California has numerous national parks, in fact, it has more than any other state within the United States. These range from dense forests to deserts and islands. Thus, there is so much variety, natural beauty and diversity within California landmarks that you can discover for yourself.
The state of California has 10 national parks. Two of these are located in southern California, five are located in central CA and two are located in northern CA. A number of these protect land areas and some are also coastal preserves.
For the purpose of this quick guide, I will outline three of the best national parks in California. These national parks are the highest-status areas of protected nature in the United States. Thus, you will be able to bear witness to an abundance of natural beauty and wildlife that is utterly jaw-dropping.
1) Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the most renowned national parks in the United States and it is highly popular for a good reason. This park is located in the middle of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It can be visited for a weekend trip from San Francisco and Los Angeles which makes it a highly popular retreat for those who reside in these cities.
Yosemite is incredibly large and stretches over 1000 square miles. The vast majority of those who visit this park will visit the valley area which is located on the western side of the park. This is where the Half Dome and the Sentinel Dome are located alongside numerous tourist facilities and a variety of options for lodging.
This park is notable and distinctive as it contains granite mountains that have 800 miles of trail stretches across them. The roads are undoubtedly scenic and highway 120 runs across the entire breadth of the park.
Due to the overwhelming popularity of this park, you will need to plan your visit ahead of time. Thus, it is important that you book accommodation well in advance. You will also need to obtain certain permits if you want to hike through the wilderness.
2) Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is situated alongside Sequoia National Park in Sierra Nevada. It is also located close to Los Angeles and San Francisco. This park showcases one of the most stunning landscapes as well as one of the country’s largest forests. The glacier-formed canyons are utterly breathtaking.
There are two broader areas within this wild park that you will be able to reach by car. These include Cedar Grove and Grant Grove. The latter is home to a number of stunning sequoia trees that include the second largest type of tree in the world.
If you decide to drive to the very end of the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, you will be able to park up and walk towards the Zumwalt Meadows. From there, there are numerous trails that you will be able to take that run for miles and miles.
3) Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is the popular neighbor to the aforementioned Kings Canyon. This receives nearly twice as many visitors as the canyon. It is also where the world’s largest tree, known as the General Sherman, is located. This is one of the main attractions of this park. While the trees here are exceptionally tall, they are not as tall as some of the redwoods that grow closer to the Pacific Ocean. However, the trees that grow here are undoubtedly stunning.
The trunks of these trees are vastly wide and they are also some of the largest in the world by volume, with their circumference measuring at 102.6 feet at ground level.
Conclusion
To conclude, the three parks that I have outlined in this quick guide are incredibly popular attractions for those who reside in California’s busiest locations, Los Angeles and San Francisco. This is because these parks are easily accessible from both locations.
Thus, if you are looking for a stunning weekend retreat, you should definitely consider visiting one of these three national parks. However, it is advisable to book your accommodation ahead of time in order to secure the lodging that you desire. You will also need to obtain specific permits if you are planning on hiking on some of the trails located in these national parks.
California boasts some of the most stunning national parks in the United States. It is also home to more national parks than any other state in the country. Thus, you should definitely pay a visit to one of its most popular parks to see why they are so infamous.
