Are you planning a tremendous journey to California and wish to additionally expertise the greatest Nationwide Parks close to Los Angeles? Los Angeles is likely one of the largest cities in your entire world, however many guests are unaware of the encompassing pure landmarks and nationwide parks!
Los Angeles has loads of completely different vacationer sights, however if you wish to take full benefit of the realm, you may mix your go to with driving journeys to a number of Nationwide Parks across the metropolis.
Nationwide Parks Close to Los Angeles
There are a couple of nice Nationwide Parks round Los Angeles which can be inside simple driving distance, however in the event you actually wish to get pleasure from all the pieces that the realm has to supply, there are additionally loads of Nationwide Leisure Areas, Nationwide Preserves, State Parks, and Nationwide Conservation Areas. When you add these to your record of locations to go to, you should have an nearly limitless variety of lovely locations!
1. Channel Islands Nationwide Park
Distance: 60 miles, Driving time: 2 hours
The closest nationwide park to Los Angeles, 5 of the eight Channel Islands are protected and make up the Channel Islands Nationwide Park. To entry this park, you may take the ferry from Ventura for under $30.
There are over 2,000 plant and animal species to see and uncover on these islands, which is why they’re typically known as the “Galapagos of North America.”
You’ll little question see dolphins, sea lions, seals, and whales within the waters round these islands, even in your manner there. If you wish to discover some pristine islands and see what wildlife this space has to supply, the Channel Islands needs to be in your record of locations to go to.
2. Sand to Snow Nationwide Monument
Distance: 100 miles, Driving time: 2 hours
Sand to Snow Nationwide Monument is likely one of the three recently-created nationwide monuments in southern California and will get its identify due to the wide selection of elevations it accommodates. It has nearly each habitat kind you may think about, from sandy deserts to snow-capped mountains.
This Nationwide Monument sits subsequent to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, so it’s a good spot to go to in case you are already visiting and within the space.
At solely a brief 2 hour drive from Los Angeles, this Nationwide Monument has so many alternative habitats and terrain that you’re positive to search out no matter you might be searching for right here!
3. Joshua Tree Nationwide Park
Distance: 120 miles, Driving time: 2.5 hours
Joshua Tree Nationwide Park is discovered subsequent to Sand to Snow Nationwide Monument and options loads of rocks and boulders scattered across the Joshua bushes, from whom the park will get its identify.
From tenting, mountaineering, biking, and mountain climbing, there are many completely different actions for almost anybody who visits this park and views the gorgeous environment.
Joshua Tree can be thought-about among the best locations for stargazing in your entire nation. At solely 2 and a half hours from LA, it is a nice park to take a day journey and go to from town.
4. Sequoia Nationwide Park
Distance: 200 miles, Driving time: 4 hours
Sequoia Nationwide Park is considered one of California’s hottest nationwide parks and is correct subsequent to Kings Canyon Nationwide Park. These parks are discovered within the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains and are a couple of 4-hour drive.
Sequoia gives many pure wonders to see, together with Basic Sherman, which is the biggest residing tree in your entire world.
This park can be residence to the Large Forest, which is residence to 5 of the world’s ten largest bushes. It’s also residence to Mount Whitney, the best mountain discovered within the continental United States. That is one park you gained’t wish to miss!
5. Morro Bay State Marine Leisure Space and State Park
Distance: 200 miles, Driving time: 4 hours
Morro Bay State Marine Leisure Space and State Park are present in Morro Bay, a couple of hours north of Los Angeles. On the bay’s northern finish lies a saltwater marsh that helps an infinite hen inhabitants.
Right here you could find loads of actions to do, together with kayaking, fishing, mountaineering, and hen watching. There’s additionally a museum and golf course for individuals who need much more.
Along with being a superb ocean and marine park, there are additionally some nice mountains and trails all through the park. Two of the 9 Sisters, a sequence of volcanic peaks, are discovered right here.
6. Montana de Oro State Park
Distance: 200 miles, Driving time: 4 hours
Montana de Oro State Park is discovered 4 hours from Los Angeles and vies guests with superb views of ocean bluffs and scenic shoreline. In truth, this park covers round 8,000 acres and accommodates over 7 miles of shoreline.
This park has loads of completely different mountaineering and biking trails, together with many who climb one of many surrounding hills and summits to present you some breathtaking views.
Montana de Oro State Park additionally gives guests the choice of tenting with loads of area in a 50-site campground within the heart of the park. From the ocean views to the mountaineering trails, this park is nicely well worth the drive from LA!
