932 Preserves rocky coast and rare habitats like mima mounds and Monterey pine forest, as well as a 5,850-year-old Native American archaeological site.
Heber Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area State vehicular recreation area Imperial 342 138 1998 Attracts ATV riders to sandy, tamarisk-dotted dunes along a former course of the Alamo River.
Hendy Woods State Park State park Mendocino 816 330 1958 Preserves two groves of old-growth coast redwoods in the Anderson Valley.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park State park Santa Cruz 4,623 1,871 1953 Boasts its Redwood Grove and other old-growth forest.
Henry W. Coe State Park State park Santa Clara and Stanislaus 89,164 36,083 1959 Encompasses a sprawling wilderness of ridges and steep canyons in the Diablo Range.
Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area State vehicular recreation area San Benito 6,624 2,681 1975 Offers a variety of off-roading tracks and events in the hills outside Hollister.
Humboldt Lagoons State Park State park Humboldt 2,256 913 1931 Protects part of the largest lagoon system in the United States, including Big Lagoon, Stone Lagoon, and Freshwater Lagoon.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park State park Humboldt 51,651 20,902 1921 Preserves the world’s largest remaining old-growth coast redwood forest, including Stratosphere Giant, the fourth-tallest known tree.
Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area State vehicular recreation area Los Angeles and Ventura 18,533 7,500 1978 Offers 130 miles (210 km) of off-highway tracks, connecting to more routes in Los Padres National Forest.
Huntington State Beach State beach Orange 121 49 1942 Contains 2 miles (3.2 km) of wide, flat beach in the city of Huntington Beach.
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park State historic park Amador 135 55 1962 Interprets an outcrop with 1,185 mortar holes where Native Americans ground acorns into flour.
Indio Hills Palms Park property Riverside 5,630 2,280 1983 Harbors a profusion of California fan palms growing along the San Andreas Fault in the Indio Hills. Part of the multi-agency Coachella Valley Preserve.
Jack London State Historic Park State historic park Sonoma 1,611 652 1959 Contains several structures from the ranch of author Jack London and his wife Charmian London, as well as their grave. The ranch is a National Historic Landmark.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park State park Del Norte 10,430 4,220 1939 Honors explorer Jedediah Smith with a tract of coast redwoods along the Smith River. Part of Redwood National and State Parks.
John B. Dewitt Redwoods State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Humboldt 1,164 471 1929 Contains three undeveloped coast redwood groves split off from Humboldt Redwoods State Park in 2001. In development, not open to the public.
John Little State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Monterey 21 8.5 1953 Protects rugged cliffs on the Big Sur coast flanking the mouth of a creek.
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Mendocino 776 314 1976 Interprets a series of marine terraces each exhibiting a different stage of ecological succession.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park State park Monterey 3,762 1,522 1962 Stretches from the Big Sur coast up to 3,000-foot (910 m) ridges. Includes the iconic seaside McWay Falls.
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area State recreation area Los Angeles 401 162 1984 Offers urban open space in the Baldwin Hills of Los Angeles.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area State recreation area Placer 7.7 3.1 1974 Encompasses 700 feet (210 m) of lakefront on the north shore of Lake Tahoe.
Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Sonoma 317 128 1934 Harbors a secondary forest with spring-blooming rhododendrons adjacent to Salt Point State Park.
La Purísima Mission State Historic Park State historic park Santa Barbara 1,934 783 1935 Contains the 1813 La Purisima Mission, the most completely restored Spanish mission in California.
Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area State recreation area Alameda 3,732 1,510 1967 Surrounds Lake Del Valle, a reservoir on the Arroyo Valle managed by the East Bay Regional Park District.
Lake Oroville State Recreation Area State recreation area Butte 29,447 11,917 1967 Surrounds Lake Oroville, a reservoir on the Feather River.
