California is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse national parks in the country. From the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains to the coastal beaches and the dry and desolate Mojave Desert, nature lovers are sure to discover something they truly love about each park.
Let’s explore California’s National Parks together!
How many national parks are in California?
There are 9 national parks, close to 300 state parks, and many other nationally protected areas managed by the National Park System, including national monuments, memorials, and historical sites.
List of California National Parks
The national parks are listed in the order in which they were officially established.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are two of the most beautiful and majestic places on earth. The two parks are adjacent to each other and are jointly managed by the National Park Service. Together, they comprise over 1,200 square miles of wilderness.
These parks are known for having some of the oldest and largest trees in the world (groves of giant sequoias and the famous General Grant and General Sherman Trees), the tallest mountains (including Mount Whitney), and the deepest canyons. These national parks are a must-see for anyone who loves nature and enjoys outdoor activities.
- Established on: September 25, 1890 (Sequoia National Park) and March 4, 1940 (Kings Canyon National Park)
- Size: 865,257 acres (1,352 square miles)
- What it’s known for: It is the second-established National Park in the United States. It’s also known for housing the world’s largest tree (General Sherman Tree) and its picturesque landscapes of mountains and valleys.
- Main attractions: Visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, waterfalls, wildlife viewing (watch out for rattlesnakes and black bears), picnicking, and enjoying scenic views. There are also many ranger-led programs available.
- Annual visitor count: 2 million
Visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
- Location: Central California
- Official website: nps.gov/seki
- Phone number: 1-559-565-3341
- When it’s open: Year-round
- Best time to visit: Late spring to early fall months
- Closest commercial airport: Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) is 65 miles away from the Sequoia National Park’s northern entrance.
- Nearby accommodations: Visalia is the closest city to Sequoia National Park with lodging options.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is one of the most popular national parks in the country, and for good reason. The park is home to some of the most stunning scenery and iconic landscapes in the world. From the towering granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome to the rushing waters of Yosemite Falls, there’s no shortage of natural beauty to explore in this California gem.
- Established on: October 1, 1890
- Size: 759,620 acres (1,187 square miles)
- What it’s known for: This park is the third-established National Park in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s known for its overwhelmingly majestic landscapes, waterfalls, and rock formations. It also has the highest nesting density of peregrine falcons in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- Main attractions: Visitors to Yosemite National Park can enjoy hiking, camping, bouldering, rock climbing, guided tours, biking, horseback riding, birdwatching, fishing, stargazing, picnicking, and depending on the season you visit, summer water activities or winter sports. Hiking enthusiasts can trek 27.2 miles of the John Muir Trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley. The Glacier Point overlook is a major attraction for photographers.
- Annual visitor count: 4.4 million
Visiting Yosemite National Park
- Location: Central California
- Official website: nps.gov/yose
- Phone number: 1-209-372-0200
- When it’s open: Year-round
- Best time to visit: Summer months
- Closest commercial airport: Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) is 63 miles away from Yosemite National Park’s southern entrance.
- Nearby accommodations: The closest cities to Yosemite National Park with lodging options are Sonora (51 miles), Fresno (62 miles), and Merced (68 miles).
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park, located in Northern California, is one of the most unique parks in the United States. The park features a variety of volcanic landscapes and landforms. It is the only place in the world where you can find all four types of volcanoes in one place. These types are plug dome (Lassen Peak), shield (Prospect Peak), composite (Brokeoff Volcano), and cinder cone (Cinder Cone).
The last eruption at Lassen Peak occurred in 1921, so the area is considered active in terms of the possibility of future volcanic activity.
- Established on: August 9, 1916
- Size: 106,452 acres (166 square miles)
- What it’s known for: It is known for its many geological and geothermal features, including hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles (steam and volcanic-gas vents).
- Main attractions: At Lassen Volcanic National Park, visitors can take part in a number of activities such as stargazing, hiking, backpacking, enjoying a scenic drive, and depending on which season you’re visiting you can go fishing and boating (summer and fall) or go sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding (winter).
- Annual visitor count: 500,000
Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Location: Northern California
- Official website: nps.gov/lavo
- Phone number: 1-530-595-4480
- When it’s open: Year-round but many of the roads, facilities, and recreational opportunities are closed during the winter months due to inclement weather and heavy snow accumulation.