7. Demise Valley Nationwide Park
Distance: 210 miles, Driving time: 4 hours
Map: Obtain the official Demise Valley Map (PDF)
Demise Valley Nationwide Park holds the report for being the biggest nationwide park within the continental United States. Due to this, it covers a big number of landscapes, from sand dunes to alpine mountain peaks.
When you actually wish to escape the crowds of town, this place is the right location to do it. Whereas there are a few developed areas to go to, the remainder of this large park is pure wilderness to discover.
Demise Valley Nationwide Park has loads of landmarks to see as nicely, together with the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Badwater Basin, Artist’s Drive, and Dante’s View.
8. Mojave Nationwide Protect
Distance: 220 miles, Driving time: 4 hours
Whereas it isn’t technically a nationwide park, Mojave Nationwide Protect is the third-largest location run by the nationwide park service in the USA. With a lot land to discover, this protect has loads of completely different terrain and habitats to see.
From the entire mountaineering and tenting to the infinite issues to see, only a few folks ever get to expertise all of this protect simply due to how massive it truly is.
When you go to the park, try a couple of common spots just like the Kelso Depot, an outdated railroad station that’s now a museum within the space. Mojave cross and the Joshua tree forest are additionally common locations that you simply gained’t wish to miss!
9. Kings Canyon Nationwide Park
Distance: 240 miles, Driving time: 4.5 hours
Kings Canyon Nationwide Park lies proper subsequent to Sequoia Nationwide Park, and most of the people will go to each parks on the identical go to. With a few of the identical lovely surroundings, Kings Canyon has some superb hikes as nicely.
Right here you can too hike amongst big bushes, particularly at locations like Cedar Grove and Grant Grove, which is the place you will see that Basic Grant, the world’s second-largest residing tree.
The spotlight of Kings Canyon Nationwide Park is its namesake, Kings Canyon. This is likely one of the deepest canyons within the nation and is greater than a mile deep. A scenic freeway connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks and is a good place to journey from LA!
10. Pinnacles Nationwide Park
Distance: 270 miles, Driving time: 5 hours
Due to parks like Demise Valley, Sequoia, and Yosemite in California, parks like Pinnacles Nationwide Park are sometimes ignored. However a fast 5-hour drive from Los Angeles will lead you to this hidden gem within the wilderness.
Pinnacles Nationwide Park is discovered on the well-known San Andreas Fault inside a large volcanic subject. The fault cut up the realm in half, creating the rock formations discovered on the park.
Whereas different nationwide parks are a lot bigger and acquire way more consideration than this one, it is a nice nationwide park that usually has a lot fewer crowds than the others.
11. Historical Bristlecone Pine Forest
Distance: 280 miles, Driving time: 5 hours
As its identify implies, the Historical Bristlecone Pine Forest is residence to some very outdated bushes. In truth, these bushes are the oldest on this planet, lots of that are greater than 4,000 years outdated.
Discovered at 11,000 toes above sea stage, this forest is a good place to get out and hike to flee the warmth and hike on some superb trails.
The Historical Bristlecone Pine Forest is often open from the center of Could to the top of November, relying on the climate, and in addition has loads of issues to do and see at its customer’s heart. The 5-hour drive from Los Angeles is nicely value it!
12. Yosemite Nationwide Park
Distance: 280 miles, Driving time: 5 hours
Map: Obtain the official Yosemite Nationwide Park Map (PDF)
Yosemite could be the most well-liked nationwide park in California, and it’s simple to see why. This nationwide park has all the pieces from the waterfalls to the plentiful wildlife, all the way in which to the rock formations and scenic drives.
Though this nationwide park is extraordinarily overcrowded in the course of the summer season months, that is one place that it’s important to go to at the least as soon as in your life.
Some common landmarks right here embody El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Bridalveil Falls. This park has nearly each terrain and pure habitat that you can imagine, so there may be positive to be one thing for everybody right here.
Are you planning an epic journey to Yosemite? Be sure to verify the articles beneath:
Nationwide Parks Close to Los Angeles | Conclusion
Los Angeles is likely one of the largest cities on this planet, so many would discover it shocking that there are such a lot of pure wonders round it to see and discover. It’s exhausting to search out any metropolis in the USA that’s in such shut proximity to so many nationwide parks and pure landmarks of the southwest, however Los Angeles is definitely among the best!
