San Diego is one of the world’s most exciting cities, boasting gorgeous beaches, zoos, museums and green-spaces that offer something for everyone.
San Diego is blessed with incredible national parks that are just minutes away, which make the region ideal for visiting. Here are a few we suggest on your next trip:
1. Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park in California draws over 2.5 million annual visitors and boasts some of the most breathtaking desert landscapes, from rugged rock wonderlands and unique ecosystems, to scenic hillside walks.
Hiking, climbing and camping enthusiasts alike will enjoy this park for its many rock formations and over 8,000 established routes that enable climbers to test themselves.
Joshua Tree attracts climbers from around the globe for its diverse climbing opportunities, with something suitable for novice and expert alike. There are rock faces designed specifically to introduce beginners, while massive cliffs present formidable challenges for advanced climbers.
Spring and summer are the optimal times to visit, when wildflowers bloom, providing stunning desert scenes in vivid hues. Unfortunately, these seasons also mark some of the busiest times of year, so it is wise to plan for potentially congested conditions when planning your visit.
Ryan Mountain Trail, a short out and back hike of 1.2 miles. Barkers Dam Nature Trail also makes for an easy 1.3 mile loop allowing visitors to stay active while exploring the park.
The park also hosts numerous culturally significant sites, such as Keys Ranch with its ancient rock art. You can take a ranger-led tour to learn more about this site as well as its rich history.
2. Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park stands out as an unforgettable national park, so nature enthusiasts and science nerds should make time for this trip! Home to stunning rocks in all shades of vivid color as well as fossils and petroglyphs aplenty, it makes an excellent stop.
Its compact size makes the park easily navigable; visitors can explore and find all its attractions within a day or two, making it an excellent option for family road trips or travelers wanting a quick stopover between states.
Petrified Forest offers many activities for visitors to enjoy, such as hiking, horseback riding, guided tours and geocaching – but its most distinctive feature may well be its distinctive badlands.
This extraordinary landscape consists of layers of sandstone and quartz that have been worn away over time to produce an array of colors, as well as several ancient structures like Newspaper Rock, which features mysterious petroglyphs etched between 650-2,000 years ago.
Hiking is an excellent way to experience the park’s most beloved sites, with numerous short trails less than two miles long offering this experience. But if you prefer longer treks with more solitude, check out Onyx Bridge Trail as it may provide even greater experience.
Petrified Forest offers many attractions and activities, but for optimal viewing it’s best to visit in either spring or fall when temperatures are warmer and views are better.
3. Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park in Texas’ extreme southern region is an expansive, remote expanse of natural beauty and wildlife, protected by the Chisos Mountains and separated from Mexico by an immense canyon. Boasting wide-open horizons and starry nights as well as peaceful campgrounds, trails, and mountaintops untouched by crowds – Big Bend offers visitors an unforgettable wilderness experience.
Planning ahead can help ensure a more enjoyable visit and will reduce long waits at park facilities, with peak visitation occurring between Christmas and Thanksgiving and January 1st week.
Park features four established campgrounds as well as numerous dispersed camping spots outside. To ensure an unforgettable camping experience during November to April when many established campgrounds become fully booked. Be sure to make your lodging reservations early.
Hiking is one of the most beloved activities at Big Bend National Park, providing visitors with an opportunity to get out and experience its sand dunes, desert plants and mountaintops up close. Hikers can choose from over a dozen trails – with spectacular views of Chisos Mountains beyond! – such as South Rim Trail which runs parallel with it.
Stargazing is another highly-popular activity, usually provided through ranger-led programs in the evenings. These sessions often feature presentations about stars as well as telescope viewing opportunities.
If you plan on visiting Big Bend National Park, make sure you bring plenty of food and water with you. Gas stations within the park may not always be open or staffed so it is wiser to fill up before entering.
4. White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park, one of the United States’ newest national parks, should be on your itinerary if traveling through New Mexico’s Southwest region. Be captivated by its vast expanse of pure white dunes and breathtaking night skies in this part of New Mexico!
This 275 square mile park boasts the world’s largest gypsum dune field and provides an ideal destination for hiking, picnicking and riding sand sleds.
The park offers a wide range of recreational activities, such as full moon night programs, Lake Lucero tours and Sunset Stroll Nature Walk. Furthermore, Dunes Drive allows for scenic exploration.
Pack some water and snacks before visiting. The adobe pueblo building at the entrance of the park provides an ideal place for refilling your bottle and collecting information on daily events.
Once you’ve gathered all your supplies, head to the visitor’s center to have your park pass stamped and watch a 17-minute film about White Sands. In addition, you will get a free map of the park.
White Sands National Monument should be visited between September and May when temperatures are cooler but not yet freezing and crowds are smaller. Summer can become extremely hot and windy; therefore it is wise to monitor weather conditions carefully when hiking if temperatures rise beyond 85deg Fahrenheit as per recommendations from rangers.
5. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park, should be on every desert enthusiast’s itinerary. From badlands and narrow canyons, palm tree oases, and snow-capped mountains – Anza-Borrego offers it all.
The park is also known for its geology, flora and animals; home to numerous wildlife species like mule deer, bighorn sheep, kit foxes, iguanas and the red diamond rattlesnake.
Anza-Borrego Park provides visitors with an exciting outdoor adventure, offering hikers, mountain bikers and drivers a thrilling adventure on trails or dirt roads. In addition to hiking and biking opportunities, visitors to Anza-Borrego can also bird watch or photograph birds while discovering slot canyons or other scenic areas within its borders.
Wind Caves, with panoramic views of Carrizo Badlands, provide an incredible way to experience the park’s amazing natural features. The trail winds its way upward 259 feet through wind-eroded sandstone formations with pockets and crannies formed by wind erosion; plus there’s an information center with displays about geology, flora, and wildlife found within this region.
Anza-Borrego Desert State park can be easily researched online using the California State Parks System website. Here you will find useful safety tips, trail closure updates and weather issues – even an emergency phone number should something arise that requires urgent action.
Anza-Borrego Desert offers visitors a diverse array of activities, but its most striking attraction may be its status as an International Dark Sky Park – visitors can witness the night sky in all its splendor! Enjoy wildflower blooming or stargazing – an overnight stay is highly recommended to fully experience all that Anza-Borrego offers.
6. San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest is one of the premier getaway spots in California if you want to escape city life, offering numerous recreational activities such as hiking, camping and fishing.
The national forest offers a rich natural history that makes it an enjoyable and diverse place to explore. Home to diverse ecosystems ranging from pinyon juniper stands and oak woodlands to wildflower-rich fields and meadows, it makes an intriguing destination.
Experience the splendor of nature at its best by hiking its trails – such as Jenks Lake Trail in Central Park! Take this path uphill through lush forest to a charming lake.
Dogwood Campground Loop Trail provides another family-friendly hike through the undulating terrain of San Bernardino National Forest, giving you plenty of chances to relax and unwind on this unforgettable experience.
Hikers should explore the Hurkey Creek Trail for beautiful mountain views that is easy to access with moderate difficulty level.
When visiting a national park during winter months, be sure to bring chains. Although most of its forests can be reached year-round, traffic may become congested during weekends and holidays when so much people congregate there.