Lake Perris State Recreation Area State recreation area Riverside 6,675 2,701 1974 Contains the southernmost reservoir in the 701-mile (1,128 km) California State Water Project and the Ya’i Heki’ Regional Indian Museum.
Lake Valley State Recreation Area State recreation area El Dorado 155 63 1985 Offers an 18-hole golf course in the High Sierras.
Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park State historic park Sacramento 0.88 0.36 1978 Offers tours of governor and tycoon Leland Stanford’s restored 1856 mansion, now a National Historic Landmark.
Leo Carrillo State Park State park Los Angeles and Ventura 2,513 1,017 1953 Honors actor and conservationist Leo Carrillo with a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) beach. Part of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Leucadia State Beach State beach San Diego 10.6 4.3 1949 Comprises a small, rocky beach in Encinitas.
Lighthouse Field State Beach State beach Santa Cruz 38 15 1978 Features the Steamer Lane surf break and a lighthouse containing the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum.
Limekiln State Park State park Monterey 711 288 1994 Contains four lime kilns from an 1887 lime-smelting operation on the Big Sur coast.
Little River State Beach State beach Humboldt 152 62 1931 Comprises a broad open beach with dunes.
Los Angeles State Historic Park State historic park Los Angeles 32 13 2001 Provides urban open space on the site of an 1875 train station where many travelers first arrived in Los Angeles.
Los Encinos State Historic Park State historic park Los Angeles 4.7 1.9 1949
Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve State natural reserve San Luis Obispo 85 34 1972
MacKerricher State Park State park Mendocino 2,519 1,019 1949
Mailliard Woods State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Mendocino 242 98 1945
Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park State historic park Nevada 3,143 1,272 1965
Malibu Creek State Park State park Los Angeles 8,215 3,324 1974
Malibu Lagoon State Beach State beach Los Angeles 110 45 1951
Manchester State Park State park Mendocino 5,272 2,134 1955
Mandalay State Beach State beach Ventura 92 37 1985
Manresa State Beach State beach Santa Cruz 138 56 1948
Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park State historic park Marin 62 25 1976
Marina State Beach State Beach Monterey 171 69 1977
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park State historic park El Dorado 575 233 1942
Martial Cottle Park State Recreation Area State recreation area Santa Clara 137 55 2003 In development, not open to public
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park State park Shasta 910 370 1920
McConnell State Recreation Area State recreation area Merced 74 30 1949
McGrath State Beach State beach Ventura 314 127 1948
Mendocino Headlands State Park State park Mendocino 7,709 3,120 1972
Mendocino Woodlands State Park State park Mendocino 720 290 1977
Millerton Lake State Recreation Area State recreation area Fresno and Madera 6,857 2,775 1957 Includes 40 miles (64 km) of shoreline on Millerton Lake and the 1867 Millerton County Courthouse.
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Mono 55,300 22,400 1982
Montana de Oro State Park !Montaña de Oro State Park State park San Luis Obispo 10,366 4,195 1934
Montara State Beach State beach San Mateo 780 320 1959
Monterey State Historic Park State historic park Monterey 9.6 3.9 1916
Monterey State Beach State beach Monterey 114 46 1960
Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Mendocino 2,743 1,110 1947
Moonlight State Beach State beach San Diego 15 6.1 1949
Morro Bay State Park State park San Luis Obispo 2,783 1,126 1934
Morro Strand State Beach State beach San Luis Obispo 183 74 1932
