Page 193 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

» NATIONAL PARKS & HISTORIC SITES
Arranged north to south.
Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake
Rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic
features. Hiking, camping.
nps.gov/labe
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Whiskeytown
Mountain lake recreation area. Hiking, mountain
biking, camping, water sports.
nps.gov/whis
Redwood National and State Parks,
Del Norte & Humboldt counties
An ancient coast redwood ecosystem that is
home to the world’s tallest trees. Park is
comprised of 112,000 acres of forests, rivers and
wild coastline. Hiking, camping.
nps.gov/redw
Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral
Large group of volcanic domes set in the Cascade
Mountains. Hiking, camping, geothermal pools.
nps.gov/lavo
Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes
Rare undeveloped California coastline hosting myriad
plant, animal and marine life. Hiking, mountain
biking, bird and whale watching.
nps.gov/pore
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley
Set just outside San Francisco, this old-growth forest
leads down to Muir Beach. Hiking only.
nps.gov/muwo
Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
The first lighthouse and fort on the West Coast that
later became an (almost) inescapable federal prison.
Tours.
nps.gov/alca
San Francisco Maritime National
Historical Park, San Francisco
Located at Fisherman’s Wharf, this museum is host
to a number of historic sailing vessels.
Tours. nps.gov/safr
Fort Point National Historic Site, San Francisco
A decommissioned fort in the Presidio, you can tour
the facility that began guarding the entrance to the
Bay during the Civil War.
nps.gov/fopo
Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco
A former army post, this 1500-acre park contains a
museum, national cemetery, historic architecture,
miles of coastline and forested hiking trails. Tours,
hiking, biking.
nps.gov/prsf
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco
One of the world’s largest urban parks, the GGNRA
encompasses venues from San Mateo to Marin
counties and includes such sites as Alcatraz, Sutro
Baths, Fort Funston, Crissy Field, Muir Woods and
more. Hiking, cycling, camping, water sports, tours.
nps.gov/goga
Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site, Danville
The home of the famed American writer is now a
museum, and can be visited by reservation only.
Tours. nps.gov/euon
Port Chicago Naval Magazine
National Memorial, Concord
This memorial to the men and women who lost their
lives loading munitions during WWII is located
inside the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Tours.
nps.gov/poch
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front
National Historical Park, Richmond
One of the newest national parks, this park honors
the men and women who worked behind the scenes
during WWII. Includes the SS Red Oak Victory Ship,
which is accessible to visitors. Tours.
nps.gov/rori
John Muir National Historic Site, Martinez
John Muir is considered the father of the National
Park Service. His home and Mt. Wanda are both part
of this historic site. Hiking, tours.
nps.gov/jomu
Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes
Devils Postpile formation is a geologic wonder
towering 60 feet high and one of the world’s finest
examples of columnar basalt. The area also boasts
the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls and pristine
mountain scenery. Hiking, camping.
nps.gov/depo
Yosemite National Park, the Sierra Nevada
One of the first wilderness parks in the United
States, and now a World Heritage Site, this famous
park spans three counties and 760,000 acres. It is
host to spectacular waterfalls, mountains, granite
cliffs, forests and backcountry. Hiking, rock
climbing, camping, backpacking, mountain biking,
fishing, water sports, tours.
nps.gov/yose
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks,
Southern Sierra Nevada in Tulare & Fresno counties
Also known as the Land of the Giants, this park is
home to huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep
canyons, vast caverns, and some of the world’s
largest trees. Hiking, camping, backpacking, rock
climbing, tours.
nps.gov/seki
Manzanar National Historic Site, Independence
Manzanar served as a relocation center for
Japanese citizens during WWII. This internment
camp is now a museum that illustrates the land’s
past uses. Tours.
nps.gov/manz
Pinnacles National Park, Paicines
These massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons
and talus passages are the remains of an ancient
volcano. Hiking, camping, caving, backpacking, tours.
nps.gov/pinn
Death Valley National Park, Death Valley
Three million acres of mountains and desert terrain,
Death Valley is also home to abandoned mines,
Scotty’s Castle, hiking trails and large stands of
Joshua Trees. Hiking, camping, tours.
nps.gov/deva
Mojave National Preserve, Barstow
Another desert wilderness covering 1.6 million
acres, the Mojave is home to sand dunes, volcanic
cinder cones, Joshua Tree forests and carpets of
wildflowers. Hiking, camping, hunting, tours.
nps.gov/moja
Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area, Thousand Oaks
This park encompasses multiple mountains, parks
and open space preserves and is one of the best
examples of a Mediterranean climate ecosystem in
the world. Hiking, camping, tours.
nps.gov/samo
Channel Islands National Park, Ventura
This park is made up of a chain of five islands
located off the Southern California coast and is also
a national marine sanctuary. Hiking, camping,
snorkeling, kayaking, birdwatching, tours.
nps.gov/chis
Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms
This desert wilderness, composed of both the
Mojave and Colorado deserts, lies atop hundreds of
earthquake faults, allowing visitors to see unique
rock formations throughout its 789,745 acres.
Hiking, camping, backpacking, mountain biking,
rock climbing, tours. nps.gov/jotr
Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego
Celebrating the first European to step on West Coast
shores, this park boasts a monument, tidepools,
trails, a lighthouse, museum and former military
installations. Hiking, bird and whale watching.
nps.gov/cabr
2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 191