California National Parks QUIZ: Which One Should You Visit?
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California is home to nine National Parks. Following Alaska, that’s more than any other state!
Did you know that California has both a desert and a rainforest? Or that it is home to the largest tree in the world and the lowest point of elevation in North America?
Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Sequoia, Redwood, and Yosemite offer an incredible bucket list journey that will take you all over the Golden State.
California’s diversity is truly beautiful. However, driving from the southernmost park to the northernmost would take over 10 hours! For many visitors, you will have a tough decision to make on which park to invest your time in.
As a resident, I have visited every California National Park and know firsthand what makes each park special.
That’s why I created this California National Parks quiz. This quiz can help you decide which park to visit or which park to visit first!
Read on if you’re interested in adding one of California’s stunning National Parks to your itinerary.
What to Know Before You Go
All of California’s National Parks have the infrastructure for public access, and most have visitor centers with tons of accessible information.
You will receive a paper map and park guide at each entry station. Except for Redwood National Park, you must also pay at the entry station.
The average fee to get into a National Park is $30 per vehicle, which can really add up if you’re visiting nine! I invested in the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass. For $80, you get access to all United States National Parks plus more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the America the Beautiful Parks Pass to access any park for a full year!
For the most part, another key necessity for visiting a California National Park is a car.
Yosemite, Sequoia, and Joshua Tree have in-park shuttles for getting around. For the rest of the parks, you must have a car to get around.
My favorite place to find the best rental car deals!
Find Your California National Park QUIZ
California National Parks Map
Channel Islands National Park
Channel Islands National Park is one of California’s least-visited national parks and one of the least-visited National Parks in the United States. It is comprised of five diverse islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. In fact, I didn’t even know these islands existed until moving to California!
Out of the nine National Parks in California, the Channel Islands require the most planning to get to since they are only accessible by ferry. There are private charters to the islands. However, the cheapest and most common way to get there is via the Island Packers ferry from Ventura. You will have to select one of the five islands ahead of time as there is no interisland transportation.
Nearly uninhabited and mostly undisturbed, any of the Channel Islands would make an excellent weekend camping destination. While all the islands offer something different, you will find beautiful hikes, access to marine wildlife, kayaking, and snorkeling at each.
I have only been to Anacapa, but Santa Rosa is next on my list where I’d love to camp overnight and maybe spot the elusive Island Fox. For more details, check out my complete itinerary for day-tripping Anacapa Island, the smallest Channel Island.
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is the Lower 48’s largest National Park.
As such, it offers some of the most breathtaking and diverse landscapes, ranging from snowcapped mountain peaks to the lowest point of elevation in North America at Badwater Basin.
Death Valley is drivable in a day, although you will need more time if you plan to do any long hikes. For all the details, I compiled the best way to road trip Death Valley, including the best stops and what to expect at each turnout.
Above anything, do not miss the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes! I felt like I had entered the Sahara, and the dunes are only found in a tiny portion of the park.
Joshua Tree National Park
Only an hour’s drive from Palm Springs, an afternoon is a perfect amount of time to experience Joshua Tree.
In just one day, you can walk the Cholla Cactus Garden, climb Arch Rock and giant boulders, and take a stroll along the Hidden Valley Nature Trail.
Joshua Tree is where the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert converge, resulting in plants and animals unique to anywhere else in the world.
If I were to compare California’s two desert National Parks, Death Valley wowed me more than Joshua Tree. However, Joshua Tree’s real beauty is found beyond its unique flora.
Joshua Tree National Park is incredibly accessible and beginner-friendly. You can drive right up to most of the flat trails. Plus, you don’t need any previous hiking experience to walk on and explore the giant boulders and arches.
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is sometimes viewed as a stopover between Sequoia and Yosemite.
It is also often lumped together with Sequoia National Park. Although they share a border and administration services, Kings Canyon and Sequoia are two different National Parks.
However, the incredible views and majestic mountain layers are worth a visit in their own right if you have the time. With its distinctive granite mountains and its own sequoia groves, Kings Canyon is often referred to as the perfect combination of Yosemite and Sequoia National Park.
A little-known fact is that Kings Canyon is actually home to the deepest canyon in the United States. It is also one of the few places you can horseback ride through sequoia groves!
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is known for its Martian landscapes, geothermal vents, and of course, its enormous active volcanoes.
It features four different volcanoes, including shield volcanoes, cinder cone volcanoes, plug dome volcanoes, and composite volcanoes.
