California State Parks, Beaches and Historic Parks

Copyright: California State Parks View of the beach at Marina State Beach

Attractions - California has 265 state parks. These parks represent the beauty and diversity of California in 1.3 million acres of historic sites, buildings, culturally significant areas, natural and ecologically sensitive lands as varied as wetlands, deserts, and majestic redwood forests, recreational areas, and a host of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth.

Recreation - The huge variety of state parks offers tremendous outdoor recreation opportunities. Popular activities include swimming, surfing, sunning, wind surfing, and sailing, at state beaches. There are opportunities for touring historic mansions and pioneer forts, whale watching and bird watching, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. In the winter months cross-country skiing is possible at some of the high elevation parks.

Climate - Thanks to California's mild climate, most state parks are open year-round. From March to May, beautiful wildflowers grace desert and foothill parks. Summer temperatures range from 90+ in the Sacramento and Central Valleys to a cool and foggy 50 in San Francisco. The mildest weather statewide occurs in the fall. Rain begins in late autumn and continues through winter in most areas. Winter brings snow at higher elevations, particularly in the Sierra Nevada and other mountain regions. Desert regions remain warm during winter months.

Location - California's state parks are scattered throughout the state. The state has been divided into 13 travel regions. The state parks have been divided into these regions.