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 the state parks, the Department runs over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites and 4,500 miles of trails making it responsible for more holdings than any state agency in the nation! Its protection and preservation efforts are unparalleled.
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This article focuses on some of the best state parks located in southern California.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Chino Hills State Park
Corona del Mar State Beach
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 is a great place to explore the tidepools and take a leisurely stroll along the shore. It’s also a great spot for hiking. You can hike the 5 mile El Moro Canyon Loop or the Park Perimeter Loop.
Be sure to stop by the Crystal Cove Shake Shack on PCH before heading home. This burger joint sits atop the cliffs overlooking the beach and has a great view with great shakes.
Doheny State Beach
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park preserves the Malibu Creek Canyon in Santa Monica. It was established in the 70s and is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It’s a great spot for hiking, fishing, horse riding, bird watching, mountain biking and rock climbing.
A great hike here is the Lower Malibu Creek Hike, an 8 mile in-and-out trail that takes you along streams and man-made lakes with spectacular views of the Santa Monica Mountains. The trail has many off shoots for you to explore and is great for a day hike or overnight camping. You can access the trail from the southernmost lot.
It was also the filming location for the long running TV series M*A*S*H and you can still find a few remnants of the old set here.
Moonlight State Beach
San Onofre State Beach
However, San-O is also a great beach for sunbathing, hiking and camping, and is broken up into 3 areas.
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.
Torrey Pines State Beach
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
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 a great spot to grab a drink and admire the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.
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Read My Guest Blogs on California:
Top 5 National Parks in the Western US featured on We Are Travel Girls
Top 5 Things to Do in Death Valley featured on GapBeetle, the Gap Year Comparison Site