The 7 Best State Parks in California

"Encompassing over 600,000 acres of mostly wild desert, this is California’s largest state park and is prized for remote badlands, slot canyons, and areas accessible only on foot or by primitive four-wheel-drive roads. Spring brings spectacular displays of wildflowers—purple sand verbenas, yellow desert sunflowers, and golden poppies—while nights offer some of the best stargazing in the state after its designation as an International Dark Sky Park in 2018. The landscape also preserves ancient Native American rock art and fossilized remains, giving visitors both striking scenery and deep cultural and paleontological history." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines