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When people think of California, they are usually thinking of the vibrancy of LA, the amazing beaches, the endless warm weather and golden sunrays, or the juicy oranges and sprawling vineyards, but rarely do they think of the national parks in California. California’s natural beauty is something to boast about. Nature lovers will find a plethora of natural landscapes to get lost in, whether you want to go hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, or just being in the great outdoors.
On our 18-month road trip of the USA, we spent several months exploring the Golden State and ticking off as many bucket list items and national parks as we could. We love visiting national parks as we’re huge nature lovers and tree huggers, so we made sure to include the best ones on our trip. Here’s what we uncovered…
- The Best National Parks in California
- FAQs About National Parks in CA
- Final Thoughts
- More California Inspiration
- Pin To Save It On Pinterest
The Best National Parks in California
1. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is the most famous national park in CA and receives 3.5 million visitors a year. I can see why, it’s nothing short of breathtaking and even though it’s busy, it’s not lost its natural charm. I would currently list Yosemite in my top three favorite national parks in the USA that we have visited, along with Yellowstone National Park and The Grand Canyon.
The crown jewel of Yosemite is without doubt Yosemite Valley, which is framed by some of the best plunging waterfalls and incredible high granite summits you’ll see anywhere! This glacial valley is about 7.5 miles long and approximately 3,000–3,500 feet deep. The legendary naturalist John Muir called this place the “Incomparable Valley.” There is an incredible number of things to do in Yosemite National Park; we ended up staying there for 5 days. It was a true highlight of our California road trip.
One of the best things about Yosemite is its diversity. You have majestic waterfalls, giant sequoia trees, incredible hikes, meadows, wildlife, gorgeous lakes, alpine forest, scenic drives, horseback riding, and you might even spot a black bear. If you’re looking to visit the best National Parks in California, I rank this park in the Sierra Nevada at number one!
Some of the most unmissable attractions in Yosemite are:
- Bridalveil Falls
- Vernal Falls (mist trail)
- Lower Yosemite Falls
- Mariposa Grove
- Hetch Hetchy
- Scenic Drive Hyw 120
- Tunnel View
- Yosemite Valley
- Half Dome
- El Capitan
Where to Stay in Yosemite
Yosemite is one of the busiest national parks in California and North America, so I suggest you book accommodation well in advance before you visit. We stayed at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, which we thoroughly enjoyed with our kids during our Yosemite family vacation. Tenaya is located just outside the south gate entrance and is about 1 hour’s drive to the valley, meaning it’s a bit cheaper than actually staying in the park. Savannah and I recently stayed at Bass Lake on our visit to Yosemite located 40 minutes south of the gate. it was a great position to continue on our Majestic Mountain Loop road trip (three California national parks in one loop)
There are not many hotels actually inside the park, and they are often booked way in advance and are expensive. However, they are luxurious and a once in a life time experience. Some of the most famous are Yosemite Valley Lodge and The Ahwahnee. For something a bit unique, check out these Airbnbs near Yosemite National Park.
In total, there are 13 campgrounds in Yosemite National Park, and they are also popular places to stay, since they are a bit more affordable than the hotels. Seven of them are on a reservation system, and the rest are first come, first served, usually filling by noon from April to September. Make a reservation here. There are 10 campgrounds that can accommodate RVs. Learn more here. Campsites are extremely difficult to get, so do plan well in advance.
Watch our Yosemite Video
2. Death Valley National Park
Our visit to Death Valley National Park almost didn’t happen due to the weather, but we’re so glad it did. This NP park ended up being one of our favorites in California because what we saw exceeded our expectations and totally surprised us! We thought it was only famous for the heat and for being the lowest point in North America, at -86 meters below sea level, and didn’t know there were so many incredible things to do in Death Valley National Park.
Some of the highlights for us were Zabriskie Point (amazing sunrises and sunsets), Badwater Basin Salt Flats, the Golden Canyon Hike, Dante’s View, and Mesquite Sand Dunes. We also loved driving the scenic drive known as Artists Drive, which you will soon realize how it got its name when you see the views.