Moss Landing State Beach State beach Monterey County 60 24 1972
Mount Diablo State Park State park Contra Costa 20,124 8,144 1931
Mount San Jacinto State Park State park Riverside 13,718 5,551 1930
Mount Tamalpais State Park State park Marin 6,243 2,526 1928
Natural Bridges State Beach State beach Santa Cruz 62 25 1933
Navarro River Redwoods State Park State park Mendocino 727 294 1928
New Brighton State Beach State beach Santa Cruz 157 64 1933
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area State vehicular recreation area San Luis Obispo 2,675 1,083 1974
Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area State vehicular recreation area Imperial and San Diego 50,553 20,458 1976 Offers off-roading opportunities adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Old Sacramento State Historic Park State historic park Sacramento 293 119 1967
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park State historic park San Diego 29 12 1967
Olompali State Historic Park State historic park Marin 700 280 1977
Pacheco State Park State park Merced and Santa Clara 6,894 2,790 1995
Pacifica State Beach State beach San Mateo 21 8.5 1979
Palomar Mountain State Park State park San Diego 1,909 773 1932
Patrick’s Point State Park State park Humboldt 652 264 1930
Pelican State Beach State beach Del Norte 5.2 2.1 1947
Pescadero State Beach State beach San Mateo 700 280 1958
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park State historic park Sonoma 41 17 1951
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park State park Monterey 1,391 563 1933
Picacho State Recreation Area State recreation area Imperial 6,759 2,735 1960
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park State historic park San Mateo 76 31 1981
Pio Pico State Historic Park !Pío Pico State Historic Park State historic park Los Angeles 5.5 2.2 1917
Pismo State Beach State beach San Luis Obispo 1,412 571 1935
Placerita Canyon State Park State park Los Angeles 342 138 1949
Plumas-Eureka State Park State park Plumas 4,424 1,790 1959
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park State historic park Mendocino 383 155 2002
Point Dume State Beach State beach Ventura 37 15 1958
Point Lobos Ranch Park property Monterey 1,329 538 1998 In development, not open to public
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Monterey 1,325 536 1933
Point Montara Light Station Park property San Mateo 6 2.4 1982
Point Mugu State Park State park Ventura 13,947 5,644 1966
Point Sal State Beach State beach Santa Barbara 84 34 1948
Point Sur State Historic Park State historic park Monterey 92 37 1986 Contains the still-operational 1889 Point Sur Lighthouse and a former U.S. Navy SOSUS base. The lighthouse is on the NRHP.
Pomponio State Beach State beach San Mateo 421 170 1960
Portola Redwoods State Park State park San Mateo 2,608 1,055 1945
Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area State vehicular recreation area Sacramento 2,786 1,127 1990 Offers open off-roading at the foot of the Sierra Nevada as well as a go-kart track and 4WD obstacle course.
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park State park Humboldt 14,187 5,741 1923
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area State recreation area San Bernardino 5,890 2,380 1956 Closed to the public
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park State historic park Tuolumne 24 9.7 1982
Red Rock Canyon State Park State park Kern 25,325 10,249 1970
Refugio State Beach State beach Santa Barbara 905 366 1950
Reynolds Wayside Campground Wayside campground Mendocino 66 27 1966 Preserves a parcel of old-growth redwoods and Douglas fir beside U.S. Route 101. The campground was removed in 1976.
