Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve
onQuiet forest next to Salt Point State Park.
Noyo River Redwoods
onAncient redwood forest preserve, not open to public because of remote, rugged location. Can be viewed from historic Skunk Train.
Lake Sonoma Recreation Area
onHuge lake surrounded by oak woodlands and (on west side) redwoods and other conifers. Boating, fishing, camping, water skiing, hiking, horseback riding, archery, frisbee golf. More than 1 million visitors yearly.
Russian Gulch State Park
onAlong the Mendocino Coast, a collapsed sea cave called Devil’s Punch Bowl. Includes a 36-foot waterfall, fern canyon trail and a beach with abalone diving and rock fishing.
Soda Springs County Reserve
onA small county park east of Sea Ranch. Short hiking trails through beautiful redwoods along Soda Springs Creek. Fishing.
Stillwater Cove Regional Park
onNear Jenner, ocean views and a small beach, plus meadows and coastal forest. Kayaking, birding, fishing. Historic Fort Ross Schoolhouse.
Tahoe National Forest
onRushing rivers, snow-capped peaks, dense forests northwest of Lake Tahoe. Big Trees Grove near Foresthill is the northernmost grove of giant sequoias in the world.
Sierra National Forest
onBetween Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks. Includes the Ansel Adams and John Muir wildernesses. Giant sequoias in Nelder and McKinley groves.
Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest
onIncludes part of Mountain Home Grove, which has 4 of the 20 largest trees in the world. 8,000-year-old archaeological site.
Wunderlich Park
onWest of Woodside, a rural park with meadows, creek. Historic Folger Stable, once part of the Folger Coffee Estate. Equestrian museum.
Byrne-Milliron Forest
onA working forest that includes 1,000-year-old, 250-foot tall Great White Redwood. Owned and operated by Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.
Pescadero Creek County Park Complex
onSanta Cruz cypress, Monterey pine. Marbled murrelets, steelhead trout, coho salmon. Along with adjoining Memorial and Sam McDonald, part of a county-park complex with 74 linked miles of trails and dirt roads.
Soquel Demonstration State Forest
onNear Santa Cruz, mountain biking on challenging single-track trails. Links to Forest of Nisene Marks State Park.
Van Duzen County Park
onRedwoods, fishing, camping, swimming, picnicking. Park has 2 parts: Swimmers Delight and reservation-only group campground, Pamplin Grove. Fishing.
Arcata Community Forest
onFirst municipally owned forest in California. Used for education, recreation, wildlife habitat, and timber harvest. 2nd growth redwoods. 144 bird species.
Benbow State Recreation Area
onSummer swimming and picnicking along the South Fork of the Eel River. Winter salmon, steelhead fishing. Hike to old mill site.
Florence Keller County Park
on2nd growth redwoods near Crescent City. Campground and picnic area with volleyball, tether ball and swings.
Headwaters Forest Reserve
onOld-growth near the headwaters of South Fork Elk River and Salmon Creek. Northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets, coho salmon.
John B. Dewitt Redwoods State Natural Reserve
onAncient redwood grove with access to Redwood Creek.
Patricks Point State Park
onOcean views, agate beach, whale-watching, lush forest, native plant garden, re-created Native American seasonal village.