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If you wish to know the finest Nationwide Parks close to San Francisco, you’ve come to the suitable place.
San Francisco is without doubt one of the most lovely cities on the earth, however do you know that additionally it is inside driving distance of among the finest Nationwide Parks within the nation? Whereas this wonderful metropolis is well-known for its sights and vacationer sights just like the Golden Gate Bridge, many individuals don’t notice that it’s the good place to see a number of nationwide parks close to San Francisco!
For these touring to California, the town of San Francisco generally is a nice place to begin for exploring rather more than simply huge cities. It’s strategically positioned very near many breathtaking places to see, all inside a simple day’s drive!
Nationwide Parks Close to San Francisco
Except for the few nice nationwide parks discovered inside driving distance of San Francisco, there are additionally loads of Nationwide Leisure Areas, Nationwide Monuments, Nationwide Preserves, and State Parks to discover. I put collectively all these locations to present you a listing of places and virtually limitless choices!
1. Golden Gate Nationwide Recreation Space
Distance: 10 miles, Driving time: 20 minutes
Golden Gate Nationwide Recreation Space is maybe the most well-liked vacationer vacation spot in San Francisco and simply essentially the most recognizable and iconic. This park encompasses over 80,000 acres and consists of scenic views, completely different biospheres, and even historic websites.
A few of the extra distinguished and widespread of those websites embrace a museum commemorating the constructing of the Golden Gate Bridge, Level Bonita Lighthouse, and the notorious Alcatraz Island.
Except for these sights, this park has loads of scenic mountain climbing trails the place you may get pleasure from seeing the plentiful wildlife. That is one park you don’t want to overlook, as it’s rather more than simply seeing this historic landmark!
2. Muir Woods Nationwide Monument
Distance: 20 miles, Driving time: 40 minutes
Discovered solely 40 minutes from San Francisco, Muir Woods Nationwide Monument has grown in recognition through the years and is now one of many Bay space’s largest sights. It’s the good vacation spot for nature and forest lovers.
Established in 1908, this park permits guests to hike amongst coastal redwoods, among the tallest bushes discovered anyplace on the earth.
With a number of mountain climbing trails and surreal forest groves, this place could be extremely popular, relying on the time of 12 months. You should definitely arrive early to make sure a parking spot, that is one park you’ll not wish to miss!
3. Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore
Distance: 40 miles, Driving time: 1 hour
Being in California means some lovely ocean sights, and among the best ones is Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore. This place is dwelling to some wonderful cliffs and rocks with an ocean backdrop that gives among the most gorgeous views in the entire state.
Level Reyes additionally acts as an enormous coastal wildlife protect, defending over 1,500 completely different animal and plant species with its distinctive and exquisite shorelines.
When visiting Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore, don’t overlook to go to Level Reyes Lighthouse.
For those who love animals, Level Reyes is the place to go to. House to the uncommon Tule elk, seal colonies, and migrating gray whales, you by no means know what sort of wildlife you may see!
4. Pinnacles Nationwide Park
Distance: 125 miles, Driving time: 2.10 hours
If exploring and climbing huge cliffs, caves, and rocks sound like your thought of enjoyable, then Pinnacles Nationwide Park could be an excellent nationwide park to go to. Situated within the coronary heart of the Salinas Valley, this park is filled with cliffs, caves, and buildings fashioned by an historic volcano that erupted 23 million years in the past.
Whereas well-known for its mountain climbing and mountain climbing, this park can also be well-known for being one of many 4 locations the place critically endangered California condors are bred and launched into the wild.
Guests to this park will simply get their fill of pure wonders, nice mountain climbing trails, and considerable wildlife. And solely somewhat over a two-hour drive from the town, this park makes for a wonderful day journey!
5. Level Lobos State Reserve
Distance: 120 miles, Driving time: 2 hours
Level Lobos State Reserve has been known as one of many biggest shorelines on the earth and is known as “the crown jewel of Califonia’s state parks.” Individuals flock right here from everywhere in the world to get pleasure from its diving, mountain climbing trails, and scenic ocean vistas.
The wildlife discovered at Level Lobos is world-class, and right here you will see sea lions, sea otters, elephant seals, harbor seals, and even killer whales!
From migrating whales, considerable wildlife, and coastal overlooks, there’s virtually no finish of lovely issues to see at Level Lobos State Reserve, and it’s only a brief two-hour drive from San Fransisco!
Are you planning an epic journey to Level Lobos? Make certain to verify the articles under:
6. Pfeiffer Large Sur State Park
Distance: 150 miles, Driving time: 2.30 hours
This wonderful state park is discovered proper the place California’s well-known redwoods meet their southernmost habitat, and the coastal surroundings is world famend due to the Large Sur coastal drive that winds by means of it.
