State parks and beaches in California

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (Discovery Center)

Carlsbad

7 Days A Week, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Oct 10 · Fall Fun Festival

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

Vista

Botanical Building

San Diego

Daily 10 AM to 4 PM

Buena Vista Lagoon Nature Center

Oceanside

Daily 10 am-1 pm

Cabrillo National Monument

San Diego

Daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Carlsbad Lagoon Recreation Area

Carlsbad

Annual Passive Pass (APP) - One Time Fee

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Julian

8 AM to Sunset

Glencoe Beach

Oceanside

Children Under 3 Free Daily Admission

Grape Day Park

Escondido

Open from sunrise to sunset

La Jolla Sea Cave Kayaks

La Jolla

Open 7 Days a Week March-Sept 8:30am - 6:00pm

Lake Cuyamaca Recreation & Park

Julian

6am-6pm - 7 days a week

Paradise Hills Native Garden

San Diego

Pepper Park

National City

Park Hours: 6 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.; Splash Pad Hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sage Hill Ranch Gardens

Escondido

San Diego Botanic Garden

Encinitas

Museums for All - SNAP/WIC Cardholders

San Elijo State Beach

Encinitas

4th Grade Pass

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve

Santee

Monday-Thursday 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Friday-Sunday 6:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (seasonal variation)

Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary

Lakeside

Saturdays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Wednesdays 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

Bonita

Day-use: 9:30 a.m. – sunset, daily

The Cave Store

La Jolla

Tours run 9am - 4:30pm

The Water Conservation Garden

El Cajon

President's Associates - 20% Discount off Admission Tickets

Waterfront Park

San Diego

Daily 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Arlington Garden in Pasadena

Pasadena

Daily dawn to dusk

Colorado Lagoon

Long Beach

Mon-Fri 3-6pm (Sept-June), Mon-Fri 11am-5pm (June-Aug)

Corriganville Park

Simi Valley

Dawn to dusk daily

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden

Long Beach

Exposition Park Rose Garden

Los Angeles

Monday - Friday: 8:30 to Dusk, Saturday - Sunday: 8:30 to Dusk

Friendship Garden and Japanese Tea House

Glendale

Oak Canyon Community Park

Oak Park

Daily 10am to 7pm

Pelican Pier Pavilion

Long Beach

Monday–Thursday 12:00 pm–9:00 pm, Friday 12:00 pm–11:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am–11:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am–10:00 pm

Placerita Canyon Nature Center

Newhall

Tuesday through Sunday 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM

Rockin' Kids Play Center Simi Valley

Simi Valley

Monday to Sunday: 10:00am to 5:45pm

Southern California Live Steamers

Torrance

1st Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, 3rd Saturday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

Pasadena

Stough Canyon Nature Center

Burbank

Sunrise to sunset

The Huntington Chinese Garden - Garden of Flowing Fragrance

San Marino

The Japanese Garden

Lake Balboa

Monday – Thursday & Second Sunday of the Month 9:30am-3:30pm

Virginia Robinson Gardens

Beverly Hills

LA County Resident with EBT - Free Admission

Sep 26 · Grooves in the Garden

Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden

Avalon

Islander Membership – Free Admission to Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden

Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton

Fullerton

Online Plant Sale Member Discount

Atlantis Play Center

Garden Grove

Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–4 p.m. (Fall-Winter-Spring); Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–4 p.m. (Summer)

Bolsa Chica State Beach

4th Grade Pass

Crown Valley Park

Laguna Niguel

Crystal Cove State Park

Daily 6 a.m.–sunset; Historic District until 10 p.m.

Doheny State Beach

Dana Point

4th Grade Pass

Environmental Nature Center

Newport Beach

Saturdays and Sundays 10AM – 3PM

Huntington State Beach

Huntington Beach

Disabled Day Use Discount

Lantern Bay Park

Dana Point

Daily 6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.