The highlight is definitely climbing Cinder Cone and hiking to Bumpass Hell.
I experienced a whole other side of the park when I visited Lassen in winter. Lassen receives as much as 30 feet of snow, with snowpack lasting almost half the year. The park highway shuts down in winter, becoming an arena for snow play like snowshoeing, sledding, and cross-country skiing.
Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park is America’s newest National Park, officially designated in 2013. In my opinion, it is also one of the most underrated.
Known for its stunning rock formations, including talus caves and the pinnacles themselves, this park is not talked about enough. But what makes Pinnacles special is its easy access to unique geology.
It was mind-boggling standing next to giant rocks that look so precariously balanced. You can’t appreciate the size of these boulders until you see a human standing next to them.
Plus, Pinnacles was my first time wandering through a cave. It was so cool walking along a scenic mountain path, crouching through a cave, crawling over boulders, and climbing a ladder up to a reservoir all in one hike! For a complete itinerary, check out why Pinnacles National Park is definitely worth visiting.
Redwood National Park
Visiting Redwood National Park is not as clear-cut compared to the other nine National Parks in California. This is because Redwood National Park and the numerous Redwood State Parks are managed as the same branch with park boundaries generally found along the Highway 101 corridor between Garberville and Crescent City.
Since there are no formal entrance stations, it is common for people to drive completely through the parks without even knowing it! In fact, Redwood National Park is the only free-entry National Park in California, although some of the Redwood State Parks require a small fee.
The easiest way to see the giant redwoods is at the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The Avenue of the Giants is a 31-mile long two-lane highway between Garberville and Scotia. It has plenty of turnouts and quick hikes through the redwoods that line the road in groves.
To visit the actual National Park, head north for a few more hours and step into California’s only rainforest at Fern Canyon, just north of Orick. You will drive right through Redwood National Park on your way to a scenic, fern-covered ravine lined with giant redwoods.
Be prepared to get your feet wet as you wander through a prehistoric-looking stream. While you probably won’t be lucky enough to see a stegosaurus, keep your eyes peeled for elk and banana slugs! For the best way to include this stop on an epic road trip, check out my NorCal Road Trip itinerary.
Sequoia National Park
If you’ve ever wanted to walk among giants, Sequoia National Park is the place to go. Tucked away in California’s Sierra Nevadas, this park offers easy hiking and spectacular views.
I often get asked if I prefer the giant redwoods or the giant sequoia trees. They are both stunning, but the giant sequoia has always impressed me more. While the redwoods are technically taller, the sequoias feel bigger when standing next to them.
Here you will even find General Sherman, the largest tree on the planet by volume.
Sequoia is also special as it is one of the few National Parks you can get to and around without a car. The Sequoia Shuttle connects from the Fresno Airport and runs from Visalia.
Yosemite National Park
Stunning granite cliffs and waterfalls around every corner make Yosemite one of the most iconic National Parks.
Yosemite is California’s most visited National Park and the fifth most visited National Park in the United States.
I have also visited Yosemite more than any other National Park. Since it draws me back the most, I have to admit that Yosemite is my personal favorite out of all California National Parks.
On your first visit, I recommend at least a full weekend in Yosemite, especially if you want to try one of its many world-class hikes. However, if you are short on time, make sure you experience both the valley floor and the upper rim.
To do Yosemite in a day, catch the sunrise at Tunnel View. Spend the afternoon exploring the valley floor, and then drive back to Glacier Point for sunset at Taft Point.
California National Parks FAQ
California is home to nine National Parks. After Alaska, that’s more than any other state.
The nine National Parks in California are Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Sequoia, Redwoods, and Yosemite.
Yosemite is California’s most visited National Park and the fifth most visited National Park in the United States. The next most popular California park is Joshua Tree.
No, the average entry fee for California National Parks is $30 per vehicle collected at the entry station. The exception is Redwood National Park, which is free.
No matter which park you end up choosing, you are sure to have a good time and a bucket list-worthy adventure. I hope this California National Parks quiz helped you decide which park to visit!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
- How to Visit Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park
- Top Yosemite Photo Spots
- What’s the Difference Between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park?
- Is Pinnacles National Park Worth Visiting?
- How to Visit Sequoia National Park Without a Car
- Lassen Volcanic National Park in Summer
- Lassen Volcanic National Park in Winter
- Fresno to Yosemite: 3 Ways to Get There
