The best state parks to visit this winter
With the new year comes wonderful new opportunities to explore the Golden State.
California has 279 state parks, totaling more than a million acres, starting at 230 feet below sea level. Salton Sea up to more than 3,000 meters above the snow-capped peak of Mount San Jacinto. The state park system, the largest in the country, will be preserved impressive waterfalls And nature reservessome of the the world’s largest trees and the the most beautiful flowers in the state.
Today I have some recommendations for state parks to visit in the winter, no matter what type of vacation you’re craving. And that is now possible view the free day tickets for vehicles for most state parks at your local library.
Have fun traveling.
Learn about the infamous Donner Party.
Donner Memorial State Park, a 10-minute drive west of Truckee, is a window into the travails of the 87 members of the Donner Party, settlers who were snowed in while attempting to cross the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846-47 and took refuge to cannibalism for survival. The park offers miles of hiking trails and ranger-led snowshoe hikes, as well as gentle terrain for cross-country skiing.
Get up close to elephant seals.
Año Nuevo State Park is one of my favorite places to visit in winter. It’s one of the few places in North America where you can see elephant seals, enormous animals that have made a remarkable recovery from the brink of extinction. They can be seen in the park all year round, but from December to March they come ashore to mate, give birth and care for their young. Park docents are offering guided walks daily through March 31. Read more about reserving a place during a tour.
Enjoy an oasis for migratory birds.
Along the northeastern edge of one of the largest inland seas in the world, Salton Sea State Recreation Area is an important stop for birds traveling the Pacific Flyway, a migration route that stretches from Alaska to the tip of South America. Birds arrive at the lake, 120 miles northeast of San Diego, in October, and more than 400 species can be seen there in January.
Learn about a famous California author.
Perfect for a drizzly day, Jack London Historic State Park in the Sonoma Valley lets visitors learn all about London, the author of “The Call of the Wild,” born in San Francisco and educated at UC Berkeley. There is a museum about life in London, and you can walk to his grave and see the cottage where he worked.
Explore a rugged desert landscape.
Although spring is usually the best time to admire the park’s famous wildflowers, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a lovely place to visit in winter. It is the largest state park in California and offers miles of hiking trails, sweeping views of the rugged Borrego Badlands, and excellent stargazing. Visitors can also view wildlife including bighorn sheep, chuckwalla lizards and more than 100 species of birds, 30 of which are found only in deserts.
Tell us
What are you looking forward to in 2024? Milestone birthdays, traveling to new places, taking up a new hobby?
Tell us your expectations for the new year at CAtoday@nytimes.com. Please include your full name and the city where you live.
And before you go: good news
San Francisco, where nearly 20 percent of the city is parkland, is home to 37 mini-parks, pocket-sized pockets of community greenery built on otherwise unused lots.
Many of the city’s mini-parks were built in 1968 at the initiative of Mayor Joe Alioto to open up tracts of vacant land, especially in neighborhoods with limited green space. That year alone, sixteen mini-parks were created.
Tessa McLean, editor at SFGate, recently visited and reviewed these mini-parks. She gave high marks to some, such as Lake View and Ashton Mini Park, for their scenic views and tranquility, while she said others are not worth the trip.
McLeans san francisco mini parks review includes a map guide.
Thank you for reading. I’ll come back tomorrow. — Soumya
PS Here it is today’s mini crossword.
Maia Coleman, Briana Scalia and Halina Bennet contributed to California Today. You can reach the team via CAtoday@nytimes.com.
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