State parks and beaches in California

Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (Discovery Center)

Carlsbad

7 days a week 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Nov 7 · Novemberfest

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

Vista

Mon–Sat: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM; Sun: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Botanical Building

San Diego

Daily 10 AM to 4 PM, except on city holidays

Oct 14 · El Corazon Garrison Creek

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

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Julian

6 a.m - 8 p.m.

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

Mon–Sun: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM

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

Saturday 8am-1pm

Nov 20 – Jan 3 · Lightscape 2026

San Diego Botanic Garden

Encinitas

Museums for All - SNAP/WIC Cardholders

Oct 10 – 24 · Junior Rangers

San Elijo State Beach

Encinitas

Oct 24 · SPOOKTACULAR

Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve

Santee

Mon–Thu: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Fri–Sun: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary

Lakeside

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

Sweetwater Summit Regional Park

Bonita

Day-use: 9:30 a.m. – sunset, daily

The Cave Store

La Jolla

Daily 9am - 4:30pm

Oct 17 · The Garden Goes Batty

The Water Conservation Garden

El Cajon

Waterfront Park

San Diego

6 a.m. – 10 p.m., daily

Arlington Garden in Pasadena

Pasadena

8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Cesar E. Chavez Park

Long Beach

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

Colorado Lagoon

Long Beach

Mon–Sun: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Corriganville Park

Simi Valley

Dawn to dusk daily

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden

Long Beach

Mon–Tue: Closed; Wed–Thu: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Fri: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1:00 – 5:00 PM; Sat–Sun: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

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

Monday-Thursday 10am-3pm

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 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, 3rd Saturday 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

Pasadena

Mon–Thu: Closed; Fri: 4:00 – 8:00 PM; Sat–Sun: Closed

Stough Canyon Nature Center

Burbank

Sunrise to sunset

The Huntington Chinese Garden - Garden of Flowing Fragrance

San Marino

Mon: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Tue: Closed; Wed–Sun: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Japanese Garden

Lake Balboa

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

Virginia Robinson Gardens

Beverly Hills

Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton

Fullerton

Monday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Oct 24 · Jack O' Lantern Jamboree 2026

Atlantis Play Center

Garden Grove

Tuesday-Friday 10:00AM-2:00PM, Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM, Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM (Fall-Winter-Spring); Tuesday-Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM, Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM (Summer); Closed Mondays

Bolsa Chica State Beach

Oct 18 · Aromatic Plant Walk

Crown Valley Park

Laguna Niguel

Mon–Sun: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Crystal Cove State Park

6 a.m. to sunset; Historic District until 10 p.m.

Doheny State Beach

Dana Point

Oct 18 · ENC Fall Faire

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 AM–10:00 PM

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; 1st Friday Each Month 9 am - 5 pm

Sigler Park

Westminster

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

Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary

Silverado

Saturday and Sunday, 10AM to 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

Mon–Sun: Open 24 hours

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve

Antioch

Mon–Sun: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Blake Garden

Berkeley

Dec 5 · Celebrate the Holidays

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

Calistoga

8:00am to Sunset, Daily.

Nov 22 · Guided Walk

Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property

Half Moon Bay

Carolyn Parr Nature Center

Napa

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

Castle Rock State Park

Los Gatos

Castro Valley Community Park

Castro Valley

Mon–Sun: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Children's Wonderland Park

Vallejo

Chinese Cultural Garden

San Jose

Mon: Closed; Tue–Sun: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Coyote Point Recreation Area

San Mateo

Mon–Sun: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area

Castro Valley

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

Depot Park

Sonoma

Mon–Sat: 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM; Sun: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Nov 1 · Don Castro Trails Challenge Hike

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.)

Oct 24 · Halloween Magic

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

Hayward Japanese Gardens

Hayward

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

Dec 5 · Archery

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

Japanese Tea Garden

San Francisco

Open 9am – 6pm

Dec 5 – 6 · 46th Annual Holiday Open House

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

Santa Rosa

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

Marin Art and Garden Center

Ross

Sunrise to sunset, seven days a week

Meadow Homes Park

Concord

Mon–Sun: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Nov 16 – Dec 21 · Mushroom Walks

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Fort Bragg

Oct 31 · Spooky Plant Tour

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

Rosicrucian Park is open every day from 8 am to sunset

Oct 7 – 28 · Garden Buds – October

Ruth Bancroft Garden

Walnut Creek

Wednesday – Sunday | 9AM – 4PM

Nov 20 – Jan 3 · Lightscape

San Francisco Botanical Garden

San Francisco

San Mateo Arboretum Society

San Mateo

Mon–Fri: Closed; Sat–Sun: 12:00 – 3:00 PM

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

Spring/Summer 7AM-7PM, Fall/Winter 7AM-5PM

Small World Park

Pittsburg

Mon–Fri: Closed; Sat–Sun: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sonoma Botanical Garden

Glen Ellen

Museums for All SNAP EBT Discount

Spark Gardens

San Francisco

Daily 11:00am – 9:00pm

The Fun Factory Children's Play Center

Petaluma

Mondays-Tuesdays 10:00am-4:00pm, Thursdays 10:00am-4:00pm, Fridays-Sundays 11:00am-6:00pm, Wednesdays closed

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 am–3:00 pm, Saturday-Sunday 8:00 am–4:00 pm

The Petrified Forest

Calistoga

Daily 9am-5pm

Tilden Park Merry Go Round

Berkeley

Weekends 11:00-5:30

Nov 1 · Cafecito in Nature - con raices y recuerdos

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

A-Town Park

Atascadero

Avila Beach Park

Avila Beach

Mon–Sun: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

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

Oct 6 – 31 · Open Gates Season

Chapman Estate

Pismo Beach

Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (April-October)

