Three National Parks ... Re-opened!

Shortlist These 3 National Parks in California

Sequoia National Park hike pear lake

A lot of national parks are closed because of Covid-19, but we got some good news this week: these three California national parks have all recently re-opened! Start planning, and remember to always check the official websites because there are still restrictions and closures.

1) One and Only

California's first national park (sorry Yosemite), Sequoia National Park, is raw and awesome beauty, and famous for its giant sequoia trees (the biggest trees on earth). Of course they're a must-see, but there's also a remote valley at the park's southern end that will knock your boots off! Mineral King is a subalpine valley reached via a 25-mile drive up a snaky road going deep into the heart of the southern Sierra. Serrated peaks and high alpine lakes await. When the park re-opens, be sure to check out some recommended day hikes in Mineral King.

2) Nowhere Else on Earth

There's only one place in the world where you can go and see the tallest trees in the world ... and it's in the far northern reaches of California. Redwoods National and State Park has epic redwoods, glorious hikes, Roosevelt elk, and spectacular coastline. Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (located within Redwoods National Park) is home to canyons draped in ferns and dripping with small waterfalls, a hike nicknamed Jurassic Park, and the tallest trees on the planet. See some of nature's greatest hits on this 11-mile semi-loop adventure hike.

3) Adventure Channel

Remote, wild, and totally enchanting, Channel Islands National Park, nicknamed "the Galapagos of California," is an undeveloped archipelago off the coast of Ventura in Southern California. It's the start of nesting season (May through July) at Anacapa Island, which is home to the world's largest protected colony of western gulls. More than 10,000 of the seabirds gather on East Anacapa. This island has just one hiking trail, but it’s a beauty. When the time is right, make a date to explore this once lost world comprising five islands.

TIP: Boat service to the island is currently suspended, but they are looking to restart it on May 21 (*subject to change).

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View
  4. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View