Niguel Botanical Preserve

Laguna Niguel

Sunrise to Sunset, Seven Days per Week, 365 Days per Year

Oct 24 · Enchanted Trails

Shipley Nature Center

Huntington Beach

Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat 9 am - 1 pm

Sigler Park

Westminster

12 Noon - 5 p.m. (weather permitting)

Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary

Silverado

Saturday, 10AM – 3PM; Sunday, 10AM – 3PM

William R Mason Regional Park

Irvine

Sun - Sat: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm (Fall-Winter), 7:00 am - 9:00 pm (Spring-Summer)

Aquatic Park

San Francisco

Blake Garden

Berkeley

Closed on Tuesdays; General Admission: 10:00 am–5:00 pm

Dec 5 · Celebrate the Holidays

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

Calistoga

8:00am to Sunset, Daily

Sep 27 · Guided Walk

Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property

Half Moon Bay

4th Grade Pass

Carolyn Parr Nature Center

Napa

Wednesdays 10 AM - 4 PM | Saturday + Sunday 1 PM - 4 PM

Sep 26 · Castle Rock Appreciation Day

Castle Rock State Park

Los Gatos

4th Grade Pass

Castro Valley Community Park

Castro Valley

Children's Wonderland Park

Vallejo

Mar-Apr, W-M: 11am-5pm; May-Aug, W-M: 11am-7pm; Sept-Nov, W-M: 11am-4pm; Dec-Feb, F-Sun: 11am-4pm

Chinese Cultural Garden

San Jose

Coyote Point Recreation Area

San Mateo

Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area

Castro Valley

March - November: 8am-10pm; December - February: 8am-8pm

Depot Park

Sonoma

Don Castro Regional Recreation Area

Hayward

Parking Lot: March-October 8am-10pm, November-February 8am-8pm; Swim Area: 11am-5:30pm (weekends and holidays May 16–Sept. 27)

Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove

Alameda

Wed - Sun: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (March - Oct.); 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Nov. - Feb.)

Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden

Palo Alto

Daily during daylight hours

Gilroy Hot Springs Conservancy

Gilroy

Golden Gate Live Steamers

Berkeley

Every Sunday Noon to 3 pm

Guadalupe Gardens

San Jose

Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM

Jul 1 – Dec 31 · UMI by Chris Sicat – Art Exhibit

Hakone Estate and Gardens

Saratoga

Saratoga Resident Free Admission

Hayward Japanese Gardens

Hayward

Daily 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., except Christmas Day

Hidden Villa

Los Altos Hills

Tuesday – Sunday, from 9 AM – 5 PM

History Park (Operated by History San Jose)

San Jose

Daily 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Howarth Park

Santa Rosa

Sunrise to Sunset (Trails, Playgrounds, Fishing); Boathouse, Rides & Attractions hours vary

Japanese Tea Garden

San Francisco

Open 9am – 6pm

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

Santa Rosa

Gardens Open 8am-7pm (April-October) & 8am-5pm (November-March); Tours, Museum & Gift Shop Open April-October, Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-4:00, Sunday 1:00-4:00

Marin Art and Garden Center

Ross

Friends of the Garden - 10% off select programs

Meadow Homes Park

Concord

Sep 27 · Coastal Landforms and the Tectonic Landscape Walk

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Fort Bragg

Bulk Guest Tickets Discount

Regional Parks Botanic Garden Plant Sales

Berkeley

Wed 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, first Sat of month 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Rosicrucian Park

San Jose

Daily 8 am to sunset

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco

Free Admission with SNAP Benefits

San Mateo Arboretum Society

San Mateo

San Mateo Japanese Garden - Entrance

San Mateo

Monday - Friday: 10:00am-4:00pm, Saturday & Sunday: 11:00am-4:00pm

Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area

Pleasanton

November - February: 7am-5pm, March - April: 6am-7pm, May - Labor Day: 6am-9pm, After Labor Day - October: 6am-7pm