- Best time to visit: Summer months
- Closest commercial airport: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) are both 153 miles from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Entrance (the only entrance open year-round at Lassen Volcanic National Park).
- Nearby accommodations: The closest city to Lassen Volcanic National Park with lodging options is Chester (9 miles).
Redwood National and State Parks
The Redwood National and State Parks are located near one of the most scenic highways along the west coast of Northern California. It is a complex of one national park (Redwood National Park) and three state parks (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park).
The parks feature towering redwoods, pristine beaches, and diverse wildlife. The redwood trees found there are some of the tallest in the world, with some reaching over 350 feet (106 meters) tall. The Coast Redwood grows along the coast from central California to southern Oregon.
- Established on: January 1, 1968
- Size: 131,983 acres (206 square miles) The federal park is 71,715 acres and the state park is 60,268 acres.
- What it’s known for: This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses some of the oldest and tallest trees in the world.
- Main attractions: At Redwood National Park, visitors can take part in a number of activities such as hiking, backcountry camping, sightseeing, driving through scenic roads, and biking. Some of the more popular hiking trails include the Lady Bird Johnson Grove Trail, the Big Tree Loop Trail, the Coastal Trail and Fern Canyon Loop Trail, the Damnation Creek Trail, and the Redwood Creek Trail.
- Annual visitor count: 527,000
Visiting Redwood National and State Parks
- Location: Northwestern California
- Official website: nps.gov/redw
- Phone number: 1-707-464-6101
- When it’s open: Year-round
- Best time to visit: Summer months
- Closest commercial airports: San Francisco International (SFO), Sacramento International (SMF), and Portland International (PDX) are the closest major airports to the Redwood National and State Parks, however, they are each over 300 miles away from the park’s entrance. The Arcata Airport (ACV) in McKinleyville is the closest domestic airport and is around 25 miles away.
- Nearby accommodations: The closest cities to Redwood National Park with lodging options are Orick (2 miles) and Klamath (5 miles).
Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park is the perfect place to enjoy some of the amazing scenery and wildlife that the Southern California coast has to offer.
This park is made up of five separate islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. These islands are home to a number of different animal species including birds, seals, dolphins, and whales.
- Established on: March 5, 1980
- Size: 249,354 acres (389.61 square miles)
- What it’s known for: Being a well-preserved island oasis with a diverse ecology and ecosystem, as well as for its rich historical background. Around 145 plant species are unique to the islands and found nowhere else in the world!
- Main attractions: At Channel Islands National Park, visitors can take part in a number of activities such as sightseeing, bird watching, hiking, kayaking, sailing, snorkeling, diving, and camping. Each island offers different activities and landscapes, so they’re all worth checking out. The easiest to get to are Anacapa Island and Santa Cruz Island.
- Annual visitor count: 400,000 people
Visiting Channel Islands National Park
- Location: Off the coast of Southern California
- Official website: nps.gov/chis
- Phone number: 1-877-444-6777
- When it’s open: Year-round
- Best time to visit: Spring through fall months
- Closest commercial airport: The Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is 30 miles away from the Channel Islands National Park Headquarters in Ventura. The nearest international airport is Los Angeles International (LAX) which is 67 miles away.
- Nearby accommodations: The closest cities to take the ferry to Channel Islands National Park with lodging options are Ventura and Oxnard.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California, near the city of Twentynine Palms. The park is named after the Joshua tree (Yucca Brevifolia), a type of tree that is native to the area and grows in abundance throughout the park.
It is one of the most unique national parks, due to its landscape of Joshua trees and other desert plants. The park is a popular destination for hikers, climbers, birdwatchers, and nature lovers from all over the world.
- Established on: October 31, 1994
- Size: 789,745 acres (1,234 square miles)
- What it’s known for: It’s known for its resilient ecosystems and is also a haven for rock climbers.
- Main attractions: At Joshua Tree National Park, visitors can take part in a number of activities such as stargazing, bouldering, rock climbing, backcountry camping, hiking, horseback riding, off-roading, and wildlife viewing (keep an eye out for desert bighorn sheep!)
