10 of the Best State Parks in Southern California
California is home to 280 state parks run by the California Department of Parks and Recreation whose mission is:
“To provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.”
In addition to its parks, the department manages more than 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites, and 4,500 miles of trails. With stewardship of more land and natural resources than any other state agency, its preservation efforts are unparalleled.
Few places match the sheer scale of California. Larger than all but two U.S. states (Alaska and Texas), it would still stand among the world’s largest nations if it were its own country. That size gives way to extraordinary diversity, which is why it’s often divided into Northern, Central, and Southern California — three regions with dramatically different landscapes, climates, and experiences.
This article highlights some of the best state parks in Southern California, showcasing its most beautiful and memorable spots.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
With over 585,000 acres, Anza Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California and includes 1/5 of San Diego County reaching into both Imperial and Riverside counties.
The park is located in the Colorado Desert of southern California. It’s famous for its extraordinary spring wildflower blooms and the nearby impressive Galleta Meadows, home to over 130 metal art sculptures by artist Ricardo Breceda including a colossal serpent reaching over 350 feet long. For a map of sculptures, click here.
If you visit in fall, you won’t want to miss the annual Borrego Days Desert Festival, a family-friendly parade and street fair.
Anza Borrego is also home to incredibly diverse flora and fauna specially adapted for desert life including the endangered desert bighorn sheep. Thanks to their split hooves and amazing balance, bighorns can stand on ledges only 2 inches wide, jump 20 feet and scale mountains at 15 mph.
Chino Hills State Park
Chino Hills State Park is located in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains in the heart of an important wildlife migration corridor. It’s a major botanical habitat reserve. There are 3 entrances with plenty of hiking and mountain bike riding trails.
In the Spring, the hills here come to life with poppies and wild mustard in a symphony of golden yellow, especially during years with generous rain.
Corona del Mar State Beach
Corona Del Mar State Beach, also known as “Big Corona,” is a half mile stretch of white sand beach surrounded by cliffs and a rock jetty that serves as the entrance to Newport Harbor.
The beach used to be a great surf spot in the 1930s but when the jetty was extended it created “The Wedge,” an area with huge surf breaks, and sheltered Corona from most of the southerly swells making it a great spot for kids to play in the calm ocean.
Near the bay entry area, there are unique rock formations you can climb to get a beautiful view of the area’s incredible sunsets while watching the boats come home from their day at sea.
Crystal Cove State Park
Crystal Cove State Beach is one of the most pristine beaches in Southern California. An area of white sand and turquoise water surrounded by rugged, jagged cliffs.
The area was built as a seaside colony back between the 1920s and 1940s. Many of its original charming seaside beach cottages have been restored and can be booked for overnight stays, year round giving you special after-hours access to the state park.
This historic district also includes The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove Restaurant and Bootlegger Bar serving great food and cocktails right on the sand.
Crystal Cove is also the perfect spot for exploring tide pools, enjoying a leisurely walk along the shoreline, or heading inland for a scenic hike. Popular trails include the 5-mile El Moro Canyon Loop and the Park Perimeter Loop, both offering sweeping coastal views.
Before heading home, stop by the Crystal Cove Shake Shack along Pacific Coast Highway. Perched on the cliffs above the beach, this classic burger joint pairs ocean views with great shakes — the perfect way to end a day at the park.
Doheny State Beach
Doheny State Beach is located in Dana Point near the Dana Point Harbor.
Doheny is well-known as a great surf spot for longboarding especially for beginners. Its shallow shores and long gentle breaks also make it a great spot for kids to play in the water.
There’s a snack shop right on the sand that serves food, ice cream and alcohol. They even serve gluten free beer!
Next door, visitors can rent bicycles, tandems, surreys and coupes from Wheel Fun Rentals to cruise around the park.
The beach has volleyball courts, fire pits and BBQ grills. along with a campground and reservable day-use picnic areas for gatherings.
There’s also a small visitor center with aquarium tanks and souvenirs, which makes for a quick and enjoyable stop with children..
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park is a scenic escape in the Santa Monica Mountains, known for its wide-open landscapes, rocky canyon walls, and winding creek - often affectionately referred to as the “Yosemite of Southern California.” The park offers a striking mix of oak woodlands, grassy meadows, volcanic rock formations, and rugged mountain scenery — all just a short drive from Los Angeles.
If you’re up for an adventure, try the Lower Malibu Creek Trail, an 8 mile in-and-out hike that takes you along streams and man-made lakes with spectacular views of the mountains. The trail has multiple off shoots that can be explored and it’s great for both day hikes and overnight camping. The trail can be accessed from the southernmost lot.
Fun fact: Malibu Creek State Park was the filming site for the long running TV series M*A*S*H and you can still find a few remnants of the old set here when exploring.
Moonlight State Beach
Moonlight State Beach is located in Encinitas, California just 25 miles north of San Diego, where Encinitas Boulevard turns into B Street. The name dates back to the early 1900s when locals used to gather here for midnight picnics under the light of the moon as it reflected off the water.
Moonlight Beach is great for swimming, surfing and fishing. There are sand volleyball and tennis courts as well as a snack bar and beach rentals. There are also fire pits on the sand for evening bon fires and a grass park for kids to play in. The beach is extremely popular and can get quite crowded in the summer.
San Onofre State Beach
San Onofre State Beach is located next to Camp Pendelton in North San Diego just south of San Clemente. It’s one of the most popular surf spots around due to its usually warm weather and consistent waves and is often referred to as “San Onofre Surfing Beach”.
However, San-O is also a great beach for sunbathing, hiking and camping. Due to its size, it’s divided into three distinct sections:
Surfing Beach - A beach with 3 great surf spots, The Point, Old Man’s and Dogpatch.
The Bluffs - An area that sits above the beach on the bluffs with a campground and day use area.
Trestles - A mile long walk down a gentle grade to the sand with 5 incredible surf spots - Cottons (major left break), Upper, Lower, Middle, and Church. Howerver, Trestles is not just a beloved surf spot. It’s also a bird watchers’ paradise because of the Trestles Wetland Natural Preserve directly behind the beach.
Torrey Pines State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach is located just south of Del Mar near La Jolla in San Diego, California. It sits adjacent to the Torrey Pines State Reserve and is a really beautiful section of the coast.
You can stroll the white sand beaches as the waves crash along its shores and watch the hang gliders launching from the cliffs above, soaring through the skies.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve lies directly above Torrey Pines State Beach. It’s a beautiful stretch of coastal wilderness on the bluffs overlooking the sea.
There are numerous hiking trails that wind around the cliffs full of impressive sweeping views of sandstone canyons and the Pacific Ocean down below.
You will also find the nation’s rarest pine tree here, the Torrey Pine. Once covering a large stretch of land, Torrey Pines can now only be found growing here and on Santa Rosa Island off the coast near Santa Barbara.
Be sure to check out the Visitor Center and Museum Shop or head over to the luxurious Lodge at Torrey Pines with its signature spa and world-renowned golf course. It’s a beautiful place to stay, but also great for grabbing a cocktail and sitting back to admire its stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
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