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Not all trails in Tongariro National Park cross dramatic volcanic landscapes. At the south end of Tongariro National Park near the town of Ohakune, you'll find a short nature trail through a dense forest, typical of those found throughout New Zealand. Panels along the 0.8-kilometer walk describe the trees and other plants in the area. There are no big views or volcanic features along Rimu Walk, so its real appeal is as a peaceful walk with information about vegetation. ...Read more.

While many national park nature trails are short, level, and informative, High View Nature Trail offers a bit more for hikers, 325 feet of elevation gain on a 1 1/3-mile loop. The trail ascends a desert ridge with views over Yucca Valley and toward Southern California's tallest peak, San Gorgonio Mountain, in the mountains to the west. The loop starts near Black Rock Campground on the west side of Joshua Tree National Park, making it one of the easiest trails to reach for travelers coming from Los Angeles. ...Read more.

You don't have to travel far beyond the entrance booth at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to get an introduction to the area's plants and animals. That's because the easy-walk providing Nature Trail starts from a day use lot just inside the park. Two additional trails along the Big Sur River in this area can be combined with the Nature Trail to form short easy loops. ...Read more.

On the beautiful coast west of Santa Barbara, you'll find El Capitán State Beach, a 2,600-acre California State Park with a large campground and hiking trails. The park's top draw is the beach, and while you can drive right up to a strip of surf-friendly sand, you may also want to stretch your legs on the park's short nature trail. The Nature Trail loops through a lush sycamore grove bordering El Capitán Creek to approach the rocky shore at the end of El Capitán Point. ...Read more.

El Cariso Nature Trail is a self-guided hike in the Santa Ana Mountains, beautifully situated on the range's main divide straddling the border of Orange and Riverside counties. The 1.35-mile loop is lined with small panels that identify and describe the area's plants. Starting just off Ortega Highway, at 2,600 feet above sea level, the short loop presents excellent views across the range. ...Read more.

The Grant Grove is one of the top draws in Kings Canyon National Park, containing the park's most important sequoia, the General Grant Tree. The Grant Grove is one of the world's premier sequoia habitats with several of the world's largest trees. It is the oldest section of Kings Canyon National Park, first protected as General Grant National Park in 1890. ...Read more.

Big Trees Trail offers an easy, educational, and beautiful hike through giant sequoias in Sequoia National Park's Giant Forest. Big Trees Trail is a level and paved nature trail circling 0.8 miles beneath towering sequoias along the edges of Round Meadow. Handicapped visitors can park at a convenient lot near Round Meadow for a 1-mile wheelchair-friendly hike. ...Read more.

Broadly speaking, the desert is where you go to find cacti. Speaking specifically, Cactus Loop Trail is where you go in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to see lots of cacti. True you can spot these prickly plants throughout the park, but this self-guided nature trail explores a rocky ridge that is utterly blanketed with a variety of cacti. A state park provided trail guide pamphlet offers a crash course in the area's unique plants on this 0. ...Read more.

Yaqui Well Trail is one of the free self-guided nature trails in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Pair a trail guide (that you can pick up at the trailhead) with numbered markers along the way to learn about the history and botany of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park as you enjoy the surrounding scenery. The 1.6-mile round trip trail with 100 feet of elevation gain ends at Yaqui Well, a vital year-round water source that stands out from its arid desert surrounding. ...Read more.

Crystal Cove State Park is one of Orange County's finest places to enjoy the outdoors. The park preserves 3.2 miles of coastline between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar and 2,400 acres of backcountry wilderness (bordering Laguna Coast Wilderness Park). An excellent way to explore the coastal canyons and ridges in the backcountry of Crystal Cove State Park is to set out on Geology Discovery Trail, a 9-mile loop incorporating a few trails to highlight the park's rocky past. ...Read more.