California

California, United States

California is full of awe-inspiring views. See why these 12 natural treasures belong on your Golden State must-see list.

Cast your gaze from any viewpoint in Yosemite National Park, and you’ll see more iconic landmarks in 10 seconds than you would in 10 hours almost anywhere else. See Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome, and the crystal‑clear Merced River, bounded by grassy meadows.

CA-190
Inyo County, CA

Providing a panoramic overlook of the surrounding mountains, dunes, canyons, and valleys, Zabriskie Point is an ideal place to get your bearings in Death Valley National Park. From here, trails wind down into the badlands, and an exploration of the park’s treasures begins.

200 Palm Canyon Dr
Borrego Springs, CA

Surrounded by mountains and the 600,000‑acre Anza Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego Springs is the perfect place for stargazing. The pitch‑black night skies illuminated by millions of stars.

Mineral, CA

Mount Lassen in Lassen Volcanic National Park hasn't erupted for more than a century, but this volcanic landscape is not sleeping. Take a walk among feisty hydrothermal features – 16 acres of boiling springs, hissing steam vents, noisy fumaroles, and bubbling mud pots.

Humboldt County, CA

Explore a crack in the earth covered in moss and dripping with ferns at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Over thousands of years, a small stream leading to the sea carved a narrow canyon with 80‑foot‑tall walls hanging with gardens of greenery.

Mendocino County, CA

Head to the northern end of Schooner Gulch State Beach at very low or minus tide and you will find this congregation of spherical rocks. The round stones are concretions, sedimentary rock bound together by mineral cements.

24898 CA-89
Burney, CA

The namesake of McArthur‑Burney Falls Memorial State Park is possibly California’s most stunning cascade. These 129‑foot fern‑covered falls can be viewed from an easily accessed parking area, or you can hike the 1.3‑mile trail down to the base.

US-395
Lee Vining, CA

Mono Lake formed more than 750,000 years ago, and when its salty waters came in contact with natural springs, limestone spires calcified underneath the surface. Today, the water has receded, leaving the tufa towers to jut dramatically out of the lake, creating an otherworldly scene.

Los Angeles County, CA

Just an hour-long ferry ride away from Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point is the blissfully undeveloped Catalina Island. Its the perfect place for adventure, whether it's snorkeling, camping, or hiking that's calling your name.

Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta, California, United States

Soaring to 14,179 feet high, Mount Shasta is a totem from almost anywhere in the northern part of the state. There are plenty of hiking and biking options in the area, from the mellow ride to jewel‑like Castle Lake to the demanding trek to the snow‑covered summit.

Big Sur

California, United States

The classic drive along twisting Highway 1 may be the most beautiful road trip on the planet. The 90-mile stretch through Big Sur has its own magic allure. Before visiting, take the Big Sur Pledge, a local initiative that helps protect and nurture the beautiful – yet fragile – coastal ecosystem.

Devils Postpile Access Road
Mammoth Lakes, CA

Forged by fire and ice nearly 100,000 years ago, this straight wall of 60‑foot basalt columns known as Devils Postpile formed when hot lava flowed into the valley. Walk a half‑mile to reach the column’s base or climb an extra 15 minutes to its apex.