Best National Parks in California (From Someone Who’s Visited All 9)

California has the most national parks of any state in the U.S. There are 9 in California (Alaska comes in a close second with 8). I made it my personal mission to visit all 9 national parks in California, partly for fun, partly out of curiosity.

Now after visiting all 9, which ones do I consider the best national parks in California?

Each national park in California is special and unique in its own right. However, not all of us have the time and resources to visit all 9.

Which ones are worth your time? Which ones can you not miss?

Let’s get into my personal ranking of California’s 9 national parks.

How I Visited All 9 National Parks in California

I live in California, so I was able to visit all 9 national parks in California by doing weekend trips.

I visited my first park, Yosemite, in 2018. I visited my last park, Death Valley, in 2024.

Obviously, I could have completed this task much sooner. It does not take 6 years to visit 9 national parks. But I didn’t really have a goal to visit all 9 national parks in California until early 2023.

By then I had already visited 5 parks and had just 4 more to go. I completed 3 in 2023 and the last one in 2024.

Comparison of California’s 9 National Parks

The national parks in California fall into one of three categories: mountain, desert, and coastal.

1. Mountain: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Pinnacles, Lassen Volcanic
2. Desert: Death Valley, Joshua Tree
3. Coastal: Redwood, Channel Islands

Some can fit in more than one category, like Redwood is not just a coastal park, like a beach, it also has forests. Lassen Volcanic is not just a mountainous region but it is made up of several volcanoes (a category all its own). And Pinnacles is in a valley with canyons.

As you can see from the visitor statistics, some national parks in California are very popular and some not so much.

What is the least visited national park in California? Channel Islands

What is the most visited national park in California? Yosemite

Crowds do affect my personal ranking, as I think too many people can ruin the experience. Thankfully, in national parks, it is fairly easy to lose the crowds. The parks are big and once you head out onto the longer trails, the crowds thin out.

Each national park in California is vastly different, not just in their geography or ecosystems but in their size.

What is the smallest national park in California? Pinnacles

What is the largest national park in California? Death Valley

Some national parks can take days to explore, like Death Valley and Yosemite, and some you can see in one afternoon, like Pinnacles.

Does size matter? Not really.

Joshua Tree is one of the largest parks but as you’ll see in my personal rankings, it was my least favorite. There’s a lot of land in the park but not much of a wow factor.

My Personal Ranking Criteria

Wow factor — 50%

Hiking trails (quality, quantity, easy-difficult variety) — 25%

Amenities (lodging, bathrooms, food, parking, road conditons) — 20%

Crowds — 5%

Best National Parks in California (in My Personal Opinion)

Before I reveal my ranking, I’d like to say that this ranking is a personal ranking, just for fun, and it’s not to be taken seriously.

Everyone has differing opinions about and experiences in national parks. Everyone’s personal ranking will be different.

The following is my personal ranking of California’s national parks after visiting all 9. I’m not representing anyone’s opinion except for my own.

Obviously, I am biased. I tend to prefer mountain parks to desert parks, and I tend to be more amazed at things I’m not used to seeing. For example, I am very used to seeing high desert plants because I have family members who live in the high desert (and I visit them often). That could be why Joshua Tree did not impress me that much (I have already seen Joshua trees many times before).

I don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings by ranking a beloved park lower than they think it deserves. So please don’t take offense!

I’d love to see your own California national park rankings in the comments!

Why do the first four national parks have the same rating?

Great question. Yes, the first four national parks all have the same rating and could be interchangeable. I had the hardest time choosing between them. My final ranking, to break the tie, is purely on vibes — how I felt about the park, how much I still think about the park, and how much I wish to return.

1. Lassen Volcanic National Park

Wow factor: 50/50
Hiking trails: 25/25
Amenities: 19/20
Crowds: 4/5
Total: 98%

No one ever really talks about Lassen Volcanic National Park, at least not in Southern California. People go and visit Yosemite and Joshua Tree, but not as many people make the trek over to Lassen.

