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California State Parks First Day Hikes

parks.ca.gov

Participating state parks for the 2024 First Day Hikes include:

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park 12 p.m. noon. The hike is 7.5 miles round trip. Location: Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park 12 p.m. noon. The hike is 3.5 mile loop. Location: Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake

Angel Island State Park 10:30 a.m. at Ayala Cove (ferry landing) and return by 2:30 p.m. The hike is 5 miles; 3 hours. Join a 5-mile hike to the top of Angel Island's Mount Caroline Livermore. The hike will pass through oak woodlands, chaparral and wind-blown hillsides. Visitors can take in spectacular views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Location: Boat access from San Francisco, CA

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve 10 & 11 a.m., 12 & 1 p.m. with hikes starting every hour. The hikes are 1.5 miles; 2 hours. Location: Guerneville, CA

Auburn State Recreation Area 10 a.m. The hike is 2.5 miles flat. a morning hike along the American River. On this easy 2.5 mile out and back hike, learn about the natural, geologic, and mining history of the Middle Fork Canyon from State Park interpreters. This route is wheelchair and stroller accessible.  Location: Auburn, CA

Auburn State Recreation Area 10 a.m. The hike is 6.5 miles with 1000 feet elevation gain. Location: Auburn, CA

Big Basin Redwoods State Park 9:30 a.m. The hike is 4.2 miles, 4 hours. First day hike up to Ocean View Summit and learn about native plants and how they recover after fire along the way. This hike will be a little over four miles in length with a steady climb up to the summit. cation: Felton, CA

Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park 10 a.m. Take a journey back in time along Mills Creek at Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park. This walk will be a 2.5 miles round trip hike with only a small gain in elevation. Along the way you will learn about the lives of early pioneers and farming families who first settled here in the 19th century. The hike is 2.5 miles; 2 hours. Location: Half Moon Bay, CA

Calaveras Big Trees State 11:30 a.m. The hike is The trail is flat and about a 1.5 mile loop. Plan for at least an hour. Hikers can experience a snowshoe-guided hike through the park's North Grove. Snowshoes will be available to borrow, and the first portion of the program will be an introduction to how to snowshoe. Location: Arnold, CA

California Citrus State Historic Park 11 a.m. The hike is 1-2 miles. Mostly gentle terrain. Tour participants will be able to pick (with staff guidance) and taste the many varieties of citrus in the park. The tour will wander through dirt and paved trails in the groves. Location: Riverside, CA

Carpinteria State Beach 9-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2023. The hike is Approximately 1.3 miles from the Visitor Center to the Harbor Seal Rookery. The walk will last approximately 1 - 1.5 hours. Location: Carpinteria, CA

Castle Rock State Park 10 a.m. The hike is 3 miles; 3 hours; optional driving distance of 7 miles. Location: Santa Cruz County, CA

China Camp State Park 6:30-9 a.m. The hike is Moderate with 500 feet hill elevation gain; 4-miles round trip. Location: San Rafael, CA

Chino Hills State Park 9 a.m. The hike is 2 miles. Location: Chino Hills, CA

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. noon. The hike is 1.5 - 2 hours. Location: Earlimart, CA (Tulare County)

Columbia State Historic Park 10-11 a.m. The hike is Approximately 45 to 60 minutes. The hike itself is a half a
China Camp State Park 6:30-9 a.m. The hike is Moderate with 500 feet hill elevation gain; 4-miles round trip. Location: Columbia, CA

Donner Memorial State Park 11 a.m. The hike is snowshoe tour of 1.5-2 miles, moderate degree difficulty. Location: Truckee, CA

Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park 12 p.m. noon. The hike is 2.5 mile loop beginning and ending at the overflow parking lot trailhead. Hike will last 2 - 3 hours, depending upon numbers of stops to enjoy Nature's Gifts that we discover along the way. Location: 10 miles south of Tahoe City, CA on Highway 89

El Capitan State Beach 11 a.m. The hike is About 1 mile. Location: 17 miles west of Santa Barbara, CA

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area 1-3:30 p.m. The hike is Up to 4 miles depending on group desires and trail conditions, with the opportunity to turn back sooner as desired.

Fort Ross State Historic Park 2:30 p.m. The hike is 0.5 miles Location: Fort Ross, CA

Fort Tejon State Historic Park 11 a.m. The hike is About 2.5 hours around the  historic zone  of the parade ground covering about 700 to 800 yards of walking.

Hendy Woods State Park 10:30 a.m. with a hot cocoa service, 11 a.m.- 12:30P p.m. starts guided hike. The hike is 1.5 miles (ADA accessible trail).

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 9, 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. The hike is 1 mile; 1.5 hours.

Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area 10 a.m. & 12 p.m.

Indio Hills Palms Park Property 10 a.m. The hike is Roughly 3.5 miles and 230 feet of elevation gain.

Jedediah Smith Redwood National and State Park 2 p.m. The hike is 0.5 miles; 1 hour.

La Purisima Mission State Historic Park 10 a.m. on December 31 (Last day hike of the year). The hike is 1.5-mile hike with slight elevation gain. Location: Lompoc, CA

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park 11 a.m. The hike is 2.7-mile loop hike.

