If you follow me on Instagram than you probably know that we just recently got back from a family trip to Zion National Park. We are big fans of National Parks and we try and visit at least one every year. They have well-maintained facilities, lots of great programs, interactive visitor centers, and lots of history. I loved visiting them when I was a kid, and they’re even more magical seeing them through my kids eyes now. Here are three California National Parks to take your kids to.
3 Great California National Parks
Yosemite National Park
Well, of course you can’t talk about California National Parks and not bring up Yosemite! Anyone who has visited Yosemite can tell you that it is VERY popular. Unfortunately, this translates to VERY crowded for most of the year. If you’re planning a visit, you need to plan early, especially if you’re hoping to get a spot in the valley. The valley floor is the most popular and populated area of the park so advance planning is required.
Once Labor Day has passed then the park becomes much less busy and you generally still have nice weather through early Fall. The trade-off is that most of the impressive waterfalls that Yosemite is famous for will be dried up by then. Late spring/early summer is a nice time to visit to enjoy the beauty of the park. However, once mid-June hits it’s going to be really crowded and hard to get a reservation. So there are a lot of things you want to think about if you’re trying to decide when to go.
Here are some great posts to help you plan your Yosemite adventure:
Enjoying Spring in Yosemite
Spending 24 Hours in Yosemite with Kids
Staying at Camp Curry in Yosemite
Visit a Spa Near Yosemite the Whole Family will Love
Sequoia National Park
Did you know that Sequoia National Park is the second oldest National Park in the US? It was officially granted National Park status in 1890! Mike and I have yet to go to Sequoia National Park with our children. However, we loved it when we went for our second anniversary and know our kids will love it too!
I recommend going early in the season and making sure you visit the “big tree” part of the park. There are lots of easy, but rewarding hikes that even young children should be able to do. Be sure to visit the General Sherman Tree, take the easy trail to Tokopah Falls, and visit the visitor centers. I’ve also heard that Crystal Cave is pretty cool, but we didn’t have a chance to stop last time we were there. We stayed at the Dorst Creek Campground and enjoyed it. However, Lodgepole seemed to be closer to some of the more “popular” parts of the park, although we had several trails leave right from our campground that we didn’t even have to drive to!
| See These National Parks Close to Los Angeles |
Lassen Volcanic National Park
I feel like Lassen Volcanic National Park is sort of the hidden gem of the National Park service, I seem to remember reading once that it was one of the most under-utilized National Parks, which is really too bad. I think this might be my favorite one in the state, it is such a unique and beautiful place, all four types of volcanoes that can found in the entire world can be found here! And if you’re a fan of the geysers and boiling springs and mud pits of Yellowstone National Park, you’ll love all the amazing hydrothermal features the park has to offer!
Keep in mind if you go too early in the year (Spring to early Summer) then some areas of the park might not be open yet. If you’re a fan of star-gazing Lassen has some incredible programs for aspiring astronomers and enthusiasts. I recommend the Kings Creek trail and the Devastated Area Interpretive Trail, which is a nice and easy .5 miles and is even paved!
Have you been to any of these California National Parks? Which one is your favorite?
