California's 12 National Parks
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz reveals stories of American incarceration, justice, and our common humanity. This small island was once a fort, a military prison, and a maximum security federal penitentiary. In 1969, the In...
Activities:
Food
Wildlife Watching
Birdwatching
Coordinates:
37.826 N 122.423 W
Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
In 1857, businessman and transportation entrepreneur John Butterfield was awarded a contract to establish an overland mail route between the eastern United States and growing populations in the Far We...
Coordinates:
32.276 N 106.796 W
Cabrillo National Monument
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only...
Activities:
Biking
Road Biking
Hiking
Coordinates:
32.672 N 117.241 W
California National Historic Trail
Follow in the footsteps of over 250,000 emigrants who traveled to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840s and 1850s: the greatest mass migration in American history. The Cali...
Activities:
Auto and ATV
Scenic Driving
Guided Tours
Coordinates:
42.399 N 108.702 W
Castle Mountains National Monument
Castle Mountains represents some of the most unique elements of the Mojave Desert. Nestled between the Nevada state line and Mojave National Preserve, the nearly 21,000 acres of Castle Mountains boast...
Activities:
Camping
Car or Front Country Camping
Group Camping
Coordinates:
35.291 N 115.093 W
Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years h...
Activities:
Astronomy
Stargazing
Boating
Coordinates:
33.986 N 119.911 W
César E. Chávez National Monument
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
Activities:
Guided Tours
Self-Guided Tours - Auto
Museum Exhibits
Coordinates:
35.227 N 118.561 W
Death Valley National Park
In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare ...
Activities:
Astronomy
Stargazing
Biking
Coordinates:
36.487 N 117.134 W
Devils Postpile National Monument
Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery...
Activities:
Astronomy
Stargazing
Biking
Coordinates:
37.615 N 119.087 W
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill, chose Northern California as his sanctuary at the pinnacle of his writing career. Secluded from the outside world within the serene walls...
Activities:
Arts and Culture
Theater
Guided Tours
Coordinates:
37.826 N 122.027 W
Fort Point National Historic Site
From its vantage point overlooking the spectacular Golden Gate, Fort Point defended the San Francisco Bay following California's Gold Rush through World War II. Its beautifully arched casemates displa...
Activities:
Arts and Culture
Theater
Fishing
Coordinates:
37.808 N 122.473 W
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
Activities:
Arts and Culture
Biking
Mountain Biking
Coordinates:
37.859 N 122.600 W