Getting outside to soak up California’s sunshine is one of life’s simple joys. When we all care for California’s parks and public lands, together, we help these special places thrive for everyone, now and into the future.
On summer weekends, thousands of people gather along the South Yuba River, swimming in clear pools, hiking forest trails and soaking up one of California’s true natural treasures.
But the Yuba River is more than just a favorite spot. It’s one of California’s most important and storied rivers, full of life and history.
For generations, field trips have sparked curiosity and helped students connect classroom lessons to the world around them. Today, California State Parks and our partners provide a modern, 21st-century model to make sure every student feels welcome and inspired by California’s natural wonders.
In the heart of Los Angeles, just a short walk from Chinatown and the downtown high rises, Los Angeles State Historic Park is a living story of movement, change and community. What we see today as a vibrant urban green space has been shaped over generations by people who cared for this land — from Indigenous stewardship and early agriculture to railroads, industry and passionate community advocacy.
At Angel Island, history is embedded in the landscape — in the arrivals, the waiting and the journeys that brought people across the Pacific. Cynthia Pu, an Angel Island State Park interpreter, helps share with visitors the lived experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities whose resilience and hope have shaped both this special place and the story of California.
Earth Day is always a special time for us at Parks California. It’s when we join with communities, partners and supporters from every corner of
This year’s Earth Day theme, Our Power, Our Planet, reminds us that caring for our environment is a daily journey. Every choice we make, as individuals and as communities, shapes the future of California’s lands and waters.
A sustainable future begins with all of us — our communities, our parks and the California landscapes we call home.
This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating women making a real difference for California’s future whose work is helping parks welcome everyone and mean more for all.
Across California’s state parks, history lives in the land — in preserved buildings, cultural sites, interpretive programs and the voices that guide visitors through them. Among these are the stories of Black Californians whose leadership, labor, artistry and advocacy have helped shape our communities and public lands, leaving a lasting impact that continues to inspire us.
Parks California remembers Doug McConnell, longtime host of NBC Bay Area’s OpenRoad with Doug McConnell, KRON‘s Bay Area Backroads and a valued member of our Advisory Council. Doug devoted his life to sharing the beauty, history and stories of California’s parks and public lands, inspiring people across the state to explore and connect with these extraordinary places.