I highly recommend you don’t just drive through the park, but make a stop to check out some of the dunes, rock formations, and canyons. We visited on our drive from Las Vegas to Yosemite and spent two nights and 1.5 days exploring without the hordes of people that some of California’s other national parks attract.
Instead of the flat and dry desert landscape we expected, we saw ripples of white, yellow, mauve, pink, and chocolate sand dunes frozen in time, Panamint Mountain ranges, incredible rock formations, salt flats, golden canyon walls, and brilliant sunsets and sunrises. The colors and landscapes blew our minds.
Where to Stay In Death Valley
I suggest staying in Furnace Creek, especially if you are short on time. It’s close to the main attractions in Death Valley mentioned above, and it’s situated in a somewhat shady and pretty oasis area. A great hotel to consider is the historic, serene, and peaceful Four Diamond Inn at Death Valley. Or the family-friendly and adventure-focused Ranch at Death Valley. You can also find Airbnbs near Death Valley here.
There are a few campgrounds with both tent camping and powered sites for RV hookups. All except Furnace Creek are first come, first served. Some private campgrounds are Fiddler’s Campground, Stovepipe Wells RV Park and Panamint Springs.
3. Channel Islands National Park
If you are looking for a unique adventure that’s off the main tourist trail and more of a hidden gem, look no further than Channel Islands National Park, the least visited national park in the USA! It’s the least visited national park not because it lacks adventure or beauty, but because of its remoteness off the coastline – it’s an 80-minute ferry ride from Ventura Harbor, though it’s easily accessible from LA since it’s only 70 miles north. The Channel Islands National Park is made up of five islands:
- San Miguel
- Santa Rosa
- Santa Cruz
- Anacapa
- and Santa Barbara
One of our favorite moments was kayaking around the cliff faces of Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park and snorkeling amongst the kelp forest.
These are the adventures we live for, and they brought back memories of adventures we’d had exploring the coast of Australia. There’s not much over on the Channel Islands except for you and remote beaches, cliff faces, valleys and canyons for hiking, and sea caves to explore on kayaks. This park makes for a perfect one-day trip and provides a striking contrast to the hustle and bustle of Southern California.
Don’t miss a chance to kayak the sea caves at Scorpion Anchorage, snorkel the kelp forest, have a picnic on Santa Cruz Island, or hike to the viewpoint over Scorpion Anchorage.
Where to stay near Channel Islands
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Ventura Beach, which is approximately a 10-minute drive to Ventura Harbor. You can also go camping on Channel Islands NP.
4. Joshua Tree National Park
Another surprise for us was Joshua Tree National Park. We spent two days exploring Joshua Tree NP and got to know why this is a special place! In the 1930s, desert lover and community activist Minerva Hoyt recognized the human threats to the nearby ecosystem and persuaded President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim Joshua Tree a National Monument in 1936. It was renamed the Joshua Tree National Park in 1994 and now protects 792,510 acres where the Mojave Desert and Colorado Deserts converge.
What is a Joshua Tree you ask? Well, one of the interesting Joshua Tree facts is that it is not actually a tree, but a species of yucca! They grow over 40 feet tall at the leisurely rate of an inch a year – typical of a desert plant – and from February through April it blooms clusters of cream-colored flowers. But this park is not just about the Joshua Trees. There are also junipers, scrub oaks, Mojave yuccas and prickly pear cactus. There are also incredible rock formations, scenic drives, leisurely or adventurous hikes, picturesque dams, mountain peaks and incredible sunsets and sunrises.
Joshua Tree NP is situated in San Bernardino County and one of the national parks in Southern California to visit. It’s within 2.5 hrs drive from San Diego or 2 hrs drive from Los Angeles. Some of our favorite attractions in the park were:
- Hidden Valley Trail
- Barker Dam
- Ryan Mountain Trail
- Pinto Basin Drive
- Cholla Cactus Garden
- Skull Rock
- Keys View
Where to Stay in Joshua Tree
The best way to experience Joshua Tree is to go camping. There are nine Joshua Tree campgrounds inside the park, plus a handful of campgrounds outside the park. Only Black Rock, Indian Cove, Sheep Pass and Cottonwood Group campgrounds accept reservations from September through May. The rest are first come first served. Learn all about Joshua Tree National Park camping here.