Richardson Grove State Park State park Humboldt 1,772 717 1922
Rio de Los Angeles State Park State recreation area Los Angeles 58 23 2001
Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach State beach Los Angeles 37 15 1978
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park State park Napa, Sonoma, and Lake 5,990 2,420 1949
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach State beach Alameda 132 53 1961
Russian Gulch State Park State park Mendocino 1,305 528 1933
Saddleback Butte State Park State park Los Angeles 2,954 1,195 1957
Salinas River State Beach State beach Monterey and Santa Cruz 281.84 114.06 1960
Salt Point State Park State park Sonoma 5,684 2,300 1968
Salton Sea State Recreation Area State recreation area Imperial and Riverside 16,901 6,840 1951
Samuel P. Taylor State Park State park Marin 2,707 1,095 1946
San Bruno Mountain State Park State park San Mateo 298 121 1980
San Buenaventura State Beach State beach Ventura 110 45 1961
San Clemente State Beach State beach Orange 117 47 1931
San Elijo State Beach State beach San Diego 588 238 1952
San Gregorio State Beach State beach San Mateo 414 168 1958
San Juan Bautista State Historic Park State historic park San Benito 6.1 2.5 1933
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area State recreation area Merced 26,036 10,536 1969
San Onofre State Beach State beach San Diego 2,107 853 1971
San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park State historic park San Diego 69 28 1918
San Timoteo Canyon Park property Riverside 1,148 465 2002
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park State historic park Santa Cruz 1.9 0.77 1959
Santa Monica State Beach State beach Los Angeles 48 19 1948
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park State historic park Los Angeles 671 272 1979
Schooner Gulch State Beach State beach Mendocino 54 22 1983
Seacliff State Beach State beach Santa Cruz 89 36 1931
Shasta State Historic Park State historic park Shasta 25 10 1937
Silver Strand State Beach State beach San Diego 3,749 1,517 1932
Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area State recreation area San Bernardino 2,201 891 1978
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park State park Mendocino and Humboldt 7,937 3,212 1975
Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Mendocino 689 279 1963
Sonoma State Historic Park State historic park Sonoma 64 26 1909
Sonoma Coast State Park State park Sonoma 10,018 4,054 1934
South Carlsbad State Beach State beach San Diego 118 48 1949
South Yuba River State Park State park Nevada 8,720 3,530 1979
Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area State recreation area Mendocino 1,021 413 1921
State Indian Museum State historic park Sacramento 1914 Interprets the diverse cultures of the indigenous peoples of California.
Stone Lake Park property Sacramento 1,090 440 1978
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park State park Sonoma and Napa 4,416 1,787 1920
Sunset State Beach State beach Santa Cruz 302 122 1931
Sutter Buttes State Park State park Sutter 1,785 722 2003 In development on the north side of the Sutter Buttes. Currently no public access.
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park State historic park Sacramento 5.8 2.3 1914
Tahoe State Recreation Area State Recreation Area Placer 62 25 Campground on Lake Tahoe
Thornton State Beach State beach San Mateo 58 23 1955
Tijuana Estuary Point of interest San Diego
Tolowa Dunes State Park State park Del Norte 4,399 1,780 1983
Tomales Bay State Park State park Marin 2,443 989 1950 Open under National Park Service management
Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park State historic park Kern 560 230 1993
Topanga State Park State park Los Angeles 12,666 5,126 1967
Torrey Pines State Beach State beach San Diego 61 25 1952
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve State natural reserve San Diego 1,461 591 1952
Trinidad State Beach State beach Humboldt 159 64 1937
Tule Elk State Natural Reserve State natural reserve Kern 984 398 1932
Turlock Lake State Recreation Area State recreation area Stanislaus 3,559 1,440 1950
Twin Lakes State Beach State beach Santa Cruz 95 38 1955
Van Damme State Park State park Mendocino 2,336 945 1932 Preserves beach, bog, and a pygmy forest on the site of a former redwood lumbering settlement. The pygmy forest is a National Natural Landmark.
Verdugo Mountains Park property Los Angeles 251 102 1984
Ward Creek Project Park property Placer 173 70 1978
Washoe Meadows State Park State park El Dorado 628 254 1985
Wassama Round House State Historic Park State historic park Madera 27 11 1978
Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park State historic park Los Angeles 0.11 0.045 1978
Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park State historic park Trinity 2.8 1.1 1956
Westport-Union Landing State Beach State beach Mendocino 58 23 1952
Wilder Ranch State Park State park Santa Cruz 8,342 3,376 1974
Wildwood Canyon Park property Riverside 856 346 2002 In development
Will Rogers State Beach State beach Los Angeles 82 33 1931
Will Rogers State Historic Park State historic park Los Angeles 189 76 1944
William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park State historic park Tehama 3.9 1.6 1951
Woodland Opera House State Historic Park State historic park Yolo 0.26 0.11 1980
Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area State recreation area Tehama 323 131 1959
Zmudowski State Beach State beach Monterey and Santa Cruz 194 79 1950

 

 

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