Malibu Creek State Park 3 - 5:30 p.m. (sunset). The hike is 3 miles Location: Malibu, CA

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. noon. The hike is Approximately 4 miles.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park 10:15-11:30 a.m. The hike is Approximately 1 mile.

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. noon. The hike is Approximately 4 miles.

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park 10:15-11:30 a.m. The hike is Approximately 1 mile.

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area 10 a.m. The hike is 3 miles; 3 hours.

Montaņa de Oro State Park 12 p.m. noon-1:30 & 2-3:30p.m. The hikes are 1.5 hours.

Montara State Beach 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. The hike is 7 miles; 4.5 hours.

Montara State Beach 10 a.m. The hike is 2 miles; 2 hours.

Monterey State Historic Park 9:30 a.m. The hike is .75 mile; 1.5 hours. Location: Monterey, CA

Morro Strand State Beach 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. noon. The hike is 2 hours.

Mount San Jacinto State Park 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The hike is 1 mile; 1.5 hours.

Mount Tamalpais State Park 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. The hike is Depending on route, the hike is 6-8 miles round trip with 500-1000 feet of elevation gain. The Plankwalk Trail from the East Peak Visitor Center to the summit is 0.6 miles round trip with about 225 feet of elevation gain. The Verna Dunshee loop trail at East Peak is 0.7 miles long with minimal elevation changes.

Natural Bridges State Beach 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. The hikes are 1.5 miles, 1.5 hours Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (First Day Drive) 9 a.m. The hike is Roughly 20 miles of driving. Instead of a hike, visitors can come in their four-wheel-drive vehicle at the Discovery Center for a quick tour of the western portion of the park. Explore ancient seashore, mesquite dunes and desert washes. See interesting geology, desert plants, signs of wildlife and maybe even some wildflowers. The route consists of a roughly 20-mile loop, arriving back at the Discovery Center at its conclusion.

Palomar Mountain State Park 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. noon. The hike is 1.5 miles, 300 feet elevation gain.

Pescadero State Beach 10 a.m. The hike is 1.5 miles; 2 hours.

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park 10:45 a.m. The hike is 2 miles; 1 hour.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 10:30 a.m. The hike is 1 mile; 1.5 hours.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 11 a.m. The hike is 0.8 miles; 1.5 hours.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 1 p.m. The hike is 1.3 miles roundtrip; 1.5 hours.

Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area 10-11:30 a.m. The hike is About 1.5 miles.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park 2 p.m. The hike is 0.5 miles; 1 hour.

Saddleback Butte State Park 9 a.m. The hike is 5 miles; 3 hours.

Saddleback Butte State Park 10 a.m. The hike is 3.5 miles; 2 hours.

Saddleback Butte State Park 11 a.m. The hike is 0.5 miles; 1 hour.

Salt Point State Park 10:30 a.m. with a hot cocoa service, 11 a.m.- 12:30P p.m. starts guided hike. The hike is 2.5 miles. Hikers can enjoy the pristine beauty of the Sonoma coast. This 2.5-mile, three-hour, easy-to-moderate and round trip hike takes participants along the ocean terrace from Gerstle Cove to Stump Beach.

Salton Sea State Recreation Area 10 a.m. The hike is Roughly 2 miles

Samuel P. Taylor State Park 10-11:30 a.m. The hike is 2.1 miles.

Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The park will offer four hikes of different lengths and difficulty. The hike is The Welcome Walk is rated moderate. It has an ascent of 284 feet and descent of 299 feet. Average gradient ascent is 4.4%, max is 6.5%. Average gradient descent is 4.9%, max is 8.2%. Length is 1.5 miles. The slow & gentle option is taken at a leisurely pace.  The Waterfall Trail is rated difficult It has an ascent of 328 feet and descent of 346 feet. Average gradient ascent is 7.6%, max is 18.4%. Average gradient descent is 5.9%. max is 15.3%. Length is 2 miles. The Stagecoach Trail is rated difficult. It has an ascent and descent of 538 feet. Average slope is 8.9%. Max is 20%. Length is 2 miles.  Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the Simi Hills and the San Fernando Valley and learn about the history of the Butterfield Overland Stage Route

Seacliff State Beach 11 a.m. The hike is 1 mile; 1.5 hours. Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area 10 to 11:45 a.m. The hike is 3 miles

South Yuba River State Park 10 a.m. The hike is Easy 2.4 mile out and back hike.

Sue-meg State Park 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. The hikes are 1 hour.

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park 9 a.m. The hike is 4.5 miles; 3.5 hours.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve 10 a.m. The hike is Approximately 2-3 miles; 1-2 hours. Location: La Jolla, CA

Tule Elk State Natural Reserve 10 a.m.

Van Damme State Park 9:45 a.m. check in. Introduction starts at 10 a.m. followed by a guided mushroom exploration. The hike is 2 hours.

Wilder Ranch State Park 9 a.m. The hike is 8 miles; 5.5 hours

Wildwood Canyon Park Property 9 a.m. The hike is 2-mile loop

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.

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