Last Updated on March 5, 2025 by Mrunal & Jiten
You’re in luck if you love vacationing at national parks but don’t want packed campgrounds and crowded hiking trails year-round.
California is home to five less famous national parks that hikers, campers, and other guests say are worth the effort to get there. Fewer than a million guests visited each in 2023, according to the most recent data published by the National Park Service.
The state’s nine national parks include some of the United States’ most popular outdoor tourism sites. Since 2021, big names like Yosemite and Joshua Tree have attracted more than three million recreational visitors annually — guests visiting for fun, not scientific research, staffing, or other reasons. Death Valley and Sequoia National Park welcomed approximately a million guests each in 2023, according to the park service.
The other five national parks in California saw fewer than 650,000 recreational visitors. They offer miles of hiking trails, rock climbing opportunities, family programs, and camping at some of California’s most scenic spots.
Here’s some of what makes these national treasures worth the trip, according to outdoor advocates All Hikes, Redwood Hikes, American Hiking Society, National Park Foundation and National Park Service.
Nearest cities: Susanville to the northeast, Redding to the west
Number of visitors: 418,978
Best months to visit: Late June to September
Lassen County is home to more than 150 miles of trails for hikers and backpackers, ranging from easy to hard. One of several parks dubbed a Mini Yellowstone by hiking enthusiasts, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to all four kinds of volcanoes found on Earth, including one of the largest plug-dome volcanoes: Lassen Peak (10,457 feet). Most of the park is closed in winter, but some areas are popular snowshoeing or backcountry skiing spots.
What not to miss: The challenging 5-mile round-trip Lassen Peak Trail offers spectacular views. On a clear day, hikers can see Mt. Shasta, another active volcano more than 100 miles away. The paved, wheelchair-accessible Sulfur Works Trail (a .3-mile hike) takes guests past bubbling mud pots and steam vents.
Nearest cities: Crescent City in the north, Arcata and Eureka in the south
Number of visitors: 409,105
Best months to visit: May to early September
Tucked away in the northwest corner of California, in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, Redwood National Park is home to some of the world’s tallest trees. It’s a great park for families and groups with varying hiking skills. There are mapped scenic drives for motorists and easy and moderate walking and hiking trails—some with views of the rugged coastline.
More:Words can’t describe the wonder of Redwood National Park in California
What not to miss: The easy 1.5-mile Lady Bird Johnson Grove loop trail passes through conifer forestland and includes a trail through old-growth redwood forest and second-growth Douglas firs. The moderately challenging 1-mile Klamath River Overlook trail is one of the most rewarding hikes at the park, with views of the Pacific Ocean and, at times, whales, seals, sea lions, raptors, and other coastal wildlife.
Nearest cities: Salinas and Soledad
Number of visitors: 341,220
Best months to visit: Spring and autumn
Shaped into dramatic rock spires by prehistoric eruptions and rich in oak and chaparral forest, the 27,000-acre Pinnacles National Park includes more than 30 miles of trails around geological formations and wildlife habitats. There are plenty of easy hiking trails for all skill levels and families. There are plenty of climbing opportunities, but the volcanic breccia tends to crumble, so consult park staff about the safest routes.
What not to miss: The easy 2.6 Bear Gulch Trail offers ample bird and other wildlife-watching opportunities. More challenging trails include the 5.6-mile Condor Gulch to High Peaks loop trail. Some trails, including the Old Pinnacles Trail Loop, feature talus caves and other rock formations.
Nearest cities: Ventura, Santa Barbara and Oxnard
Number of visitors: 328,746
Best months to visit: Year-round
The least visited national park in California, the five islands that make up Channel Islands National Park offer a wealth of wildlife unique to their secluded habitat. Guests who make the trip see Southern California the way it was more than a century ago. Take the Island Packers shuttle boat or a private boat from the Ventura and Santa Barbara visitor centers, but call ahead for blue and gray whale-watching opportunities. No pets are allowed; service animals must have “satisfied a protocol of vaccination, parasite prevention, and health exam to ensure they will not compromise the health of island species,” the park service said.
More:Redding art teacher swims around Manhattan, completes open water ‘Triple Crown’
What not to miss: This park has wonderful snorkeling and diving opportunities, and each island is different. Some of the best views are from Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island. Take the four-hour boat trip to San Miguel Island for a 16-mile round-trip hike, and you might catch views of California sea lions and several seal species.
Nearest cities: Fresno and Cedar Grove
Number of visitors: 643,065
Best months to visit: May to September
While its next-door neighbor, Sequoia National Park, attracts close to a million visitors yearly, Kings Canyon National Park has averaged 636,000 since 2021. These two adjacent parks cover parts of Fresno and Tulare counties. Carved by a glacier, 1.5-mile deep Kings Canyon is home to some of the world’s largest trees. The park is packed with easy, family-friendly trails. Climbers online reported excellent bouldering opportunities, albeit with some hiking required to get to the best spots. While not as popular as Sequoia, Kings Canyon gets crowded in summer, so staff recommend coming in early fall or late spring.
What not to miss: The General Grant Trail takes hikers on a family-friendly 3/4-mile loop around an old-growth forest and passes the second-largest tree in the world, the General Grant Tree. The Mist Falls Trail is a moderately challenging 7.8-mile round trip, with a challenging hike/climb at the end to get to the waterfall.
Three of California’s national parks attracted more than a million recreational visitors in 2023, according to National Park Service data.
In fourth place, Sequoia National Park attracted 980,567 guests in 2023 but had more than a million in 2022 and 2021.
Parks have website trip planners to help people reserve or find a campground or cabin rental, and pick the right activities for their skill level.
Many national park trails are off-limits to dogs, so check with park staff before you bring a furry friend.
See a list of national parks, recreation areas and monuments by state, closure announcements and other information at the National Park Service website: nps.gov/state/ca. Check each park’s website or call its visitor center for a schedule of educational programs for kids and adults that meet during the dates you plan to visit.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
Leave a Reply