Nature & Conservation
California’s State Parks offer breathtaking landscapes, vital ecosystems, and accessible spaces for all to connect with nature, wildlife, and the outdoors.
California State Parks protects and preserves the state’s natural biodiversity, while educating visitors about the importance of conservation and sustainability. Explore our resources for interactive content, educational activities, and park events to learn about California’s incredible ecosystems, and how to get involved in conservation efforts.
Planning for a Changing Landscape
More extreme wildfires, drought, Sea Level Rise, and other effects of climate change are impacting state parks. These complex challenges call for interdisciplinary and creative approaches to build sustainable and resilient solutions.
Cannabis Watershed Protection Program
The Cannabis Watershed Protection Program is a multidisciplinary team dedicated to restoring watersheds affected by illegal cannabis cultivation. State Parks created the program in 2019 with funding from Proposition 64 (The Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act), to repair the damages done by decades of illicit growing activities throughout California State Parks.
Featured Nature Parks
Dos Rios
Once farmland now restored floodplain, Dos Rios provides the perfect habitat for several protected species such as, the riparian brush rabbit, riparian woodrat, Swainson’s hawk, Central Valley Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, least Bell’s vireo, and the greater Sandhill crane.
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park
the Lost Coast Trail follows the whole length of the rugged Sinkyone coastline. Gray whales pass by during the winter and early spring. Roosevelt elk roam the grasslands. Sea lions and harbor seals hang out in rocky coves. It’s an…
Castle Crags State Park
Majestic Castle Crags have inspired enduring myths and legends. More than 170 million years old, these 6000-feet tall granite spires in the Castle Crags Wilderness border the northwestern edge of Castle Crags State Park.
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve
The reserve was established to preserve the spectacular "tufa towers," calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. It also protects the lake surface itself as well as the wetlands and other sensitive habitat…
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Point Lobos SNR is outstanding for sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, SCUBA diving and jogging. The offshore area, part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, forms one of the richest underwater habitats in the world popular with divers.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Calaveras Big Trees State Park preserves a mixed conifer forest with two groves of giant sequoias - the North Grove and South Grove. In addition to the giant sequoia trees, you will find the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, ancient volcanic…
Providence Mountains State Recreation Area
Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy one of the most iconic and time capsule parks in California. This unique and remote travel destination offers a frontier experience of timeless landscapes and breathtaking views. The park is also home to the beautiful Mitchell…
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California and is known for its vast landscape and diverse wildlife. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. It is home to the Peninsular Bighorn…
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve
This State Natural Reserve is located on California's most consistent poppy-bearing land. Other wildflowers: owl's clover, lupine, goldfield, cream cups, and coreopsis, to name a few, share the desert grassland to produce a mosaic of color and fragrance each spring.
Elephant Seal Guided Walks at Año Nuevo State Park
The park offers guided walks lead by volunteer docent naturalist to see the northern elephant seals in their natural habitat inside the Año Nuevo Coast Natural Preserve. Año Nuevo docents go through extensive training and are highly knowledgeable in the…
Explore Nature & Conservation Resources
Nature in Your Neighborhood
Printable activity sheets to help kids start with nature journaling with the plants and animals found in your neighborhood.
Exploring Nature in Your Neighborhood: Activities For Kids & Families
Here are some activities that you can download for use with family and friends to get you started on some Neighborhood Nature adventuring.
Guided Hike: Indian Beach Nature Trail Loop – Tomales Bay State Park – July 5, 10 a.m.
Join us this summer for Guided Hikes at Tomales Bay State Park! Learn about the varied biomes of Tomales Bay State Park that are teeming...
Climate Kids CONNECTS
Climate Kids Connects is our online education portal consisting of digital resources and activities about important climate topics that support youth, educators, and the community...
Colors of Conservation Coloring Book
Check out the new Climate Kids Coloring Book – Colors of Conservation – to learn more about local plant and animal species, and what we...
Virtual Tour of Mitchell Caverns
Explore a 3D virtual tour of Mitchell Caverns! This remarkable cave system showcases nature’s artistry with its intricate limestone formations, towering stalactites, and stalagmites.
PORTS Program – YouTube Channel
View recordings of live PORTScasts on the PORTS: Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students YouTube channel.
Fun Facts About California State Parks
Learn some fun facts about CA State Parks!
Marvelous Marbled Murrelets
The marbled murrelet, a seabird about the size of a robin, is a redwoods inhabitant listed as endangered in California and threatened in the U.S....
The Nature Journal Connection – John Muir Laws
This is a free educational video series with John Muir Laws created in partnership with the Children’s Creativity Museum. Each video is between 10 and...
Redwood Ed: A Guide to the Coast Redwoods for Teachers and Learners
Redwood Ed is a resource for those who want to learn about the coast redwood community and those who want to help others learn about...
