Best Natural Attractions

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Back to CaliforniaCalifornia's Best Natural Attractions

Redwood National & State Parks: Acres of inconceivably massive redwood trees, up to 350 feet tall, tower over thick, lush, oversized ferns, mosses, and wild orchids in the old-growth forests along the Northern California coast. Walking through these groves is an unforgettably humbling, serene experience.

Lake Tahoe: One of the world's most magnificent bodies of fresh water, sparkling Lake Tahoe contains close to 40 trillion gallons -- enough to cover the entire state of California to a depth of 14 1/2 inches.

Yosemite National Park: You're in for the ultimate treat at Yosemite. Nothing in the state -- maybe even the world -- compares to this vast wilderness and its miles of rivers, lakes, peaks, and valleys. With 3 of the 10 tallest waterfalls on earth, the largest granite monolith anywhere, and some of the world's largest trees, Yosemite is one of the most superlative natural places on the planet.

Big Sur: Sloping redwood forests and towering cliffs pounded by the Pacific create one of the world's most dramatic coastal panoramas.

Point Reyes National Seashore: This extraordinarily scenic stretch of coast and wetlands is one of the state's best bird-watching spots for waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, osprey, and red-shouldered hawks. You might even catch a glimpse of a whale from the Point Reyes Lighthouse.

Mount Shasta: The mighty volcano Mount Shasta, a solitary tower of rock and snow, rises thousands of feet above the valley floor. If you're in good shape, it makes for an exhilarating climb as well.

Channel Islands National Park: This is California in its most virginal state. Paddle a kayak into sea caves; camp among indigenous island fox and seabirds; and swim, snorkel, or scuba dive tide pools and kelp forests teeming with wildlife. The channel waters are prime for whale-watching, and winter brings elephant-seal-mating season, when you'll see them and their sea-lion cousins sunbathing on cove beaches.

Joshua Tree National Park: You'll find awesome rock formations; groves of flowering cacti and gnarly, eerily beautiful Joshua trees; ancient Native American petroglyphs; and shifting sand dunes in this desert wonderland. If you choose to camp here, you'll sleep under a brilliant night sky.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: The largest state park in the lower 48 attracts the most visitors during the spring wildflower season, when a kaleidoscopic carpet blankets the desert. Others come year-round to hike more than 100 miles of trails.

Torrey Pines State Reserve: On a cliff above the Pacific Ocean, this state park is set aside for the most rare pine trees in North America. The reserve has short trails that immerse hikers into a delicate and beautiful coastal environment.