Explore 126 write-ups tagged with California State Parks

Simply named The Slot, this narrow siltstone canyon provides one of the most exciting hikes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This 0.8-mike trek is capped off with a passage beneath a gravity-defying rock span. This short hike has just 100 feet of elevation loss, but the memory will be much more profound. The Slot lacks a defined trail marker. From the parking area, look for footprints leading down into the ravine below. ...Read more.

The elephant tree is likely the most unique plant in the entire Anza-Borrego Desert, and only one such tree stands along this one-mile nature trail. Pick up a pamphlet at the start of this self-guided loop, and enjoy a brief lesson on elephant trees and other more common vegetation. This is a great trail for those interested in learning about plant life in the Anza-Borrego Desert. ...Read more.

A short hike to a fascinating destination overlooking the Carrizo Badlands begins on the far east side of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This 1.25-mile round trip hike climbs 250 feet to a sandstone formation with wind-eroded pockets that insist on being explored. The hike begins with a quick ascent up the east side of Split Mountain Wash. Climb a series of rocky steps. ...Read more.

Wildflowers draw crowds of visitors to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Who wouldn't want to see the desert come alive with vibrant tapestries of colors? At peak bloom, which lasts just a couple of weeks, the desert floor transforms into a dazzling tableau with carpets of yellow, red, and purple. The bloom typically climaxes in early march, but the intensity and timing of the bloom varies each year. ...Read more.

There is absolutely no shortage of camping in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Four developed campgrounds with 175 total sites and eight primitive campgrounds with even more places to camp are located throughout the park. Primitive campgrounds are free, and sites at developed campgrounds range from fifteen to thirty-five dollars per night (and $80 for a group site at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground). ...Read more.

Just inland from that similarly named point along the California coast, Mugu Peak towers over the Pacific Ocean from an elevation of 1,266 feet. The hike from the bottom of nearby La Jolla Canyon to the top of Mugu Peak is 6.5 miles round trip with 1,225 feet of elevation gain. This is a strenuous trek, rewarded by ridiculous scenery. There is also a longer way to reach the peak, the 11. ...Read more.

La Jolla Canyon Falls is a short seasonal waterfall located 3/4 of a mile up La Jolla Canyon Trail in Point Mugu State Park. The twenty-foot cascade offers one of the easiest hikes in the park, with just 250 feet of elevation between the trailhead and the falls. La Jolla Canyon Trail continues above the waterfall, ascending a rocky V-shaped canyon. ...Read more.

Point Mugu State Park protects 15,000 acres of rustic wilderness on the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains between Oxnard and Malibu. More than 70 miles of trails explore this sprawling park, leaving hikers with options. An excellent way to experience Point Mugu State Park is to set out on a daunting and rewarding 11.75-mile loop. Start at the mouth of La Jolla Canyon just across Highway One from the Pacific Ocean. ...Read more.

The scenic vista point at the top of Lake View Trail provides a beautiful view overlooking Malibu Lake and the surrounding mountains. The network of trails through Malibu Creek State Park offer several routes to the overlook, including a short 2.1-mile loop from a trailhead off Lake Vista Drive and a longer 4.1-mile out and back trek that begins down Cistern Trail from Mulholland Highway. ...Read more.

South of Los Osos and Montaña de Oro State Park is a stunning stretch of coastline that includes the historic headland Point Buchon. The area was closed to the public until 2007 when the landowner, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, opened Point Buchon Trail and began allowing hikers to access the picturesque waterfront. Similar to the Bluff Trail in Montaña de Oro State Park, Point Buchon Trail travels across grassy bluffs overlooking a rugged shoreline with mesmerizing cliff formations. ...Read more.