California

California sits along the far western edge of the contiguous United States, stretching roughly 800 miles from its border with Oregon in the north to its international border with Mexico in the south. It shares inland borders with Nevada to the east and Arizona to the southeast. The state faces the Pacific Ocean along its entire western edge, giving it more than 840 miles of coastline. Internally, California divides into dramatically distinct regions: the foggy North Coast and redwood country, the volcanic peaks of the Shasta Cascade, the Central Valley agricultural heartland, the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the sun-soaked Central and Southern California coasts, and the vast Mojave and Sonoran desert zones in the southeast.

Few states can match California’s concentration of iconic natural landmarks. Yosemite National Park draws millions of visitors each year to its granite walls, waterfalls, and ancient giant sequoia groves. The Big Sur coastline along Highway 1 offers some of the most dramatic ocean scenery in North America. Death Valley holds the record as the hottest and driest place on the continent, while Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada provides year-round recreation in a crystal-clear alpine setting. Redwood National and State Parks protect the tallest trees on Earth along the misty north coast.

California’s 280 state park units and 28 national parks together form one of the largest public lands networks in the country, covering beaches, deserts, forests, mountains, historic sites, and wetlands. The state’s scenic byways program designates 63 routes that wind through everything from vineyard-covered valleys to high-elevation passes. Outdoor travelers will find world-class hiking, rock climbing, surfing, skiing, and wildlife watching spread across every region of the state.

The best times to visit depend heavily on the region. Spring and fall bring mild temperatures and lower crowds to most of the state. Coastal destinations stay temperate through the summer months, though the famous June Gloom fog can settle over the Bay Area and Southern California beaches in early summer. Sierra Nevada parks are best explored from late spring through October, before winter snow closes high-country roads. Desert parks in the south and east are most inviting from October through April, when daytime highs are comfortable and wildflowers can carpet the landscape in exceptional rain years.

California is served by five major international and regional airports, with Los Angeles International (LAX) and San Francisco International (SFO) functioning as primary gateways. Sacramento, San Diego, Oakland, and San Jose provide additional access points, making it easy for travelers to enter the state close to their intended destination. Whether visiting the redwood-lined roads of the north, the glacier-carved valleys of the Sierra, the surf towns of the south, or the stark beauty of the Mojave, California rewards travelers with a depth and variety of outdoor experiences found nowhere else in the United States.

Featured State Parks in California

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