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13 California State Parks You’ll Love (According a Local)

Updated June 17, 2024
McKenna Mobley
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The author, McKenna Mobley posing for a photo in Mount San Jacinto State Park

Did you know there are nearly 300 state parks in California? California state parks offer remote wilderness and wondrous geologic features. But most importantly, they are far less traveled than the state’s wildly popular national parks. You can avoid the traffic, high entry fees, and crowds often accompanying national parks by exploring a state park instead! I’m a California local and have explored many California state parks all around the state, from coastal wonders in SoCal to rugged mountain peaks in NorCal. These state parks offer some of the best hiking trails in California as well as other fun outdoor recreation activities. Here are my picks for my favorite California state parks!

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McKenna Mobley is an avid adventurer, traveler, mountaineer, and writer from Southern California. Her goal is to climb some of the world's highest mountains and visit as many countries as she can. She loves Latin America and has been to almost every Latin country. She also has a thirst for solo adventuring and has hiked 400 consecutive miles by herself through the Arizona desert. She is the author of Budget Travel 101, Your Practical Handbook for Exploring the World on the Cheap.