California has some pretty magnificent landscapes, but when you’re looking for the best destinations in California it becomes clear very quickly that the national parks here are home to some of the most stunning scenery around.
If you’re planning to visit California and trying to decide where to go or which national parks to visit, then this guide is here to help you decide on the best California national parks for your wants and needs. Each park is unique and has something incredible to offer, so all you have to do is decide which one you want to visit…or maybe just decide to visit them all!
How Many National Parks are in California?
As you’re trying to decide which national parks to visit, you may be wondering: how many national parks are there in California? The grand total comes to nine national parks, which makes California the state with the most national parks out of all the US! (In case you’re curious, Alaska falls in just behind California with eight national parks).
While there are nine national parks in California, if you add up the California state and national parks plus national monuments and other preserved areas, you actually have a far larger number and a ton of exciting places to explore. You can find a full list of the areas in California under the National Park Service’s care here.
However, for the sake of this article, we’re only considering the nine true national parks as designated by the National Park Service. These nine places are some of the most extraordinary spots in California and are sure to take your breath away!
The Best National Parks in California
This complete list of California national parks offers some insight into each park with links to help you plan your own national park adventure in California!
1. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is perhaps the most famous of all the national parks in California and is also one of the most beloved. With plenty of iconic views and hikes to enjoy, this is a popular place with both California natives and visitors alike!
There are so many incredible things to do in Yosemite that you will be spoiled for choice! I’ve been several times now and still have plenty of things I want to see and do that I haven’t had a chance to yet (plus a few things I want to do again!). However, some of the most popular activities here include hiking the iconic Half Dome (you’ll need a permit), enjoying beautiful waterfalls like Bridalveil, and even simply driving around the valley and savoring the striking landscape of mountains and meadows.
Part of the reason Yosemite is so popular is that it contains some of the most beautiful landscapes anywhere in California. It can get a bit crowded, especially in summer, but this is to be expected when everyone wants to see what the commotion is all about. And let me tell you, the commotion is well-earned…as you’ll know as soon as you arrive!
Once you’re here, you’ll see that Yosemite is the type of place that you could easily spend a whole California vacation and never get bored. Lovers of the outdoors will be in heaven exploring all there is to see, and photographers will be excited to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Ansel Adams. But whether you’re looking for an adventurous weekend filled to the brim with outdoor activities or simply a place to slow down and enjoy the beauty around you, Yosemite is a California national park that you will not want to miss!
Read next: 50 Adventurous and Fun Things to do in California
2. Joshua Tree National Park
On the list of national parks in California, Joshua Tree National Park is perhaps one of the most underrated. Yet this park is also one of the most unique and is a place you should definitely visit!
The varied desert landscape is part of the reason Joshua Tree is one of my favorite of California’s national parks. Within the park you’ll find several plants (like the Joshua trees themselves) that you really can’t find growing anywhere else in the world!
But beyond the unique ecosystem, there are plenty of exciting things to do in Joshua Tree. Hiking is a popular way to spend the time, but you can also enjoy bouldering or rock climbing if you so choose. There is an incredible cactus garden you can explore, you can drive around and see the park’s sights from the road, or you can even go stargazing here at night. The stargazing is some of the best in California as it’s far enough away from the big cities that the light pollution is minimal!
Unlike more well-known and often visited parks like Yosemite, Joshua Tree does not have hotels or accommodation on site other than a few campgrounds. But there are still plenty of places to stay nearby just outside of the park.
Whether you visit Joshua Tree on a day trip (it’s the closest national park to San Diego) or decide to stay a few days, this is an extraordinary national park that you will definitely want to return to again and again!
3. Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is another impressive national park in California, and one that you will want to see while in the northern part of this state. The main feature of the park (that gives it its name) is Lassen Peak, which is one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world.
This volcano is part of what is known as the “Ring of Fire” alongside 16 other major active volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean. If you’re interested in geology or find the idea of volcanoes exciting, then this is definitely the national park for you!
While visiting, you’ll find lots of interesting things to do in the park. Bumpass Hell Trail is a popular three mile hike that you won’t want to miss as it takes you to see mudpots, a fumarole, and boiling pools of water. You may also be interested in visiting Manzanita Lake where you can go hiking, swimming, kayaking, or participate in ranger programs.
While this barely scratches the surface of all the fun things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park, it’s a good start and you will certainly enjoy just having a look around at all the incredible beauty surrounding you. The national parks in CA like this one are truly special places that are worthy of preserving and enjoying both now and in the future!
4. Pinnacles National Park
While Pinnacles National Park is another rarely talked about California national park, like Joshua Tree it is underrated and worth a look. The fascinating boulder formations are particularly distinct and, unsurprisingly, give this park its name.
