We love everything about national parks. We love their beauty and their quiet, their camping and their history—we love that nine (yes, nine!) of them are in our state alone. They may, indeed, be “the best idea [America] ever had,” as writer Wallace Stegner once said.
So, most years, this is right about the time we’d be encouraging readers to plan a getaway to one of our iconic bastions of the natural world. But this isn’t most years. Deep funding cuts have left national parks struggling just to keep visitors safe, let alone to pick up all the garbage they leave behind, ready their campgrounds for summer, and operate normal activities.
This year, instead of compounding the many and varied challenges facing national parks, we propose something a little different: escaping to a California State Park. There are 280 to choose from, stretching across 340 miles of coastline; 970 miles of lakes and riverfronts; 5,200 miles of trails; 3,195 historic buildings; and more than 11,000 archaeological sites.
The California State Parks Foundation has a way to help narrow down all those options. They’ve just come out with the results of their first-ever Best of California State Parks Poll, based on the opinions of more than 1,300 people across the state.
From the best state parks for camping and hiking to the best for wildflowers and birdwatching, these are the top California State Parks in 2025.
Best California State Park for Camping: Morro Bay
(Courtesy of @morrobaystateparks)
This coastal expanse in San Luis Obispo County is steeped in beauty, with foggy mornings, scenic trails, and an iconic monolith to call its own (Morro Rock). Campsites are spacious and some can accommodate large trailers, dogs are welcome, and there’s easy access to hiking, kayaking, and so many views.
// 60 State Park Rd. (Morro Bay), parks.ca.gov
Honorable Mentions:
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties
Montaña de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo CountyBest California State Park for Hiking: Mount Tamalpais
(Andrew Aldrich)
If you live in the Bay Area, it should come as no surprise that this park in Marin swept the hiking category. With varied terrain that shifts from redwood grove to grassy ridgeline to open meadow, and panoramic views of the coast, the bay, and beautiful San Francisco, Mount Tam has endless possibilities for every type of pathfinder.
// 3801 Panoramic Hwy (Mill Valley), parks.ca.gov
Honorable Mentions:
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz County
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Humboldt CountyBest California State Park for Spectacular Views: Point Lobos
(Daniel Hills)
They often call it the “crown jewel” of California’s State Park system, this natural reserve on the northern end of the Big Sur coast. Dramatic cliffs, sculptural Monterey cypress trees, and water that’s an unbelievable shade of turquoise mean the views here are, as the people say, breathtaking.
// Carmel-By-The-Sea, parks.ca.gov
Honorable Mentions:
Garrapata State Park, Monterey County
Mount Diablo State Park, Contra Costa CountyBest California State Park for Birdwatching: Salton Sea
(Sandy Zelasko)
Once a popular tourist resort, today the Salton Sea is more frequented by birds than people: big-beaked pelicans, long-necked herons, sleek and leggy avocets, burrowing owls, and so many more. Located along the Pacific Flyway, winter—when hundreds of species stop to rest and refuel on their migration south—is the best time to see the most diversity.
// 100-225 State Park Rd. (Mecca), parks.ca.gov
Honorable Mentions:
Henry W. Coe State Park, Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties
Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, Fresno and Madera CountiesBest California State Park for Wildflowers: Anza-Borrego Desert
(Susan Eskridge)
Don’t be fooled by the arid nature of this massive landscape spanning San Diego, Imperial, and Riverside Counties. Rain may not be common but it only takes a little bit for the park to erupt into a springtime fantasy of desert lilies, dune primroses, and blooming ocotillo. For current bloom conditions, keep an eye on the Anza-Borrego Foundation’s wildflower guide.
// 200 Palm Canyon Dr. (Borrego Springs), parks.ca.gov
Honorable Mentions:
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Sonoma and Napa Counties
Chino Hills State Park, San Bernardino CountyBest California State Park for Learning About History: Santa Cruz Mission
(John Carrillo)
The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band has been working in partnership with park stewards to reframe the way history is told at the Santa Cruz Mission, an early site of forced religious conversion and worse. New exhibitions center Indigenous voices and reveal the cultural resilience of local Native American communities.
// 144 School St. (Santa Cruz), parks.ca.gov
Honorable Mentions:
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, Tulare County
Sue-Meg State Park, Humboldt CountyBest California State Beach: Crystal Cove
(Brandon Moore)
For a classic beach experience—the broad, sandy expanses stretching along water that’s not-too-cold for splashing around in—Orange County is the place to be. More specifically, Californians adore the park at Crystal Cove, where there are historic cottages to lounge in, miles of trails to hike, and tide pools to explore.
// 8471 N Coast Hwy (Laguna Beach), parks.ca.gov
Honorable Mentions:
Cardiff State Beach, San Diego County
Carmel River State Beach, Monterey CountyBest California State Park for Dog-Friendly Adventures: Sonoma Coast
(Elizabeth Bishay)
Not every state park allows dogs so those that do are precious finds. The Sonoma Coast isn’t just the best of the bunch, it is, in our opinion, one of the most spectacular parks in all of California. Your pup may not appreciate the views while playing on the beach and hiking the coastal trails, but they’re guaranteed to make your visit all the better.
// 3095 CA-1 (Bodega Bay), parks.ca.gov
Honorable Mentions:
Palomar Mountain State Park, San Diego County
Bean Hollow State Beach, San Mateo County