So it probably comes as a surprise and shock to see I’ve listed Lassen Volcanic as my number one favorite national park in California.

What? Lassen Volcanic? Why?

Lassen Volcanic left a huge impression on me. I loved how beautiful everything was — the lakes, the mountains, the trees. There are volcanoes and hydrothermal activity and yet there is so much greenery and life.

It may be unconventional to call Lassen Volcanic my top national park in California, but I can’t stop thinking of my time there.

Highlights: Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake, Helen Lake

Read more about my experience in Lassen Volcanic National Park:

One Day in Lassen Volcanic National Park

2. Yosemite National Park

Wow factor: 50/50
Hiking trails: 25/25
Amenities: 20/20
Crowds: 3/5
Total: 98%

Yosemite was the first national park I’d ever visited (in my life). For that reason, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Before visiting Yosemite in 2018, I didn’t expect much. I grew up visiting the San Bernardino Mountains, going to Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead. I’d seen mountains, so I thought Yosemite would be more of the same.

Let’s just say, I was wrong. Yosemite stunned me with its beauty and inspired me to visit more national parks (I’ve now visited 25+). My national park journey holds some of my favorite memories. I could not be more thankful to Yosemite for quite literally showing me a whole new world.

Highlights: Taft Point, Tunnel View, Mirror Lake

3. Sequoia National Park

Wow factor: 50/50
Hiking trails: 24/25
Amenities: 20/20
Crowds: 4/5
Total: 98%

I’ll never forget my first drive into Sequoia, the road surrounded by those impossibly tall, large trees. It felt like entering a magical fairy land. I still think highly of Sequoia National Park, and I would like to return soon. It’s such a beautiful park with trees you have to see to believe.

Highlights: General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock

Read more about my experience in Sequoia National Park:

1 to 2 Days in Sequoia National Park Itinerary

19 Things to Do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

4 Day Itinerary for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

4. Redwood National and State Parks

Wow factor: 50/50
Hiking trails: 25/25
Amenities: 18/20
Crowds: 5/5
Total: 98%

Redwood and Sequoia are often compared because both parks have large trees. I had a hard time picking my favorite between the two. Redwood is unique in that it is right on the coast, and there’s often a thick fog hanging over the forests. It’s stunning.

Today, I placed Sequoia higher. Tomorrow, though, that could change. I love both parks so much. Ultimately, I feel that people shouldn’t choose between them. Go to both!

Highlights: Fern Canyon, Yurok Loop Trail, Newton B. Drury Scenic Byway

Read more about my experience in Redwood National and State Parks:

Visiting Redwood National Park: 3 Day Itinerary

5. Death Valley National Park

Wow factor: 48/50
Hiking trails: 24/25
Amenities: 19/20
Crowds: 5/5
Total: 96%

Death Valley is one of the three most popular national parks in California, one that is often hyped up. My uncle said Death Valley “made him believe in God,” which is high praise indeed.

I visited Death Valley with high expectations and wasn’t disappointed. It really is an incredible park. I loved the variety of things to see and do — such as walking along sand dunes or atop salt flats or driving by pastel-colored hills. Where else on earth can you see all these things in one place?

Highlights: Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin, Artists Palette

Read more about my experience in Death Valley National Park:

One Day in Death Valley National Park (Itinerary Using Paved Roads ONLY)

Guide to Visiting the Rare Lake Manly in Badwater Basin (Death Valley National Park)

6. Kings Canyon National Park

Wow factor: 45/50
Hiking trails: 23/25
Amenities: 20/20
Crowds: 5/5
Total: 93%

I did love Kings Canyon, which is Sequoia’s overlooked neighbor. But it doesn’t have as much of a wow factor as Sequoia. Still, there’s a lot to admire about Kings Canyon — waterfalls, overlooks, impressive trees, and yes even a canyon.