If you prefer a hotel, the Holiday Inn at 29 Palms offers an eclectic mix of guest accommodations looking out to the mountains of Joshua Tree NP. Campbell House is a Philadelphia-style Colonial house situated in Twentynine Palm. For a full list of hotels in Joshua Tree town go here. You can also find Airbnbs near Joshua Tree National Park here.
5. Redwoods National & State Parks
I’ve always wanted to walk among the giant redwood forests in Northern California (the largest tree by height). A visit to northern part of the state was high on our California road trip itinerary. We had our first taste of witnessing these incredible tress up close when we visited Muir Woods during our 7 day visit to San Francisco, and were excited to see more. Planning a visit to the redwoods is a little confusing as Redwoods National Park actually consists of 4 parks, with three of them being State Parks. The entire perimeter is made up of:
- Redwood National Park
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Combining all the parks, there are some incredible hiking opportunities and scenic drives. One of several highlights was hugging a Redwood tree, but not any tree, a 346 foot giant Redwood tree at Humboldt State Park. It’s not as big as The General Sherman Tree in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which is the largest tree in the world at 1,487 cubic meters, or the second largest tree, The General Grant Tree, at 1,320 cubic meters – but it was still mighty impressive.
We also loved the gorgeous drive though old forests, small farms, and a few small towns. Cheatham Grove is a true hidden gem of Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park (one of the best California State Parks) and you might recognize it from as backdrop from the scooter chase scene in the Star Wars movie, Return of The Jedi.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is the 3rd largest of the California state parks and home to the world’s largest remaining contiguous old-growth forest of coastal redwoods. And it’s here you can drive the 32 mile Avenue of the Giants, making this one of the best places to see redwoods by car. Some of the top attractions in this area are:
- Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park (hike Cheatham Grove)
- Humboldt Redwoods State Park (drive Avenue of the Giants, Founders Grove Trail, Big Tree Grove)
- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (drive Howland Hill Road)
- Redwoods National Park (Lady Bird Johnson Grove)
- Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (Fern Canyon Trail)
- Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park (Coastal Trail)
- Hwy 199
Where to Stay near Redwoods National & State Parks
The town of Ferndale is a great base to stay at to explore the park. There isn’t a lot of accommodation here, but it’s mostly made up of charming cottages and historic inns. Arcata is another small town, with a few more options, including well known hotel chains. Some popular campgrounds in and around the park are:
- Humboldt Redwoods State Park Campground
- Humboldt State Fair Grounds – RV hookups or boondocking options. Close to Ferndale.
- Redwood Coast Cabins and RV Resort. In Eureka.
6. Kings Canyon National Park
We knew Kings Canyon shared a park system with Sequoia, but we weren’t prepared for how different it feels. Sequoia is famous for the trees. Kings Canyon National Park is famous for the canyon, and that canyon earns its reputation.
The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) is the reason to come. It drops 4,000 feet from Grant Grove down to Cedar Grove at the bottom, with the canyon walls closing in on both sides as you descend. By the time you reach the floor, the Kings River is running turquoise from glacier melt and the walls are rising 8,000 feet above you. One of the deepest canyons in North America, and most people who drive to Sequoia miss the turnoff entirely.
Cedar Grove at the base is quiet and surprisingly remote feeling for a national park. We walked 7 miles from Road End along the river to Zumwalt Meadow and had it almost to ourselves (except for the bear we did not see!). Before the descent, Grant Grove is home to the General Grant Tree, the second largest tree in the world by volume. It tends to get overlooked with General Sherman just down the road in Sequoia, but standing at the base of it shifts your perspective in the same way.
