National Parks Travel Guide

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National Parks
Small falls in Yosemite National Park © Alaskan Dude
National parks in the state of California encompass a wide range of ecosystems, from the spectacular desert scenery and vegetation of Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks, and Lassen Volcanic National Park's active volcanic landscape, to the marine life and kelp forests of the island chain lying off the south coast that make up the Channel Islands National Park. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks feature impressive deep canyons and geological formations, while the glacial valley at Yosemite contains mighty granite monoliths, cliffs and waterfalls.



Resorts

See our separate guides to the following National Parks holiday resorts: Big Bear


Attractions

Zabriskie Point, Death Valley © National Park Service

Death Valley National Park

The name itself suggests images of all that is harsh, inhospitable and hellish, and it is not by chance that many of the park's features have names like Coffin Peak, the Funeral Mountains, Dante's View, the Devil's Golf Course and Furnace Creek. These...  see full details



Joshua Tree National Park © gtall1

Joshua Tree National Park

Located in south-eastern California, Joshua Tree National Park is instantly recognisable for its vast desert expanses, spectacular sunsets, and peculiar Dr Seuss-like trees. The vistas are at times like something from another planet, and visitors can spot bighorn sheep, coyotes, bobcats, rattlesnake and a...  see full details



Yosemite National Park © 1suisse

Yosemite National Park

One of the country's premier national parks, Yosemite receives millions of visitors each year with more than four million people visiting the Yosemite Valley alone. It is home to the biggest piece of exposed granite in the world, some of the highest waterfalls, and...  see full details


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