7 Best State Parks in California—Including a ‘Mini Yosemite’ and an Ancient Redwood Forest

California is a land of striking geographic contrasts—towering mountains rise alongside lush forests, while deserts brush up against fertile agricultural valleys. You can carve through snow on glacier-covered peaks one day, and the next, find yourself in a desert where the highest recorded temperatures scorch the land.

With all that natural beauty, it’s no wonder that California has nine national parks—more than any other state—and around 280 state park units. Its national parks often steal the spotlight, but the Golden State’s state parks are hidden gems that offer sights, experiences, and landscapes that rival their national counterparts.

These are the seven best state parks in California.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Over 600,000 acres of desert are protected by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park. And much of that desert land is wild and wonderfully remote, accessible only via foot or primitive roads that require a car with four-wheel drive to access. It’s the park’s unique geological features, from badlands to slot canyons—that make it a true gem. 

Anza-Borrego is especially beautiful in the spring, when colorful wildflowers bloom across the desert, including purple sand verbenas, yellow desert sunflowers, and golden poppies. The park is also home to some of the best stargazing in the state, and Anza-Borrego became an International Dark Sky Park in 2018. Beyond its natural beauty, the park is home to ancient Native American rock art and fossilized remains of prehistoric creatures, providing a window into the region’s rich cultural history, as well.

Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove State Park is incredibly accessible and easy to explore. Located between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach along the Pacific Coast Highway, this coastal park stretches from sandy shores to rugged hills. The park’s main highlight is its 3.2 miles of pristine beach, but its borders also extend inland with 2,400 acres of backcountry wilderness perfect for hiking and biking. One of Crystal Cove’s most unique features is its collection of 46 historic coastal cottages, built in the 1930s and ’40s, which are part of a federally recognized historic district.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Though Humboldt Redwoods is a state park, it has a reputation that rivals national parks. The park is renowned for the Rockefeller Forest, the world’s largest remaining contiguous grove of old-growth coastal redwoods. Approximately one-third of the park—around 17,000 acres—is covered with ancient redwoods, making it the largest intact redwood forest left on Earth.

Visitors should drive the 32-mile Avenue of the Giants, a scenic highway that winds through the towering trees. For an even closer experience, take a stroll along the Gould Grove Nature Trail, where you can walk beneath some of the park’s 300-foot-tall redwoods. But Humboldt Redwoods offers more than just awe-inspiring trees. The park also has over 100 miles of trails, as well as opportunities for hiking, biking, and boating along the South Fork Eel River, making it a true outdoor playground.

Emerald Bay State Park

Welcome to the vibrant, jewel-toned waters of Emerald Bay State Park, which is nestled in a pristine stretch of wilderness along Lake Tahoe’s shoreline. At the heart of this picturesque bay lies a small island that’s steeped in history.

Among the park’s many trails, one leads to the bay itself, where visitors can hop aboard a boat to reach the island and explore the 38-room Vikingsholm mansion, a true architectural gem. The park is also home to California’s first maritime heritage underwater trail, which passes by the barges and boats that now rest below the surface of Emerald Bay.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park 

Often referred to as the California coast’s “mini Yosemite,” Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park offers all the grandeur of its famous counterpart—with the bonus of ocean access. This stunning park features a blend of serene coastline, dramatic rock outcroppings, a deep gorge, and a river lined with towering redwoods. While many visitors are content with seeing the park from the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, an excursion into the heart of the park is a must. Here, you can hike through ancient coastal redwood forests or take in the beauty of the breathtaking McWay Falls as it plunges directly into the ocean. Pfeiffer Big Sur also has some of the best camping in the state, with many campsites nestled along the cool, tranquil waters of the Big Sur River.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Located just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is often referred to as “the crown jewel of the California State Park System.” Renowned for its stunning vistas, the reserve has inspired artists like Ansel Adams, who came here to photograph its beauty. Its expansive offshore area, which lies within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, also makes it a hotspot for divers, who come to explore its rich marine life. Beyond diving, visitors can hike through scenic cypress forests and along its rugged coastline, where they can spot animals like harbor seals, sea otters, and a variety of bird species.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

If you’re eager to see giant sequoias—some of the largest trees in the world—head to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, this park is home to two stunning groves of giant sequoias, surrounded by lush mixed conifer forests. A must-see is the famous “Discovery Tree,” which was felled in 1853. It was a monumental task that supposedly took five men 22 days to complete.

The park has a variety of hiking trails that loop around these ancient giants, including the North Grove Trail and the South Grove Trail. If you have a fishing license, you can fish along the Stanislaus River and Beaver Creek. Wildlife lovers will have unique opportunities to spot things like flying squirrels, foxes, and dark-eyed juncos.