I Visited All of California’s National Parks. Here’s My Ranking.

I’m a California local and outdoor enthusiast who has visited all 9 of California’s national parks. In this guide, I’ll overview all of them so you know what to expect.

Our national parks are full of extremes — from the tallest trees on Earth to the hottest place on Earth, to the largest concentration of Joshua trees in the world. Visiting should be on everyone’s bucket list whether you want to tackle the best California hikes or just catch some amazing views.

9 Best National Parks in California

Redwood National Park

View the tallest trees in the world.

📍 Google Maps |🌳 Redwood National Park Website | Best Places to Stay Near Redwood National Park

Redwood National Park has the largest concentration of old-growth Coast Redwood trees, famously the tallest trees on earth. This park is located in Northern California, about an hour and a half north of Humboldt. 

A great diversity of flora and fauna exists within the towering redwoods. The park is home to elk, banana slugs, ferns, bobcats, and even gray whales off the coast.

Hiking is the most popular activity in Redwood National Park, and many trails are relatively easy and flat. Other visitor favorites include horseback riding in the backcountry, tent camping in the middle of the forest, and trail biking beneath the tallest trees in the world.

There are public restrooms and picnic tables throughout the park to make your trip as pleasant as possible. Although pets are allowed in the park, they are not permitted on any trails for their safety. Bears and mountain lions have occasionally been seen in the park!

Joshua Tree National Park

Rock climb, hike, and stargaze amongst the world’s largest concentration of Joshua Trees.

📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Joshua Tree National Park Website

Joshua Tree National Park is currently in second place in our rankings of the best National Parks in the USA.

This unique desert landscape is dotted with endemic Joshua Trees, cacti, prickly pear, and hundreds of wildflower blooms in the spring. It’s also famous for its large boulder formations and craggy cliffs, which attract major rock climbers to the park.

Although rock climbing is the most popular activity to do in Joshua Tree, you don’t need to be an avid rock climber to appreciate the beauty of Joshua Tree’s desert landscape. There are tons of hiking trails as well.

Looking for a short hike? Arch Rock Trail is only 1.4 miles roundtrip and leads to the famed Arch Rock formation. The Panorama Loop Trail is a longer 6.6-mile hike in Joshua Tree National Park that offers spectacular views of the park.

There are plenty of places to stay in Joshua Tree, including 5 campgrounds in the national park that require a reservation ahead of time and cost between $20-25 a night. 3 first-come, first-serve campgrounds are all $15 per night. These include Hidden Valley, White Tank, and Belle Campgrounds. 

I’d definitely recommend camping in Joshua Tree when you visit. It’s one of the best places to stargaze, and the sunrises and sunsets in the desert are unmatched.

👉 Pro Tip: If you choose to stay at a first-come, first-served campground, get to the park early to snag a spot before the campgrounds fill up. 

Yosemite National Park

Visit the crown jewel of California with iconic granite cliffs like Half Dome and El Capitan.

📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Yosemite National Park Website | When to Visit | Best Places to Stay Near Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is California’s most popular national park, with over 3.8 million visitors per year. It’s roughly 4.5 hours inland from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and El Capitan are the main attractions in Yosemite. You may be lucky enough to witness professional California rock climbers scaling the granite walls of El Capitan, famously featured in films like Free Solo and The Dawn Wall.

Camping is also a must-do in Yosemite. The most popular Yosemite campgrounds include Upper Pines Campground, Lower Pines Campground, and North Pines Campground. You need a reservation from Recreation.gov to stay at Yosemite campgrounds. They fill up extremely fast, so plan ahead!

There are public restrooms and picnic tables throughout the park, but never leave any food unattended as it attracts black bears.

You will want to check out the North Dome, Cloud’s Rest, and Nevada Falls hikes if it’s your first time in the park, but there are dozens of other incredible Yosemite hikes for return visits.

Death Valley National Park

Slide down sand dunes in the hottest place in the world.

📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Death Valley National Park Website | Best Places to Stay Near Death Valley

Death Valley National Park holds the record for the hottest air temperature in the world at 134.1 degrees Fahrenheit. It might seem intimidating, but visiting Death Valley is totally doable if you go during the fall, winter, or spring months!