Skyline Wilderness Park

Napa

Small World Park

Pittsburg

Sonoma Botanical Garden

Glen Ellen

Museums for All SNAP EBT

Spark Gardens

San Francisco

The Fun Factory Children's Play Center

Petaluma

Sep 1 · This week in Oakland: dahlia show at the Gardens at Lake Merritt, and the Oakland International Film Festival

The Gardens at Lake Merritt

Oakland

Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

The Petrified Forest

Calistoga

Daily 9-5

Tilden Park Merry Go Round

Berkeley

Value Pack - Book of 7 Tickets

Tilden Regional Park

Orinda

Open 5am-10pm unless otherwise posted or permitted.

University of California Botanical Garden

Berkeley

Museums for All EBT Discount

Western Hills Garden

Occidental

Saturday and Sunday 10-4PM

Avila Beach Park

Avila Beach

Avila Hot Springs

San Luis Obispo

Sun, Mon, Tues, & Thurs 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Wed, Fri, & Sat 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Cal Poly Plant Conservatory

San Luis Obispo

Chandelier Tree

Leggett

Daily 8:30 a.m. to dusk

Chapman Estate

Pismo Beach

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Fridays 5:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (April–October)

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden

Thousand Oaks

Sundays 11AM - 3PM, Sunrise to Sunset

Dinosaur Caves Park

Pismo Beach

Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens

Dunsmuir

Franklin Hot Springs

Paso Robles

Open Every Day 7:30am–9pm

Fremont Peak State Park

Fremont

8am to 1/2 hour after sunset

Freshwater Park

Eureka

Daily 8:00 AM — 8:00 PM

Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center

San Simeon

Daily 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Gardens of the World

Thousand Oaks

Tues-Sat. 9:00am-5:00pm

Heilmann Regional Park

Atascadero

Most facilities are available from 8:00 a.m. to sunset

Humboldt Botanical Garden

Eureka

April 1st – October 31st 10 am to 5 pm, November 1st – March 31st 10 am to 4 pm, 7 Days a Week

Junction Park

Boulder Creek

Open Sunrise to Sunset

Keough's Hot Springs

Bishop

Monday 9:30-5, Tuesday Closed, Wednesday 9:30-6, Thursday 11-6, Friday 9:30-6, Saturday 9-6, Sunday 9-6

Kids Adventure Garden

Thousand Oaks

Kids' Adventure Garden Sundays 11AM - 3PM

Lava Beds National Monument

Tulelake

Limekiln State Park

Big Sur

Senior Discount

Living Memorial Sculpture Garden

Weed

Sunrise to Sunset

Sep 20 – 26 · Sea Otter Awareness Week: Morro Bay Viewing Station

Morro Bay State Park

Morro Bay

Museum admission free for children 18 and under

Nipomo Native Garden

Nipomo

Every day from dawn to dusk

Nojoqui Falls Park

Solvang

8 am to Sunset

Oscar's Playground

Monterey

Mon-Thu 1:00-9:00pm, Fri 1:00-10:00pm, Sat 11:00am-10:00pm, Sun 11:00am-9:00pm

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Carmel-By-The-Sea

4th Grade Pass

Romano Gabriel Sculpture Garden

Eureka

Salton Sea State Recreation Area

Mecca

Senior Campsite Discount

Jun 30 · Chumash Heritage Garden opens in San Luis Obispo, celebrating Indigenous plant knowledge

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden

San Luis Obispo

Monday 10:00am - 2:00pm, Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm, Sunday 10:00am - 2:00pm