If you love nature, then this is an excellent place to visit while in California. This is especially true for those who love cave exploring as the talus caves here are incredible! There are two main cave areas you can explore: the Bear Gulch Caves and the Balconies Caves (but be sure to check that the caves are open before you go). You don’t need any spelunking experience to explore the caves, so this is a great activity for all visitors!
There are also plenty of hiking opportunities from easy to strenuous. If you can handle it, taking a trail like the Condor Gulch to High Peaks Loop will take you right through the amazing pinnacles rock formations and past stunning viewpoints.
So even though this national park is not talked about as frequently as others, Pinnacles is still a beautiful place to visit with some pretty epic adventures to be had. So be sure to add this to your CA national parks trip!
5. Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a spectacular place and is my personal favorite of all the national parks in California. The awe-inspiring gigantic sequoia trees make this a place unlike anywhere else on earth, and it’s a place that you won’t soon forget once you’ve visited it!
There are lots of cool things to do in Sequoia, but some of the best include hiking the Big Trees Trail, visiting a museum where you can see sequoia seedlings, and climbing inside an old burnt sequoia tree. And, of course, you’ll need to take a few moments to simply marvel at the size of the giant trees! In fact, you can see the largest tree in the world here in the park. Who would want to miss that?
The whole park is stunning and filled with things to discover, and nature really doesn’t get much better than this. Of all the national parks of California, I think this is a place you should do your best to experience on your California trip!
6. Kings Canyon National Park
When you check out a California national parks list, you’ll often find Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park listed together. This is because these two parks are actually adjacent to one another and you access them both through the same entrances. (This means you only have to pay one entrance fee to get into both parks! Yay!)
However, even though they are somewhat intertwined due to their geography, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are actually two separate parks and deserve to be treated as such. While many people tend to skip exploring Kings Canyon in favor of spending more time in Sequoia, I actually think that Kings Canyon is worth a visit during your national parks trip.
While Kings Canyon has some giant sequoias you’ll want to see, this park overall focuses more on gorgeous canyons, waterfalls, and backcountry exploration. There are plenty of incredible things to do here, but if I had to give just one recommendation I’d say hiking the Mist Falls Trail is an excellent idea!
So if you’re planning to visit Sequoia, then take an extra day or two and spend some time in Kings Canyon as well. The sweeping views and the delightful hikes here make it well worth combining a visit while you’re already there!
7. Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park is one of the most undeveloped national parks in the USA and is an amazing adventure if you decide to visit. The park includes five islands—Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel—and you can visit any of these by hopping on the boats that depart daily from Ventura and Oxnard.
As an undeveloped national park, there’s no driving on the islands so you’ll want a good pair of hiking boots and a kayak to get around. There are plenty of things to discover and do here, but it is an especially perfect spot for those who enjoy hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, camping, or even birdwatching and wildelife-watching.
With so many possibilities spread out across five islands, you’ll want to plan your trip carefully as it’s obviously a bit more challenging to get from place to place here than it is in other parks. You won’t want to realize you’ve missed an activity or hike after you’ve already left where you meant to be! So be sure to check out all the cool activities to do and make a plan to start enjoying this stunning park in California!
8. Redwood National Park
The national parks in California list wouldn’t be complete without another park with amazing trees—Redwood National Park! While Sequoia National Park treats you to the largest tree in the world by volume, Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world.
There are plenty of scenic drives to enjoy in Redwood National and State Parks, and the Big Tree Wayside Walk is perfect for those who want to see some super big trees with only a short walking time (about 5 minutes). The Lady Bird Johnson Grove is also a popular place to hike as is the Stout Memorial Grove Trail, where you can enjoy spending time by the river or perhaps even swimming in the summer.
If you’re looking for more of an adventure, then taking the 4-mile hike to Tall Trees Grove could be exactly what you’re looking for…but this is a strenuous hike so you may prefer to stick with easier ones that will lead you to trees that are just as tall.
Regardless of what you decide to do, a visit to Redwood National and State Parks is the perfect way to round out your California itinerary. After all, how fun is it to be able to say you’ve seen the tallest trees in the world?!
9. Death Valley National Park
If you’re looking for unique landscapes, then Death Valley National Park is certainly one of the best national parks in California to visit! This desert national park has truly extraordinary landscapes that are unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
There is such a wide variety of scenery to explore within this park, but some of the highlights you’ll want to be sure to see include the rough salt-covered rocks of Devil’s Golf Course, the otherworldly landscape of Badwater Basin, and the spectacular mountain range view from Zabriskie Point.
This barely scratches the surface of all you can see here, so if you have more time to spend in the park be sure to check out some other must-see highlights! With surprising and strange landscapes everywhere you look, a visit to Death Valley National Park will leave you in a state of wonder and will leave you longing to come back and explore here again.
Read next: How to Plan a Trip to California
National Parks in California Map
Wondering where these nine national parks are? Here is a map of California national parks to help you find each of the parks on the list above!
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