Highlights: General Grant Tree, Panoramic Point Overlook, Big Stump Grove

Read more about my experience in Kings Canyon National Park:

Perfect 1 to 3 Day Itinerary for Kings Canyon National Park

19 Things to Do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

4 Day Itinerary for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

7. Pinnacles National Park

Wow factor: 40/50
Hiking trails: 20/25
Amenities: 15/20
Crowds: 4/5
Total: 79%

For being the smallest national park in California, Pinnacles has a lot going for it. We had so much fun exploring its caves and hiking its most famous trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir. How some of the rocks stood in between canyons and boulders made us feel like Indiana Jones. It was an incredible adventure I’ll remember for a long time.

Highlights: Bear Gulch Cave and Reservoir

Read more about my experience in Pinnacles National Park:

Bear Gulch Cave and Reservoir: The Best Hike in Pinnacles National Park

8. Channel Islands National Park

Wow factor: 35/50
Hiking trails: 15/25
Amenities: 15/20
Crowds: 5/5
Total: 70%

Channel Islands is the least visited national park in California — possibly because it’s difficult to reach. You have to take a boat, obviously, to get to the islands, and the boat ride is between 1.5 to 2 hours long. Along the way, you’ll see dolphins (possibly) and the Painted Cave (if you paid for it).

We didn’t get to spend that much time on the island as our boat had a set time it was leaving (and the boat ride is so long). I would have liked to spend more time hiking and exploring the island. However, the journey was just as enjoyable as the destination, and I’m glad I got to see these unique islands (and the cute island foxes).

Highlights: Painted Cave, island foxes

Read more about my experience in Channel Islands National Park:

Day Trip to Channel Islands National Park

9. Joshua Tree National Park

Wow factor: 25/50
Hiking trails: 15/25
Amenities: 18/20
Crowds: 4/5
Total: 62%

My least favorite national park in California happens to be the second most popular. I know there are a lot of Joshua Tree lovers out there, but I’m not one of them. Some humorously say Joshua Tree is just “rocks and dirt,” and I’d have to agree.

I did really like seeing the Cholla Cactus Garden, which was my main highlight in the park.

It’s not that I’m against deserts, because there are desert national parks I really enjoyed, such as Saguaro National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Petrified Forest National Park, all in Arizona. Joshua Tree just didn’t wow me.

I can still appreciate it, that the park is protecting valuable desert wildlife, and some people really like rock climbing there, which is cool. It’s just not for me.

Highlights: Cholla Cactus Garden

Read more about my experience in Joshua Tree National Park:

One Day in Joshua Tree National Park

Should You Visit All 9 National Parks in California?

Yes, if you want to. Do you need to? Not really. The first five California national parks in my ranking are essential to visit (that’s Lassen Volcanic, Yosemite, Sequoia, Redwood, and Death Valley). The last four are optional.

How to Visit All 9 California National Parks in One Trip

If you were to try to visit all 9 national parks in California in one trip, I’d suggest starting in the north and visiting them in this order:

• Redwood
• Lassen Volcanic
• Yosemite
• Kings Canyon
• Sequoia
• Pinnacles
• Channel Islands
• Joshua Tree
• Death Valley

That would be an epic but long trip and would probably take at least 3 weeks to finish. Would you consider it?

Concluding Thoughts

I feel extremely lucky to live in California to be able to visit all of these incredible national parks at my leisure.

California is a huge, beautiful state, and if I have just one piece of advice for visitors, it’s this: Go see California’s nature!

Don’t stay only in the cities, the national parks in California are some of the best in the world.

Your trip to California won’t be complete without at least one visit to a national park. Which one will it be?

Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to California

Guide to Visiting the Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park) in San Francisco

Guide to the Torrey Pines Hiking Trails in San Diego

Access a Sea Cave Inside the Cave Store in La Jolla, California

Guide to Visiting the Pismo Beach Butterfly Grove

Guide to Visiting Ostrichland USA in Solvang, California

Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Los Angeles