Survey Reveals California’s Top State Parks for 2025

Respondents named Morro Bay State Park on the Central Coast the best for camping, but for wildflowers, Anza-Borrego in San Diego County was tops.

A wildflower bloom in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Calif., on March 20, 2024.John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

California’s state park system, the largest in the nation, includes 280 park units, hundreds of miles of coastline, nearly 15,000 campsites, and 5,200 miles of trails.

But which park is best for camping, or birdwatching, or maybe wildflowers?

The California State Parks Foundation’s inaugural “Best of California’s State Parks” poll recently asked individuals to vote for their favorite parks across seven categories.

The survey, which involved more than 1,300 submissions, shines a spotlight on seven beloved parks that showcase the state’s natural landscapes and biodiversity.

Best for Camping: Morro Bay

Morro Bay State Park along California’s Central Coast is filled with recreation all around the lagoons and the 576-foot Morro Rock, formed 23 million years ago and known as “El Morro” by mariners. Activities include kayaking, fishing, hiking, and birdwatching, with more than 250 bird species at a saltwater marsh.

According to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Morro Bay State Park features 140 campsites accommodating tents and RVs up to 35 feet. Thirty sites offer water and electric hookups, flush toilets, and token-operated showers.

The Morro Bay Museum of Natural History showcases Native American life, geology, and oceanography.

Best for Hiking: Mount Tamalpais

Mount Tamalpais State Park, nestled in Marin County, won the top slot in the hiking category. With more than 60 miles of trails and panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Area, and on clear days the Sierra Nevada, as well as a summit at 2,571 feet, the park is home to the Steep Ravine Trail, which curves through redwood groves to its western terminus at the Pacific Ocean.

Spread out across 6,300 acres, the park is home to about 750 plant species, such as redwoods and rare Calypso orchids, as well as 150 bird species, according to the Mount Tamalpais Interpretive Association. Visitors can traverse 60 miles of trails connected to a 200-mile network.

The park also features a 3,750-seat stone Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, built in the 1930s.

Best California State Beach: Crystal Cove

Along Orange County’s coastline is the breathtaking Crystal Cove State Park, which won best in picnicking, owing to scenic blufftop picnic areas with towering views of the Pacific. The park boasts 3.2 miles of coastline.

Located between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove State Park is nestled amid green shrubbery and trees. The park overall spans 2,791 acres, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The park features a 1,400-acre Marine Conservation Area with tidepools and marine life, home to 180 bird species and 26 reptile species.

Best for Birdwatching: Salton Sea

Along the northeastern shore of California’s biggest inland lake, the Salton Sea’s 14 miles of shoreline at 227 feet below sea level provide a unique destination for outdoor enthusiasts, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Salton Sea formed in 1905 when the Colorado River canal gates were breached and caused flooding. The area includes six campgrounds with more than 1,500 sites, 15 full-hookup sites, and the Headquarters Campground and primitive beach camping at Salt Creek.

Salton Sea offers a range of activities, including birdwatching along the Pacific Flyway, hiking, kayaking, and fishing for tilapia.

Best Kid-Friendly Park: Natural Bridges

The 65-acre Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz County offers a picturesque natural rock arch and rich biodiversity, as detailed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The park features a Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve in a eucalyptus grove with 150,000 monarch butterflies from October to early February.

Visitors can view tidepools of sea stars, crabs, and anemones during low tides. Visitors might have the opportunity to see shorebirds, migrating whales, and seals at the park.

Best For Wildflowers: Anza-Borrego Desert

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest state park, with more than 600,000 acres in eastern San Diego County, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the bighorn sheep (borrego in Spanish) found in the area. The park offers 110 miles of hiking trails, vibrant spring wildflowers from February to April, and some in the summer, as well as historic sites such as the 1775 Anza expedition route.

Borrego Palm Canyon offers full hookups. Tamarisk Grove has nonpotable water and dispersed remote camping. Activities include stargazing, off-road vehicle routes, and wildlife viewing.

California State Parks Week

California State Parks Week from June 11-15 will offer more than 170 free events, from horseback riding at Folsom Lake to grunion runs at Bolsa Chica State Beach. Funding comes from the California State Library Parks Pass. An entrance fee will still apply.