Top things to do in Kings Canyon:
- Drive the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
- Zumwalt Meadow loop (Cedar Grove)
- General Grant Tree (Grant Grove)
- Roaring River Falls
- Kings River walk at Cedar Grove
Where to Stay near Kings Canyon
Visalia is the best base, about 90 miles southwest via Highway 180. It’s a real city with solid hotel options at prices well below what you’d pay in most park gateway towns. We stayed at the Comfort Suites, ideally located downtown. To uplevel for a more boutique stay, I’d recommend the Darling Hotel. You may also want to consider an Airbnb rental. If you want to stay inside the park, the John Muir Lodge in Grant Grove puts you right in the sequoias. Book well ahead in summer.
7. Sequoia National Park
Of all the California national parks we’ve visited, Sequoia might be the hardest to photograph and the most impressive to stand in. You can look at images of General Sherman Tree for years and still not be ready for the actual scale of it.
General Sherman is the world’s largest living tree by volume: 52,508 cubic feet, 274 feet tall, with a base circumference of 102 feet. It’s a half-mile walk from the parking area. The tree doesn’t announce itself. You round a bend and it’s just there, and you stop and look up, and it takes a while to process. We spent longer at the base than we’d planned.
The other unmissable stop in Sequoia National Park is Moro Rock. It’s a 350-step climb up a granite dome to a panoramic view of the Great Western Divide, and it’s the view that surprised us most. We came for the trees and left talking about this. The mountains stack up further than you can see, and the drop on all sides is significant enough to make your legs feel slightly uncertain even on the path. We also walked the Congress Trail, a 2-mile loop from the Sherman Tree trailhead through a dense collection of named sequoias. Mostly flat, beautiful, and well worth an hour or two.
Top things to do in Sequoia National Park:
- General Sherman Tree
- Moro Rock
- Congress Trail
- Tunnel Log (drive through a fallen sequoia)
- Crescent Meadow
- Giant Forest Museum
Where to Stay near Sequoia
Visalia is the practical base here too, about 45 miles from the Ash Mountain entrance via Highway 198. We stayed at the Comfort Suites, ideally located downtown. To uplevel for a more boutique stay, I’d recommend the Darling Hotel. Three Rivers is the closest town if you want to be right on the park’s doorstep, with a handful of smaller lodges and inns. Inside the park, Wuksachi Lodge in the Giant Forest area is the main hotel option and books out fast in summer. And here are some Airbnb rentals you may prefer.
Read More: Visalia as a Base: A Teen-Led Weekend in Kings Canyon NP, Sequoia NP, and the Town You Didn’t Plan to Love and 6 days in Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia: three national parks into one California road trip
FAQs About National Parks in CA
How Many National Parks are in California?
There are nine National Parks in California, covering 6,310,000 acres in total. California has more national parks than any other state in the USA, including Alaska which has 8, so diving deep into them all and not rushing through them was not possible in one trip.
What is the most famous park in California?
Yosemite National Park is the most famous national park in California, and the most visited. It is famous for its rocky landscape, bear activity, and alpine lakes.
What is the least popular national park in California?
If you’re looking for a hidden gem national park, the least visited national park in California is Channel Islands National Park.
Final Thoughts
It didn’t take long for us to realize there are so many beautiful places to visit in California. To be honest, I believe this state has more diversity from a travel perspective than any other state in the United States. I could probably spend 6 months traveling in California and not run out of things to do when you consider all the National and State Parks, big cities and small towns to visit.
With an endless supply of mountains, deserts, giant forests, beaches, (and I guess the theme parks), and everything in between, it offers so much for tourists to be amazed at! We weren’t able to visit every national park in CA, and we’re still yet to visit:
However, we will definitely be back for them!
More California Inspiration
Need more inspiration for visiting California? Here are some other guides that may interest you…
- Amazing things to do in Yosemite National Park
- Bodie Ghost Town: The Wild West of California (Near Yosemite)
- Mono Lake: The Dead Sea of California
- Highlights of a Northern California tour (San Francisco to Yosemite)
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