The main attractions in Death Valley National Park are the Badwater Basin Salt Flats, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and the Zabriskie Point Viewpoint. Badwater Basin gives Death Valley another title — the lowest point in North America.

There are 12 campgrounds across the 5,200 square miles of the park. Most of the campgrounds have public toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits, although you won’t want to light a fire unless you visit in the wintertime. It can get surprisingly cold in the desert at night during winter months.

Death Valley National Park is only 2 hours from Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Most visitors to the park make an extended trip to the Sierras as well. Death Valley is also an awesome day trip from Las Vegas since it’s less than 3 hours away from Nevada‘s largest city.

Take safety precautions and avoid visiting this national park in the summer. If you do plan to visit during hot months, bring plenty of water. You can also book a room in one of the park’s hotels for access to air conditioning and a swimming pool.

Sequoia National Park

Take photos next to the largest single-stem tree on Earth.

📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Sequoia National Park Website | When to Visit

Sequoia National Park is one of the most majestic national parks, filled with soaring mountain peaks, dramatic valleys, alpine lakes, and the largest trees in the world. It often gets confused with nearby Kings Canyon National Park, but even though they share a boundary they are two separate national parks. 

Sequoia is home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world by volume. It’s easy to visit — the trail is less than a mile long and fairly flat. Plan your trip outside of winter to take a photo with this national landmark because many of the park’s roads are closed in the wintertime.

Hiking, backpacking, camping, and watching the wildlife are the most popular things to do here. Sequoia also has some of the best amenities of our national parks, with a well-stocked camp store, visitor center, and shuttle system.

🌳 Local Trivia: Sequoia National Park was the first park created for the sole purpose of protecting a living organism (the sequoia trees).

Channel Islands National Park

Escape from urban life to the relaxing Channel Islands.

📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Channel Islands National Park Website

Love the ocean? Then you must visit the five islands at Channel Islands National Park. California’s only national park off the mainland, Channel Islands is a diverse ecosystem with rich native history, picturesque lighthouses, and unique island wildlife. 

Leave from the Ventura or Santa Barbara port and escape the clutter of urban life with a 3-3.5 hour boat trip to the islands. Because the boat ride is so long, most visitors camp overnight to make the most of their trip. Campsites are reservable in advance.

There are no food services or lodging on the islands, so all visitors must bring their own tents, food, and water if they wish to camp at the island’s primitive campsites.

Snorkel, kayak, birdwatch, sketch, or just relax on the Channel Islands beaches. More experienced outdoor enthusiasts can also surf, scuba dive, or hike one of the island’s many hiking trails.  

Kings Canyon National Park

Take a scenic drive through sequoia trees, waterfalls, and spectacular viewpoints.

📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Kings Canyon National Park Website

Kings Canyon National Park is located next to Sequoia National Park, but it’s one of California’s least visited national parks. Many visitors love to take a scenic drive throughout the park down the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. The views of rushing rivers, tall peaks, and deep canyons make the park drive worthwhile.

Enjoy hiking, fishing, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing in the spring, summer, and fall. There are over 800 miles of hiking trails in the park. You can also go horseback riding and spelunking during the non-winter months. 

Bring snowshoes if you time your California visit while the park is a winter wonderland because the ground is blanketed with thick layers of snow.

Kings Canyon is home to the largest remaining grove of sequoias in the world, Redwood Canyon. Sadly, Redwood Canyon was heavily affected by wildfires in 2021 and is still in recovery.

Most campgrounds have showers, laundry services, markets, and restaurants just a short drive away. Most are also first-come, first-served and include a picnic table, fire ring, bear box for food storage, and a grill.

👉 Pro Tip: There is no cell service throughout the park but select visitor centers have wifi. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Explore shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome volcanoes.

📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Lassen Volcanic National Park Website

Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the most underrated national parks in the state. Visit Lassen to witness beautiful wildflower meadows, alpine lakes, and four different types of volcanoes.

Because it is less traveled, there are fewer crowds than in other popular national parks. It’s busiest in the summer when all roads and activities are open.

Popular activities in the park include hiking, alpine lake boating and rafting, fishing, and sleeping under the stars. In the wintertime, snowshoeing, and sledding are visitor favorites.

