California is full of nature and beauty. If you’re looking for a natural thrill in the outdoors, then Northern California is ideal! Northern California is known as one of the most beautiful places in the United States, and it’s worth a visit. Let’s take a look at some tragically overlooked state parks to visit around San Francisco and beyond! Make sure to check for weather conditions and park hours before embarking upon these adventures. Let’s go!

1. Angel Island State Park
Angel Island, Tiburon, CA 94920, USA
Ray Bouknight/Flickr
Angel Island is a hidden gem in the midst of the urban Bay Area. Angel Island State Park, the largest natural island in the San Francisco Bay, offers some of the best views of the surrounding Bay Area and incredible coastal hikes.
2. Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, CA 95006, USA
Creative Commons - Wikipedia
Another overlooked gem! This state park offers lots of nice, forested hikes with towering Redwoods. It will take about 1.5 hours from the city, so give yourself time. In the end, the redwoods and majestic mushroom growth will wow you! A visit to Big Basin Redwoods State Park is truly unforgettable.
3. Butano State Park
Butano State Park Road, Butano State Park Rd, California 94060, USA
Janet D/Yelp
A short drive outside the city gives you a wonderful state park full of surprises. Explore the "Little Butano" trail and enjoy streams, banana slugs, wild mushrooms, newts, ferns, and more! Butano State Park is one of those hidden gems you'll love forever after you visit the first time.
4. Fort Ord Dunes State Park
Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Parking lot, Beach Range Rd, Marina, CA 93933, USA
Jamie M/Yelp
Enjoy this park for a variety of reasons. You'll see waves crashing at the start of the trail all the way down to the beach. There will be spectacular views of Monterey in the distance along the hiking trails. Fort Ord Dunes State Park
5. Salt Point State Park
Salt Point State Park, 25050 CA-1, Jenner, CA 95450, USA
Jen F/Yelp
Enjoy the odd shaped rocks and dreamy atmosphere here. This state park is along the ocean! Also, there are a lot of pretty wildflowers, native animals, and photo opportunities waiting at Salt Point State Park. Might wanna go ASAP!

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6. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Park
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, 17000 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446, USA
Creative Commons/Wikipedia
Everyone goes to the Redwoods, but instead check out the calm, majestic beauty of this Grove at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Park. This park is a living reminder of the magnificent primeval redwood forest that makes California so grand.
7. Limekiln State Park
Limekiln State Park, 63025 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA
Creative Commons - Wikipedia
Limekiln State Park is open and waiting for would be hikers and nature lovers! The park features the beauty of the redwoods, the rugged coast, and the cultural history of limekilns.
8. Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
Stanford Mansion, 800 N St, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA
D.B/Yelp
The most unique and eclectic state park in California, the Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, is more historic than anything else, but still worth exploring. Visit a mansion run by the Department of Parks & Recreation. Also, enjoy a guided tour and walk around the grounds. Check out the state capital too!
9. Garrapata State Park
Garrapata State Park, 34500 CA-1, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, USA
Creative Commons/Wikipedia
Garrapata State Park is located on Highway 1 about seven miles south of Carmel. You'll be able to enjoy some coastal views along with dense coast redwood groves. It's one of the best ways to discover the wonders of Northern California without roaming too far away from home.
10. Andrew Molera State Park
Andrew Molera State Park, 45500 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA
Creative Commons/Wikipedia
Andrew Molera State Park is often tragically overlooked because of all the beauty nearby in Carmel, Big Sur, and more. This is an undeveloped coastal trail system that is ideal for true nature lovers and is still a work in progress. Check it out!

Have you been to any of these parks? Let us know about your experience at these beautiful spots. Share this story too! If you’re interested in nature, check out The Newest State Park Near San Francisco And It’s Incredible.

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More to Explore

State Parks to Visit Near San Francisco

Tori Jane | July 18, 2022

Where are the best places to go hiking in San Francisco?  

Who says you can’t go hiking in a big city? We don’t! In fact, some of the most beautiful hiking trails in Northern California just so happen to be hiking trails in San Francisco, and we couldn’t love them more. We have many favorites regarding the best places to go hiking in San Francisco, like the breathtaking Land's End Trail. This hike is a historically significant trek with incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge and takes about two hours to complete. Hidden in central San Francisco is the Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve, where you can hike the Sutro Loop, a two-mile-long adventure through some absolutely breathtaking old-growth forestry.  

What are some fun things to do outside in San Francisco? 

Hiking, camping, biking, swimming, and more! San Francisco is home to all the fun outdoor activities you could ever ask for, and its proximity to the sea makes it even more appealing. Sure, you could spend the whole day lounging on the beach with the Golden Gate Bridge in sight, but why not mix it up a little? Go camping at any of our favorite places to camp near San Francisco, or maybe if you’re feeling brave, you can embark upon a kayaking adventure nearby. Stroll around our stunning city parks, arboretums, and preserves; you never know what kinds of critters you’ll run into.  

What are some of the best hiking trails in Northern California? 

Branching out just a bit from San Francisco, did you know that some of the best hiking trails in the United States are right here in Northern California? It’s true! Among our favorite hikes in Northern California are gems like the famous Ewoldsen Trail at Julia Pfeiffer-Burns State Park, which is found in Big Sur. If you’ve never seen Big Sur for yourself, you absolutely NEED to. Its beauty is unrivaled and it’s one of the most beautiful places in Northern California, if not the country. We also love the Rubicon Trail at D.L. Bliss State Park, which overlooks Lake Tahoe and is easily one of the most breathtaking hikes in the United States.  

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