Did you know that California has more national parks than any other state? When you stop to think about it, the diverse landscape here is not only unique but quite beautiful. Within a few hours, you can explore beaches, mountains, forests, and maybe even deserts. If your family is looking for ideas on what parks to explore this summer or fall, check out this guide on the top things for families in California’s national parks.
Pinnacles National Park
The newest of all the California national parks is Pinnacles, which was designated a national park in 2013. Pinnacles is the closest national park to Monterey County and a perfect day trip option. Families can get to the western side of the park in about an hour while getting to the eastern side is a bit longer. Note that there is no road connecting the two sections of the park. Pinnacles gets its name from the huge domed spires that were created out of the volcanic activity. This park is one of the least visited in California, which can be great if you don’t enjoy the crowds.
Two of the most popular hikes for families are the Moses Spring Trail and Bear Gulch Cave Trail, which are found in the eastern section of the park. This 2.2-mile loop hike provides easy to navigate caves and some pretty nice views of the volcanic structures. Be sure to bring a headlamp or flashlight as exploring any section of the cave is quite dark. On the western side, Balconies Cave loop is a 2.4-mile trail that is another option for families to explore some talus caves. Rock climbing is also very popular on this side of the park, as there are a few routes for beginners and advanced climbers alike.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the most iconic parks in the U.S. Located four hours away from Monterey in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite is well known for its’ giant sequoia trees and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. Although it is pretty touristy, Yosemite Valley is where you want to explore first. This is where the world’s largest granite monolith, El Capitan is located, along with the Tunnel View Outlook and many of Yosemite’s most famous waterfalls: Vernal Falls, Bridalveil Falls, and Yosemite Falls.
Many of the trails in Yosemite Valley are gentle flat trails that lead directly to top attractions, which are perfect for families. On Southside Drive, you’ll find a couple of short trails leading to Bridalveil Fall and the Sentinel Bridge, which is known for its’ views of Half Dome. Other popular hikes include Tuolumne Meadows and Mariposa Grove, where visitors can walk through the massive sequoia forest. The Merced River, which flows through the valley is a great option for those wanting to go swimming or kayaking. Lake Tenaya is another popular spot for boating as well. A fair warning, this is the most visited national park in California, so be prepared for crowds.
Sequoia National Park andKings Canyon National Park
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park are often overlooked by Yosemite which is only 75 miles south. While they are technically two parks, they are administered jointly. These two parks should not be disregarded though, as they are just as beautiful and family friendly. In Sequoia, you will find the biggest tree in the world, the General Sherman Tree, and a view of the highest peak in the contiguous United States, Mt. Whitney. Tokopah Falls is a nice, mostly shady, 4-mile hike with granite and forested views that follows the Kaweah River for about half of it. Moro Rock is another great option for families, as it offers panoramic views of the area. At a quarter of a mile, it is considered more of a climb than a hike, but be sure to hold on tight to little ones as it is a steep ascent 300 feet up.
In King’s Canyon, you can drive or walk through a fallen giant sequoia at Tunnel Log, and hike through the park’s giant sequoias on Congress Trail or Grant’s Grove. Families will love Zumwalt Meadow as it has rocks for kids to scramble on, a suspension bridge, and a picturesque meadow framed by towering canyon walls. The 1.5-mile hike also has access to portions of the Kings River and is a great spot for a picnic.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a little over five hours from Monterey County. This park is quite unique because it’s geography reflects both the volcanic Cascades and the evergreen Sierra Nevadas. It is also one of the least visited parks in the state due to its remote location. Lassen Peak is named after its’ signature volcano, which is the largest plug dome volcano in the world.
Families will enjoy a hike on the Bumpass Hell Trail that will take you through Lassen’s largest hydrothermal area and give some up-close views of the boiling mud pots and superheated turquoise pools. The Sulphur Works area is another prime spot to take a boardwalk hike through some volcanic gas vents known as fumaroles. The other side of Lassen Volcanic National Park contains waterfall hikes and Manzanita Lake, a popular lake for families to enjoy kayaking, swimming, and camping. This area of the park provides visitors with views of Lassen Peak and lush forest hikes that connect to a section of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Channel Islands National Park
The Channel Islands are one of the most remote national parks in the country. They are comprised of 5 islands off the coast of Southern California. The only way to reach them is via a plane or ferry departing from Ventura, Oxnard or Santa Barbara. The most practical approach for families is usually to take a ferry out of Ventura, as that is where the park’s visitor’s center is located. There are limited restroom facilities, no electricity or services on the island, so be sure to pack plenty of water, lunch, and snacks. While camping is available, everything brought onto the island must leave with you.
These islands are known as the Galapagos of North America, as wildlife is plentiful here. Visitors can usually spot whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, and marine birds frequently while exploring the local islands or even on the ferry. Anacapa, the closest of the islands, is the most popular; next to Santa Cruz, the largest of the islands. While the hiking trails provide a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and the island’s sea cliffs and caves, kayaking and snorkeling are among the best activities to do here.
Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park is actually a huge series of connected state parks - Prarie Creek, Jedediah Smith, and Del Norte. Located almost 8 hours away from Monterey and Santa Cruz, this national park contains a large concentration of the famed, gigantic redwood trees.
The most popular hike in the area is Fern Canyon, which was actually a filming location for Jurrasic Park 2. Walking through this densely forested canyon will, in fact, make you feel like you have stepped back in time. Tall Trees Grove is a great family hike, as that is where the tallest of the redwoods reside. To get here though requires a free permit at Kuchel Visitor Center. This helps to keep the number of visitors to a minimum. This area is also a great spot for kayaking, mountain biking, river fishing, and horseback riding. There are several tour companies that take visitors on half-day or full day excursions.
Joshua Tree National Park
Located just a couple of hours outside of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a great place to visit if you’re in Southern California. This park is well known for its’ namesake “Dr. Seuss looking” Joshua trees, which actually are not even trees, they are yucca plants. This national park has a unique landscape because it is located where the high Mojave desert meets the low Colorado desert. This means that Joshua Tree National Park has areas that are traditionally desert looking, yet it also has mountains and valleys.
Visiting this park is not recommended in the summer, as the heat is intense and there is very little shade. If you plan a trip in the cooler months, make sure to include Indian Cove Natural Trail, which is a great place to see the Joshua trees. Another great family hike is the Cholla Cactus Garden Trail where you can see a dense concentration of cactus plants. Joshua Tree National Park also has huge boulders that have become a rock climbers’ paradise. Visitors can scramble some of the smaller boulders on Arch Rock Trail, or watch the rock climbers at Echo Cove. For panoramic views of the valleys and nearby peaks, head to Keys View, which is the highest point at Joshua Tree National Park.
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park straddles the California/Nevada border and is the hottest, driest and lowest national park on Earth. It holds the record for the hottest temperature in the world 136F, and is the driest place in North America, seeing an average of 2 inches of rainfall a year. It should not be visited during the months of May-September due to the extreme heat in the valley
There are quite a few highlights to be seen in this land of extremes. Zabriskie Point and Golden Canyon are two locations where visitors can see various shades of yellow and orange during the sunrise or sunset. Another must-see is the Badwater area, which is the location of America’s lowest point, - 282 feet below sea level. A drive down Badwater Road lets visitors view the salt flats and puddles that remain from an ancient dried up lake. The Mesquite sand dunes area offers families a chance to see some wildlife, like a coyote or a desert fox. Another unique hike is Ubehebe Crater, where you can walk along the rim of a dried up volcano.
While some national parks gain more attention than others, it is easy to see that there is plenty of beauty throughout California. Hopefully, you and your family can adventure to one of these national parks in the near future.