Food for sale is limited in the park so you will want to bring enough for your stay. There is one lodge in the park, Drakesbad Guest Ranch, and seven campgrounds that require a reservation ahead of time. 

🚗 Need a car rental? Lassen National Park is a 3.5-hour drive from Sacramento and you will need to rent a car to explore the park. I recommend booking a car with Discover Cars to compare rates and get the best deals.

Pinnacles National Park

View condors and explore caves in one of the newest national parks.

📍 Google Maps | 🌳 Pinnacles National Park Website

Pinnacles is one of the state’s least visited parks, and the most recent to be given National Park status. It’s also one of the easiest national parks to get to. It’s only 2 hours south of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Pinnacles formed 23 million years ago by volcanic eruptions. Today, the rare landscape consists of chaparral, oak woodlands, and canyon terrain. 

Bring your binoculars because wildlife such as bald eagles, falcons, and California condors have been spotted in the park. 

This national park has a wide variety of hiking trails, ranging from short family-friendly hikes to more strenuous ones. Popular trails include the 0.9-mile Prewett Point Trail and the 4.3-mile Juniper Canyon Loop Trail.

There are no hotels or lodges in Pinnacles National Park but you can rent a canvas tent cabin for rustic lodging. You can camp at Pinnacles Campground if you bring your own tent or RV. Keep in mind that it is only accessible from the east because there are no roads connecting the two entrances.

Tips for Visiting National Parks in California

Stay Far From California’s Wildlife

Wildlife in the national parks are, in fact, wild. Never get close to an animal to take a photo, as it may result in serious injuries. 

Ask the national park rangers for the most updated safety information regarding specific animals in the park. Also never feed the wildlife under any circumstances.

Adhere to the Fire Safety Rules

Wildfires are a big problem in our national parks. Some campfires are allowed in designated places but check with park rangers first. Different national parks have different fire safety regulations. 

Always pack out your cigarette butts and make sure that your campfire is completely out before walking away from it. The National Park Service also encourages reporting all wildfires and smoke to them immediately.

Prepare Adequately Before You Go on a Hike

The summer months in Southern California’s national parks can be brutal. Always have hiking essentials in your backpack before you go on a hike, and carry enough water.

A good rule of thumb is to pack extra food and clothing layers that you don’t think you will need, just in case. Always bring a rain jacket because California experiences frequent summer storms. Check out our national park packing checklist for more essentials to include in your pack.

Store Food in Bear Boxes

There are lots of black bears in California. Although there are no grizzlies, you still need to be cautious around wild black bears. 

Black bears are not afraid to approach people if they smell food. Never leave food unattended at campsites and always store your leftovers in provided bear boxes.

Get to the Parks Early to Avoid Crowds

National parks receive thousands of visitors a day on summer weekends. California’s parks have gotten so crowded lately that the park system has started to limit the number of cars allowed. You may need to reserve a day pass ahead of time for popular parks like Yosemite — more on that next!

Try to get to the national park early in the morning, preferably on a weekday if you want to avoid crowds. If you don’t arrive at the park before 8 am, you may have trouble finding parking, and first-come, first-served campsites may already be full.

👉 Read Next: Joshua Tree vs Death Valley (Pros & Cons)

Plan Ahead for a Yosemite Entrance Ticket

Yosemite National Park recently implemented a ticketed entrance system to limit the number of visitors per day. Because this is the most popular park in the state, it receives millions of visitors each year. The entry permit aims to reduce the amount of people in the park during peak season.

You will need to snag a specific entry ticket from Recreation.gov before you visit the park. Even if you are simply driving through the park you will still need this permit during peak hours.

Concerned about the reservation system? Check out Abigail’s argument for why more national parks should require a reservation.

Check Rules for Four-Legged Friends

While dogs are allowed in most parks, some parks have pet restrictions. For example, Joshua Tree allows dogs in campsites but forbids them on any trails. 

Plan your trip with your pet ahead of time to make sure they are allowed inside all areas of the park. Bringing an unsolicited pet into bear country can be dangerous for both you and your pet, so plan wisely.

🚙 Traveling in an RV? See our list of the best RV parks in California.

***

Visiting the national parks is one of the best things to do in California, so you’ll have a great time no matter which park you choose.

Which one of these national parks is your favorite? Let me know in the comments, and have fun exploring!