The Conifer Connection
A Resource for Learning and Teaching About Coniferous Forests and Watersheds
The Lake of the Sky
Learn about Lake Tahoe and the California state parks within the Tahoe area.
Nature’s Recyclers
Printable activity sheet to match a clue with a “nature recycler.”
CA State Parks Santa Cruz District – YouTube Channel
Watch videos and learn about the natural and cultural history of the parks we protect and care for, like redwood trees, historic adobes, banana slugs,...
Black Bears in Autumn – YouTube
Learn what’s going on inside a bear’s body during Autumn as they prepare for hibernation!
Snowy Plover and Least Tern Protection
Young Western Snowy PloverOceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), a popular OHV park with approximately 1.4 million visitors annually, is an important breeding site...
Exploring Mitchell’s Caverns
The Mitchell Caverns are formed from limestone that was once plant and animal materials that formed when this area was the bottom of a shallow...
Northern Elephant Seals
Two of California’s coastal state parks host large, strange-looking creatures each winter as breeding grounds for northern elephant seals
Fire with a Purpose
California State Parks foresters and environmental scientists use controlled fire to restore plant and animal habitats and to reduce the chances of large, destructive wildfires....
Bringing Back the Tule Elk
Naturalists estimate that half a million elk roamed California before 1849! Learn about the history of these animals.
Elephant Seal Guided Walks at Año Nuevo State Park
The park offers guided walks lead by volunteer docent naturalist to see the northern elephant seals in their natural habitat inside the Año Nuevo Coast...
Wonder Hikes 2025 at Mount Diablo State Park
Have you ever wondered about the many species of organisms that inhabit our world beyond the sidewalks and streets? This is the hike for you!...
Fremont Peak Observatory – Public Programs
The Observatory is open to the public for scheduled viewing and educational programs. When the summer advection fog rolls in from Monterey Bay and covers...
30×30 California
The 30×30 goal is intended to help accelerate conservation of our lands and coastal waters through voluntary, collaborative action with partners across the state to...
Youth Educational Resources for San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park
A place for students to access digital educational content and learn more about historical, cultural, and natural topics related to San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic...
Orange Coast District State Parks – YouTube Channel
Explore our educational and informational videos related to the beautiful beaches, tidepools, and wilderness areas in the Orange Coast District of California State Parks. We...
Junior Ranger Activity Book – Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Download a junior ranger activity book connected with Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Calaveras Big Trees State Park – Instructional Resources and Grade level NGSS Support
Read information for teachers about how to make a memorable experience for students
Humboldt Lagoons State Park – YouTube Video
Join California State Park Ranger Maurice Morningstar and explore the ever-changing Humboldt Lagoons State Park. Discover the incredible mysteries of the largest lagoon system in...
Park Rules at Chino Hills State Park
Learn about park rules at Chino Hills State Park
Tide Pool Animals (padlet.com)
Learn about tide pools
Natural History of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Learn about the natural history of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Video – Hatching Western Snowy Plover Nest
Watch a YouTube video of the Western Snowy Plover
Tidepool Tips at Asilomar State Beach
Learn how to tidepool at Asilomar State Beach
Geological Gems of California State Parks
Geo Gems provides in-depth site-specific geological information to park interpretive staff for use in interpretive programs and publications, as well as to the general public,...
Marine Protected Areas – Coloring Books
View online coloring books that you can print at home or color online via Quiver, by MPA Collective.
California Coastal Redwood Parks
View a map of California’s Redwood Parks
Sudden Oak Death (SOD)
Learn about sudden oak death
American Black Bears in California State Parks
Learn about American Black Bears in California State Parks
Guided Tours at Asilomar State Beach
Schedule a tour at Asilomar State Beach
Reserve Activities for Santa Cruz District State Parks
Schedule a guided walk at Big Basin
Red Rock Canyon State Park Interpretive Program Schedule
See a schedule of interpretive programs at Red Rock Canyon State Park
Collections:: Tule Elk | Smithsonian Learning Lab
Learn about the Tule Elk
Proteja los mérgoles jaspeados: ¡esté limpio de migajas! – YouTube
Watch a YouTube video about the Marbled Murrelet (spanish subtitles)
Surf Beach Shoreline Monitoring Program
Learn about the Surf Beach Shoreline Monitoring Program at San Onofre State Beach
North Coast Redwoods District – YouTube Channel
Watch YouTube videos of the North Coast Redwood District
Nature Journal in Your Neighborhood – YouTube
Watch a YouTube video about keeping a nature journal
Science and Nature at Russian Gulch State Park
Read about science and nature at Russian Gulch State Park
Hungry Valley Native Grasslands
Large tracts of land throughout the state of California were once dominated by native perennial bunchgrasses, but only about 1% of California’s valley grasslands remain...