National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
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National Parks in California
THE 10 BEST California National Parks
National Parks in California
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Travelers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travelers across the globe.
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What travelers are saying
- HeatheryBroken Arrow, OK65 contributionsGo early in the morning for a quiet and mystical atmosphere! It's humbling to be in a primeval forest, towered by 300 ft redwoods. 😍🌲
The clover cover on the ground has adapted to prefer the constant shade provided by the redwoods, so when they're hit with the uncommon sunlight, they actually fold up in dislike lol. You can see it in the lower left photo compared to the shaded, open clovers behind them.
I really loved sitting on the benches and just listening to the water over the creek and the birds. We saw a river otter which was a lovely surprise. ❤️🐾Written March 20, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - I-pinion30 contributionsNice hike on the Bayside Trail. Took around an hour round trip, moderate incline on return but not too strenuous. Beautiful views. Went into the lighthouse too which was interesting. Drove down to the tidal pools after and viewed from above, but didn’t hike more. Saw Viper’s house from Top Gun down there too.Written April 22, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Kathy DSaint Louis, MO437 contributionsMy adult son and I absorbed our surroundings with all of our senses. We breathed the air. We listened to the forest's voices. We watched the sunshine dapple among the towering trees. Just standing there was like being in a state of prayer.Written January 26, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sebastian MejíaSuesca, Colombia54 contributionsSurreal sculpted granite domes.
Great crack climbing.
Enchanting vegetation, flowers and fauna.
Must go if you are visiting California as a climber!
Contact me for more info....Written April 2, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - lovesailtripLeesburg, VA31 contributionsWOW! You cannot believe the size and age of these things until you are actually there! Also very interesting that they are very shallow-rooted and need forest fires to propagate. We loved it!Written November 20, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LukeS11 contributionsPinnacles is one of the smaller national parks and is off the beaten path, but it is definitely worth a visit if you like day hikes. The Condor Gulch-High Peaks-Bear Gulch Cave loop is one of my all time favorite day hikes. The park might be disappointing if you intend to stay in your car. The park is not highly developed and most of the development is on the east side. (There is no road connecting the east and west side of the park.) The visitor center is pretty small and there is only a small store at the campground. However, there is a lot to see if you are willing to hike a little ways; condors, caves, rocky peaks, nice views, and even a small lake. Parking at the trailheads can be a challenge during busy weekends, but fortunately there is a shuttle that runs from the campground and overflow parking lot to the trailheads during busy periods. It gets very hot during the late spring, summer, and early fall, so hike early in the day and carry lots of water if you are there during that time of year. The best time to visit is during the early spring or late fall.Written April 2, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ameriki HabibiKuwait City, Kuwait427 contributionsThis place is so beautiful and amazing! The scenery is breathtaking! If you are in California and enjoy the outdoors, this National park is a must!!! I can go on and on about this park! It’s so beautiful! The hiking path are great the picnic areas are nice!! This place is amazing!Written October 15, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Edmund TLos Angeles, CA10 contributionsSequoia National Park is a masterpiece of nature. Its gigantic trees are some of the most impressive botanical creations. They have to grow in just the right conditions and this place is their home on earth. They’re so immense that you realize how small you are. Not to mention the plethora of animals that live there. You’ll be in awe. I had the pleasure of seeing the park full of snow. It felt like a wonderland.
If you do visit the park, I urge you to do your part and keep it clean. This place is beautiful because of our efforts. Let’s keep it that way so that we can continue to see it flourish.Written March 2, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Elaine H35 contributionsEasy to find but much larger than expected. Being older, we were only able to see 3 caves as we only had 2 days. But really enjoyed our adventure and will be backWritten September 29, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jonathan Phan513 contributionsBridalveil Fall is renowned for its captivating beauty and the mist that creates rainbows on sunny days. The waterfall drops 620 feet and is accessible via a short, paved trail from the parking lot. The sound of the cascading water and the cool mist provide a refreshing experience, particularly during the warmer months.
The fall is especially impressive in the spring when the snowmelt is at its peak, but it remains a beautiful sight throughout the year. Bridalveil Fall is a must-visit for anyone in Yosemite, offering a serene and picturesque setting that captures the park's natural charm.Written December 1, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - VirginiaLove2TravelVirginia Beach, VA479 contributionsVisiting my sister and we wanted to rent kayaks but due to Covid-19, they were only renting canoes. So we rented one and rowed around the lake. Beautiful weather and not a lot of boats on the water. Ended up to be quite peaceful and enjoyable.Written November 5, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- james doe61 contributionsThis place has all of the scenic views, sand dunes, joshua trees, mountains and salt flats that more crowded Joshua Tree National park has. Many less people.Written April 23, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Terry TKealakekua, HI7 contributionsI took a "side trip" from Las Vegas to Manzanar. It was a grueling 4 hour drive each way but was worth seeing once.
Manzanar has a rich history that started with the Paiute Indians.
During WWII it was the site of an internment camp.
Although it is a National Park, I fear it will be shut down because of DEI.
As a "mostly" third generation Japanese American I was curious about the hardships endured during WWII and the ingenuity of the internees in preserving some of their native culture. What was especially moving was the psychology of the internees. Imagine being taken from your home after doing nothing wrong with no idea if you're ever returning home. They seemed to accept their fate and made the best of a bad situation.
Along the route We stopped at the Area 51 Alien Center (bathroom and humorous souvenirs... and disappointed that we didn't see any aliens and UFOs) and Smokin' J's Barbeque in Beatty for their Pulled Pork Sandwich (I felt very welcome and would stop their again if I ever head back to Manzanar).
Because of the long drive, We left Las Vegas in the morning, stopped at a Trader Joe's for snacks and made the stops mentioned above. We then stayed overnight in Independence, CA at the Courthouse Motel so we could get an early start to experience Manzanar. The only down side to the route was there was no cell phone coverage for about 1 1/2 hours of the trip. It was a bit concerning for out-of-towners in a rent-a-car.
If I ever make the trip again, I would not hesitate to do the same route and stops again.Written March 25, 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - jehenson81Washington DC, DC25,931 contributionsI drove all over the National Recreation Area during my recent vacation. I was actually staying at a hotel that is situated up in the mountains. On this visit, the specific sites I visited were Peter Strauss Ranch, Zuma & Trancas Canyons, the Backbone Trail and King Gillette Ranch. I’ve done reviews on each of them, but I will note that there is a Visitors Center at King Gillette where you can get maps and information about the area as a whole and each of the sites that fall within it. All of the sites have hiking trails and I did hike at all of them except for Peter Strauss Ranch (was hot and tired; the racetrack trail looked nice and easy). There are also several State Parks nestled in the mountains, so check out the websites for each to determine if they are NPS sites or not. I had a great time and hope to come back and do some of the other hikes on my next visit (if/when that happens).Written September 26, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- sanrionjbPhiladelphia, PA123 contributionsI've been to San Francisco quite a few times and I had some free time before another activity I was doing near the wharf started so I checked this out. I found it interesting and I learned a lot, it wasn't crowded, and the views were great. I was there around one hour but actually could've spent a little more time between the ships and the museum. There are some ships there that are in disrepair. I have the National Park Pass, but honestly not sure I would've gone if I had to pay admission but at the same time I understand sites like this need reasonable entrance costs to maintain the historic structures.Written June 6, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
