Page 67 - 2020 Travel Guide to California

beaches. Farther north at Lassen Volcanic
National Park, watch California take shape
in the roaring fumaroles, thumping mud
pots and boiling pools.
Giants in the Mist
While the Sierras are home to the heftiest
redwoods, the state’s fog-shrouded coastal
range from Oregon to Big Sur boasts the
loftiest—several are taller than the Statue of
Liberty. These rare trees, once logged to
near extinction, are now protected within
California’s redwood parks.
At Humboldt Redwoods State Park,
home to the largest continuous old growth
redwood forest on earth, drive the 31-mile
Avenue of the Giants and make stops along
the way to stroll among the titans. Founders
Grove with its majestic 346-foot specimen
is always a favorite. Visit in spring to see the
pink redwood lilies and purple calypso
orchids in bloom.
Farther north and closer to the coast, the
Redwood National and State Parks is a col-
lection of four parks with miles of
unspoiled coast and hiking trails. The
tallest recorded Coast Redwood hides here,
its location kept secret to protect it. How-
ever, you can visit the remote Tall Trees
Grove if you have a day to spare and want to
nab one of the daily permits. But all the
parks provide easy access to magnificent
groves as well as picnic sites, campgrounds
and trails for hikers, cyclists and horses.
Burning Sands & Delicate Wildflowers
Miles from the coast, California’s deserts are
lands of extremes. Vast Death Valley
National Park holds the record for the
hottest temperature, driest climate and
lowest elevation in North America. It is also
famous for its explosion of wildflowers after
winter rains. For a bird’s-eye panorama, stop
at Dante’s View. On the valley floor, walk the
Badwater Salt Flats or take an afternoon
drive to Zabriskie Point to snap the garishly
colored badlands. Trips to Titus Canyon and
the Racetrack take you deeper into the park’s
unique landscape, but only for those with
proper vehicles and preparation. Unfortu-
nately the road to Scotty’s Castle remains
closed due to flood damage until the fall of
2021. Furnace Creek Campground, one of
nine in the park, with sites for RVs, groups
and tents, provides a central location for
exploring the park. Because of favorable
weather and temperatures, fall to spring is
the park’s busiest time.
The Mojave National Preserve is famous
for its singing sand dunes and seven-mil-
lion-year-old volcanic cinder cones. Joshua
Tree National Park, a favorite with rock
climbers, mountain bikers and birders, is
home to the gangly tree that gives the park
EMERALD BAY, LAKE TAHOE, left;
giant coast redwood trees at Redwood
National Park, Humboldt County,
below.
its name. While both have spring wild-
flower displays, Anza-Borrego Desert State
Park is legendary. Its flowers are usually the
first to burst into color—catching the park’s
cactus bloom is the prize.
To the Beach
A visit to California is incomplete without
spending time on the beach, but not all of
them are the iconic white sandy kind. You
will find black sand at Sinkyone Wilderness
State Park on the north coast. At the Men-
docino Headlands State Park, bundle up
and enjoy a beach walk with a view of the
Victorian village.
Closer to San Francisco, the sweeping arc
of Point Reyes National Seashore is home to
a dozen beaches, with drive-up Drakes
Beach and hike-in Limantour as favorites.
Make your way to park headlands in early
spring to view the gray whale migration.
2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 65