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Santa Barbara

Free Community Days

Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden

Buellton

Open Sunrise to Sundown | 365 Days a Year

Sierra Azul Nursery & Garden

Watsonville

Daily 10am – 5pm

Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Piercy

4th Grade Pass

Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

Calipatria

South Yuba River State Park

Penn Valley

Sunrise to sunset daily

Steckel Park

Santa Paula

Sunset State Beach

Watsonville

4th Grade Pass

Tatum's Garden

Salinas

The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center

Guadalupe

Tuesday - Saturday, 10am to 3pm

Sep 15 – Nov 1 · Nature's Spirits – Flight Of Our Ancestors

Ventura Botanical Gardens

Ventura

Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 5pm

Agua Caliente Tahquitz Visitor Center

Palm Springs

Open daily: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

California Botanic Garden

Claremont

Martin Luther King Day Free Admission

Chino Hills State Park

Chino Hills

4th Grade Pass

Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park

Ontario

Mon-Thurs 10 a.m.-12 a.m., Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-1 a.m., Sun 10 a.m.-12 a.m.

Glen Helen Regional Park

San Bernardino

Daily 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Hunter Hobby Park

Riverside

Idyllwild Nature Center

Idyllwild-Pine Cove

Idyllwild Nature Center - Campground Free Admission

Indian Canyons

Palm Springs

Oct. 2 - July 5: daily 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; July 6 - Oct. 1: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (open only Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

Lake Gregory Regional Park

Crestline

10 AM – 5 PM | Daily

Moorten Botanical Garden

Palm Springs

Season (Oct 1 – May 31) 10am – 4pm, Closed Wednesday; Summer (Jun 1 – Sept 30) 9am – 1pm, Friday/Saturday/Sunday only

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area

Hesperia

Summer Senior Rate

Oct 4 · Plant Sales Pop-up Shop

UC Riverside Botanic Gardens

Riverside

Student Membership - Free Admission

Westwind Park

Ontario

Atwater Veterans Park Pvlln

City of Atwater

Clovis Botanical Garden

Clovis

Wednesday – Sunday: 9 am – 4 pm

Garden of the Sun

Fresno

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m.–11 a.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area

Hilmar

4th Grade Pass

Lake Yosemite Recreation Area

Merced

Gates open at 7:30AM, Gates close one hour after sunset

Micke Grove Park

Lodi

Children 2 and under free admission

Shinzen Friendship Garden

Fresno

Wed–Sun 10am–7pm (April 1–September 30); Wed–Sun 10am–5pm (October 1–March 31); Closed Monday and Tuesday

Woodlake Botanical Garden

Woodlake

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Barrett Cove Recreation Area

La Grange

Effie Yeaw Nature Center

Carmichael

Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Gold Bug Park & Mine

Placerville

April thru October 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Daily; November thru March 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM Weekends Only

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park

Vallecito

Military Discount - Spiral Tour

Sacramento Adventure Playground

Sacramento

Wednesday–Saturday: Wed–Fri 2:15–6:30 PM, Sat 11 AM–4 PM

Sherwood Demonstration Garden

Placerville

Friday and Saturday 9am - noon

UC Davis Botanical Conservatory

Davis

White Rock Splash Park

Rancho Cordova

Crystal Hermitage Gardens

Nevada City

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 am to 12:30 pm, 1:45 pm to 5:00 pm; Tuesday and Thursday Closed; Saturday and Sunday 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Devils Postpile National Monument

Mammoth Lakes

Lakeside Beach

South Lake Tahoe

Approximately 7:30 am to 9:00 pm seven days a week

Pomin Park

Tahoe City

Daily, 8:00am - Dusk

Redding Garden of Lights

Redding

Wednesday to Sunday (open November 20, 2026 – January 3, 2027)

Jul 13 · Annual Optimist Club "Day in Paradise-Duck Races" to feature local magician Alex Ramon

Tahoe Paradise Park

South Lake Tahoe

Daily 8:00am to 8:30pm

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Redding

Membership - Free Admission

UC Davis Tahoe City Field Station

Tahoe City

Daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (summer months, Memorial Day through Labor Day)

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown

Yosemite National Park

All park entrances (except Hetch Hetchy) are open 24 hours per day