A few of the extra widespread sights at this park, other than the coastal drive, is Pfeiffer Seashore and McWay Falls. Each supply some wonderful surroundings and images alternatives!
Nonetheless solely somewhat over 2 hours away, Pfeiffer Large Sur State Park is lots shut sufficient to San Francisco for a fast day and even half a day journey to go to. You’ll not remorse visiting this lovely state park!
7. Yosemite Nationwide Park
Distance: 170 miles, Driving time: 3 hours
Obtain the official Yosemite Nationwide Park Map (PDF)
Yosemite Nationwide Park is without doubt one of the most well-known parks in the USA, and lots of are stunned to be taught that San Francisco is positioned solely 3 brief hours away. It’s dwelling to large numbers of wilderness, granite cliffs, and among the most rugged terrains in California.
Yosemite has many nice locations to go to throughout the park, together with some wonderful rivers and waterfalls. Simply be ready, as this park could be very busy from April to November.
It’s simple to see why hikers and photographers fall in love with a spot like Yosemite, and San Francisco could possibly be the right staging level to go to this widespread nationwide park.
Are you planning an epic journey to Yosemite? Make certain to verify the articles under:
8. Lassen Volcanic Nationwide Park
Distance: 240 miles, Driving time: 3.30 hours
Lassen Volcanic Nationwide Park is one other nationwide park near San Francisco, and the freeway that runs by means of it is without doubt one of the most breathtaking and scenic drives in your complete nationwide park system.
This freeway passes two lovely alpine lakes, and each Emerald Lake and Lake Helen will blow you away. For hikers, Bumpass Hell Path is notorious for being an excellent hike with some steaming sulfur swimming pools as a reward to see!
Hikers will love this wonderful park, and the surroundings has among the finest mountain and alpine views California gives.
9. Kings Canyon Nationwide Park
Distance: 240 miles, Driving time: 3.30 hours
Kings Canyon Nationwide Park sits proper subsequent to Sequoia Nationwide Park, however as a result of they’re so shut collectively, most individuals will go to them on the identical journey.
Kings gives views of the wonderful Kings Canyon, one of many deepest canyons within the nation, in addition to loads of completely different mountains, waterfalls, lakes, and mountain climbing trails to discover.
The terrain right here is similar to Yosemite Nationwide Park, with fewer folks to take care of. It additionally has loads of tenting and horseback using adventures for individuals who wish to discover it even additional!
10. Sequoia Nationwide Park
Distance: 260 miles, Driving time: 4 hours
As we talked about with Kings Canyon Nationwide Park, these two parks sit so shut collectively that they’re typically visited on the identical journey. However whereas Kings Canyon has its trademark canyon, Sequoia is legendary for its big bushes.
Sequoia Nationwide Park is a land filled with big redwood bushes, together with the world’s largest tree (by quantity) named Normal Sherman.
Guests to this park can wander across the groves of those big bushes, discover mountain climbing trails, and revel in scenic meadows and canyons. There are additionally some underground sights to discover known as Crystal Cave. Sequoia is nicely definitely worth the drive from the town, as each location right here is breathtaking.
11. Mono Lake Tufa State Pure Reserve
Distance: 250 miles, Driving time: 4.30 hours
This reserve was created to protect the favored “tufa towers,” naturally occurring spires and knobs fashioned by the realm’s freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. It additionally protects all of the native wildlife, together with the tens of millions of birds touring to Mono Lake yearly.
Mono Lake itself covers over 65 sq. miles and is over one million years outdated. This makes it one of many oldest lakes in North America!
Due to how outdated it’s, the entire salt and minerals have constructed up within the lake and it is rather salty. These have contributed to the entire wonderful towers and formations which might be seen right here.
12. Redwood Nationwide and State Parks
Distance: 320 miles, Driving time: 5.30 hours
Obtain the official Redwood Nationwide Park Map (PDF)
Whereas this is without doubt one of the furthest drives from San Franciso, it is likely to be the one that’s the most price it! These parks are in a league of their very own, and the enormous redwood bushes are one thing that everybody ought to see not less than as soon as of their lifetime.
Whereas Sequoia Nationwide Park has the most important (per quantity) bushes on the earth, Redwood has the tallest bushes on the earth.
With a lot wilderness and trails to discover, you could possibly spend an infinite period of time right here, and it nonetheless wouldn’t be sufficient. It is likely to be a stretch for a day driving journey, however it’s nicely price it!
Nationwide Parks Close to San Francisco| Conclusion
When visiting nationwide and state parks, it could actually typically be a problem to search out the right metropolis to fly or journey to so as to startyour adventurer. Fortunately, there are locations like San Francisco which might be in shut proximity to so many alternative and wonderful pure wonders!
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