- Annual visitor count: 3 million visitors
Visiting Joshua Tree National Park
- Location: Southern California
- Official website: ups.gov/jotr
- Phone number: 1-760-367-5522
- When it’s open: Year-round
- Best time to visit: Fall through spring months
- Closest commercial airport: Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is 43 miles from the northwestern entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. Ontario International Airport (ONT) is 93 miles from the same entrance.
- Nearby accommodations: The closest cities to Joshua Tree National Park with lodging options are Joshua Tree (5 miles), Twenty-Nine Palms (5 miles), and Palm Springs (43 miles).
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is located in Eastern California and features some of the most desert-like conditions in the state. It is known for being one of the hottest places on Earth and has the lowest point in North America (Badwater Basin).
The park is home to many different species of plants and animals, making it a great place to go for a hike or a camping trip. Being that temperatures can reach well above 115°F during the summertime, the best season to visit is during the winter when temperatures are cooler.
- Established on: October 31, 1994
- Size: 3,422,024 acres (5,347 square miles)
- What it’s known for: It is one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places in the world, and is the largest U.S. National Park in the contiguous United States. It’s also known for its vast landscapes, such as Zabriskie Point, the salt flats,
- Main attractions: At Death Valley National Park, visitors can take part in a number of activities such as photography, stargazing, catching sunrises and sunsets, hiking, biking, backcountry camping, birdwatching, off-roading, and backpacking.
- Annual visitor count: 1.7 million
Visiting Death Valley National Park
- Location: Eastern California
- Official website: nps.gov/deva
- Phone number: 1-760-786-3200
- When it’s open: Year-round
- Best time to visit: Fall through spring months
- Closest commercial airport: The Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) is 136 miles from Death Valley National Park.
- Nearby accommodations: The closest cities to Death Valley National Park with lodging options are Panamint Springs (3 miles), Beatty (9 miles), and Pahrump (61 miles).
Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park is located in Central California and features towering rock formations that are a sight to behold. The park is also home to many different species of plants and animals. Pinnacles National Park is a great place to go for a hike or a camping trip.
- Established on: January 10, 2013
- Size: 26,606 acres (42 square miles)
- What it’s known for: It’s known for its unique rock formations and diverse wildlife including being one of the nesting sites for golden eagles.
- Main attractions: At Pinnacles National Park, visitors can enjoy rock climbing, exploring bat-filled caves, and bird watching in the park.
- Annual visitor count: 200,000
Visiting Pinnacles National Park
- Location: Central California
- Official website: nps.gov/pinn
- Phone number: 1-831-389-4486
- When it’s open: Year-round
- Best time to visit: Fall through spring
- Closest commercial airport: San Jose International Airport (SJC) is 80 miles from the Eastern Entrance to Pinnacles National Park (gate is open 24 hours a day) and 98 miles from the Western Entrance (gate is open daily from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm local time).
- Nearby accommodations: The closest cities to Pinnacles National Park are Soledad (10 miles from the Western Entrance; 53 miles from the Eastern Entrance) and Paicines (70 miles from the Western Entrance; 19 miles from the Eastern Entrance).
FAQs about California’s National Parks
What are the most popular national parks in California?
These are the most popular national parks in the Golden State listed in order of how many visitors they receive on average each year.
- Yosemite: 4,400,000 visitors
- Joshua Tree: 3,000,000 visitors
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon: 2,000,000 visitors
- Death Valley: 1,700,000 visitors
- Redwood: 527,000 visitors
- Lassen Volcanic: 500,000 visitors
- Channel Islands: 400,000 visitors
- Pinnacles: 200,000 visitors
The best national park to visit in California depends on personal preference and the type of activities you like to participate in. Each park has its own unique natural beauty and they’re all incredible for camping, wildlife viewing, scenic landscape photography, stargazing, and much more.
What percentage of California is protected land?
California has a land mass of approximately 101,676,000 total acres. Of these, national and state parks encompass a combined average of 7,613,164 acres. This means that 7.49% of Californian land is protected.
National historic sites worth visiting in California
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Cabrillo National Monument
- Lava Beds National Monument
- Devils Postpile National Monument
- Fort Point National Historic Site (on the Southside of the Golden Gate Bridge)
- Torrey Pines Nature Preserve
- Lake Skinner Recreation Area
