"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir

Marvel at our state parks scenes—from dramatic surf to faraway treetops to battling elephant seals to endangered birds to insects scurrying along a grass blade

ADVENTURE & EXCITEMENT

Wind down from the plethora of recreational adventures in our state parks with a serene night sleeping under the stars after a campfire program.

VISION & DEDICATION

Farsighted groups and partners join committed employees and generous volunteers to move each of our state parks from concept to reality.

HISTORY & HERITAGE

Irreplaceable cultural landmarks—from Native California Indian grinding rocks to forts and missions to mansions—are preserved for posterity in our state parks.

A PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE

"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." —Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy

Welcome...

Welcome to California State Parks' 150th Anniversary website! During 2014, we observed the birth of our State Park System and the beginning of the park movement. This sesquicentennial allows us to reflect on, learn from and share our history with all Californians. We held an amazing variety of events throughout the state in your favorite state parks

Back In 2014, California State Parks turned 150 years old!

California State Parks commemorated the 1864 establishment of the first state park in the world. On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill granting 39,000 acres of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the State of California. Never before had land been set aside to protect its natural state for the public to enjoy. This historic legislation was the beginning of not only the California State Park System, but the national park idea we know today.