California State Parks

California State Parks Protects & preserves the 280 state parks’ natural & cultural resources. Learn more at www.parks.ca.gov.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as California State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting

its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.

For those joining the California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division Commission meeting tomorrow,...
08/05/2026

For those joining the California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division Commission meeting tomorrow, we’ll see you at 9 a.m. in Kings Beach or online! On the agenda:

✔️ Reports on soil conservation and wildlife habitat conservation plans
✔️ A general update on the budget
✔️ Updates from the Strategic Planning and Recreation Services Division

Commissioners will join the 59th Annual Sierra Trek on Friday, Aug. 7. Please note: participants in the Sierra Trek must register individually and provide their own transportation.

Details are available at www.parks.ca.gov/PublicNotices.

Fore!!! ⛳️🏌🏻‍♀️🏌🏼‍♂ It’s ! Did you know that California State Parks has golf courses on its properties? Lake Tahoe Golf...
08/05/2026

Fore!!! ⛳️🏌🏻‍♀️🏌🏼‍♂ It’s ! Did you know that California State Parks has golf courses on its properties? Lake Tahoe Golf Course is located on Lake Valley State Recreation Area and Morro Bay and Pismo Beach golf courses are also on State Parks property. They all offer amazing views whether you’re on the fairway or in the rough.️

What’s your favorite golf course in California? Chime in the comments!

📸 1-3: Lake Tahoe Golf Course Lake Tahoe State Parks
📸 4-6: Morro Bay State Park Golf Course Morro Bay State Parks
📸 7: Pismo State Beach Golf Course Oceano Dunes District - Pismo

It’s National Coast Guard Day! State Parks and the U.S. Coast Guard collaborate on a variety of subjects, including boat...
08/04/2026

It’s National Coast Guard Day! State Parks and the U.S. Coast Guard collaborate on a variety of subjects, including boating safety, law enforcement and public outreach. Our staff and the Coast Guard regularly work together on ocean rescues and training exercises.

For example, State Parks partnered with the Coast Guard on a training in Los Angeles and Humboldt counties, where staff performed a exercises like using a rescue baskets to practice being lifted into a Coast Guard helicopter that was hovering just over the ocean.

Thank you to the Coast Guard for everything you do!

📸 Practicing with the US Coast Guard at Humboldt Lagoon State Park
📸 A helicopter hovers over the beach at Point Mugu State Park

☀️ Extreme heat is impacting many parts of California. 🥵 Planning to visit California’s outdoors this week? Take these s...
08/03/2026

☀️ Extreme heat is impacting many parts of California. 🥵 Planning to visit California’s outdoors this week? Take these steps to stay safe:

💧 Bring plenty of water
🧢 Wear appropriate clothing, a hat and sunscreen
🌳 Stay in shaded areas
🥾 Visit cooler parts of the day – Early or late
🦺 Wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket on or near the water
🏛️ Consider exploring one of California State Parks’ indoor museums instead

Visit parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips or follow the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services for more ways to stay safe.

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☀️ El calor extremo está afectando a muchas zonas de California. 🥵 ¿Planeas visitar los espacios al aire libre de California esta semana? Toma estos consejos antes de salir:

💧 Lleva suficiente agua
🧢 Usa ropa adecuada, sombrero y protector solar
🌳 Permanece en zonas con sombra
🥾 Visita el lugar durante las horas más frescas del día: temprano por la mañana o al final de la tarde
🦺 Usa un chaleco salvavidas aprobado por la Guardia Costera de los EE. UU. y de la talla correcta al estar en el agua o cerca de ella
🏛️ Considera explorar alguno de los museos interiores de los Parques Estatales de California como alternativa

Visita parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips o siga a California Governor's Office of Emergency Services para conocer más formas de mantenerte seguro.

For those joining the Boat California Commission tour around Richardson and San Francisco bays this week, we’ll see you ...
08/02/2026

For those joining the Boat California Commission tour around Richardson and San Francisco bays this week, we’ll see you at 1 p.m. tomorrow, beginning in Sausalito! The Commission meeting will be held at South Beach Harbor/Pier 40, beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

Agenda includes:
✔️ Reports from Boat California
✔️ Program updates
✔️ Updates on Commission-related activities

Unable to attend the meeting in person? Join virtually through Zoom or CAL-SPAN. For more information, visit www.parks.ca.gov/PublicNotices.

Your California State Parks Weekly Digest is here! Click the link ⬇️ for more... Some highlights: 🌊 Meet the lifeguards ...
08/01/2026

Your California State Parks Weekly Digest is here! Click the link ⬇️ for more...

Some highlights:
🌊 Meet the lifeguards behind an ocean rescue that captured international attention
🚂 Sunset train rides, Shakespeare under the stars and world-class surfing... State Parks has the best summer options!
🚤 Find out why 30 boats from multiple agencies took to the Sacramento River
🦊 Plus: What does the kit fox say? And what's the story behind Hearst Castle's Roman Pool? Find out in this week's postcards!

Just in time for the 2026/27 school year! Incoming fourth graders can now download our popular FREE state parks pass tha...
08/01/2026

Just in time for the 2026/27 school year! Incoming fourth graders can now download our popular FREE state parks pass that allows them and their families to enter 54 state parks at no cost.

The Free Fourth Grade Pass provides unlimited access to parks like Millerton Lake State Recreation Area 🏞️ in the Central Valley, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park 🌲 in the North Coast and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 🏜 in Southern California.

The pass now aligns more closely with the school calendar and is VALID FOR UP TO13 MONTHS: from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31 of the following year! If you have a new fourth grader in your family, GET THE PASS NOW by visiting www.reservecalifornia.com/passes/Advancepasses

08/01/2026

Many have seen the video of our lifeguards rescuing a 10-year-old child at Seabright State Beach. Seasonal Lifeguard Ryder shares his story in this video and stresses the importance of water safety. We want to thank Lifeguards Ryder and Aaron, and all our California State Parks lifeguards who protect visitors on a daily basis.
From Ryder:
“I was at the waterline 15 yards downcoast of Tower 2 making a safety contact when I looked up and saw a child about 20 (yards) up from the tower lose his footing in ankle-deep water. I radioed it in, threw my radio and sunglasses at the base of my tower as I ran toward the kid. I put my fins on my wrist, popped my buoy and entered the water to get ahold of the child. Due to the volatility of the water, I was unable to tube up the victim. After the first wave, I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard. There were two to three more waves before lifeguard Aaron Bohnen entered the water to help me. There were bystanders who jumped in to try to help, and I yelled at them all to get back to shore.
Once Bohnen and I got the kid to shore I was instructed to get the med bag from Bohnen’s unit and we assessed the child. Shortly after, I got back into my tower where I returned to provide lifeguard services for the rest of my shift.
I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely. This is my job and I love what I do. I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day.”
Video of the rescue is courtesy of Scott Vander Dussen (Scott Vander Dussen on Instagram)
 
International Lifeguard Appreciation Day I California State Parks Lifeguards I Lifeguards

Celebrate World Ranger Day with us by honoring rangers who protect California’s iconic state parks, wildlife, natural ha...
07/31/2026

Celebrate World Ranger Day with us by honoring rangers who protect California’s iconic state parks, wildlife, natural habitats, cultural heritage and the millions who visit California’s great outdoors.

Our rangers work tirelessly each day and we thank them for their dedication to keeping the lands that define California safe and accessible for us all. Thank you for everything you do!

07/31/2026

On International Lifeguard Appreciation Day, we want to give a huge THANK YOU to our incredible State Park lifeguards who courageously risk their own lives to keep our visitors safe every day! Your dedication never goes unnoticed and you are local heroes! We thank you for your constant watch, quick actions and for protecting Californians and visitors from around the world all year long!

State Parks employs approximately 600 seasonal lifeguards every summer and there are around 70 permanent lifeguards working in the department. On average, State Park lifeguards make 1 – million preventative actions and 10,000 rescues every year. Since July 1, 2026,lifeguards have performed 110,000 preventative actions, 3,600 rescues and over 1,600 medical aids.

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715 P Street
Sacramento, CA
95814

Telephone

+18007770369

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