Conejo Valley Botanic Garden

Thousand Oaks

Sundays 11AM - 3PM, Sunrise to Sunset

Dinosaur Caves Park

Pismo Beach

Mon–Sun: 7:00 AM – 8:30 PM

Franklin Hot Springs

Paso Robles

Open Every Day 7:30am–9pm

Fremont Peak State Park

Fremont

Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center

San Simeon

Daily 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Sep 30 – Nov 11 · Artist Exhibit, Milton Aviles - Painter

Gardens of the World

Thousand Oaks

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

Hardie Park

Cayucos

8:00 a.m. to sunset

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 | 7 Days a Week; November 1st – March 31st 10 am to 4 pm | 7 Days a Week

Dec 12 · Holiday Show Dinner & a Show: Once Upon a Time in a Jungle

Junction Park

Boulder Creek

Open Sunrise to Sunset

Kids Adventure Garden

Thousand Oaks

Sundays 11AM - 3PM, Wednesday 9:30 AM - Noon

Morro Bay State Park

Morro Bay

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

Sep 23 – Nov 11 · Little Acorns – Fall 2026 Wednesdays

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden

San Luis Obispo

Monday 10:00am - 2:00pm (Spring/Summer Hours), Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm, Sunday 10:00am - 2:00pm

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Santa Barbara

Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dec 1 – 31 · SYV Holiday Lights Festival

Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden

Buellton

Open Sunrise to Sundown | 365 Days a Year

Steckel Park

Santa Paula

Mon–Fri: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM; Sat: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sun: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Sunset State Beach

Watsonville

Tatum's Garden

Salinas

Daily 9am, closes 30 minutes after sunset

Templeton Park

Templeton

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

The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center

Guadalupe

Tuesday - Saturday, 10am to 3pm

The Sensory Garden

Monterey

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

Oct 17 · Autumn Bug and Tree Guided Hike

Chino Hills State Park

Chino Hills

Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park

Ontario

Mon-Thurs 10 AM-12 AM, Fri-Sat 10 AM-1 AM, Sun 10 AM-12 AM

Garden Works for Kids

Yucaipa

Glen Helen Regional Park

San Bernardino

Mon–Sun: 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM

Hunter Hobby Park

Riverside

Mon–Sun: Open 24 hours

Idyllwild Nature Center

Idyllwild-Pine Cove

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. (Friday, Saturday, Sunday only)

Lake Gregory Regional Park

Crestline

Mercado Park

Perris

Mon–Sun: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Moorten Botanical Garden

Palm Springs

Mon–Tue: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Wed: Closed; Thu–Sun: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Oct 17 · Wind Wolves Howl-o-ween

Oak Glen Preserve

Yucaipa

8 am to 4:30 pm (November – March); 8 am to 5:30 pm (April – October)

Rancho Jurupa Park

Riverside

Day use: 6 a.m. to Sunset daily

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area

Hesperia

Disabled Discount Pass

UC Riverside Botanic Gardens

Riverside

Monday-Friday 8:00 am-3:30 pm, 1st & 3rd Sunday 8:00 am-2:00 pm

Westwind Park

Ontario

Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Sat: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Sun: Closed

Atwater Veterans Park Pvlln

City of Atwater

Mon–Sun: Open 24 hours

Oct 14 – Nov 15 · 2026 Scarecrow Garden

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

Lake Yosemite Recreation Area

Merced

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

Micke Grove Park

Lodi

Oct 18 · The Art of the Tea Ceremony – An Immersive Tea Experience

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.

Animal Science Gateway Garden

Davis

Barrett Cove Recreation Area

La Grange

Mon–Sun: Open 24 hours

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

Spiral Tour Military Pricing

Sacramento Adventure Playground

Sacramento

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

Sacramento Valley Live Steamers

Rancho Cordova

First full weekend of each month March through September, 11 AM to 3 PM

Nov 7 · Sherwood Demonstration Garden — November through February

Sherwood Demonstration Garden

Placerville

Friday and Saturday 9am–noon

UC Davis Botanical Conservatory

Davis

Mon–Fri: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Sat–Sun: Closed

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, Thursday: Closed; Saturday, Sunday: 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Devils Postpile National Monument

Mammoth Lakes

Lakeside Beach

South Lake Tahoe

Daily 7:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

Pomin Park

Tahoe City

Redding Garden of Lights

Redding

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

Tahoe Paradise Park

South Lake Tahoe

Daily 8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Redding

9am-4pm (Wed-Fri), 10am-4pm (Sat-Sun)

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

Daily 9am to 5pm

Yosemite National Park

24 hours per day

Chandelier Tree

Leggett

Daily 8:30 a.m. to dusk

Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens

Dunsmuir

Freshwater Park

Eureka

Daily 8:00 AM — 8:00 PM

Julia Morgan’s Redwood Grove Estate & Garden Tours

Humboldt County

Monday-Friday 11AM and 1PM

Keough's Hot Springs

Bishop

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

Lava Beds National Monument

Tulelake

Limekiln State Park

Big Sur

Senior Discount

Living Memorial Sculpture Garden

Weed

Sunrise to Sunset

Redwood National and State Parks

Romano Gabriel Sculpture Garden

Eureka

Salton Sea State Recreation Area

Mecca

Sunday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Piercy

Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

Calipatria

South Yuba River State Park

Penn Valley

Sunrise to sunset daily