Caspers Wilderness Park is the largest and most beautiful park in Orange County with 8,000 acres of wilderness. Sandstone canyons, coast live oak trees, river valleys and wildflowers on the edge of the Santa Ana Mountains come together to create a stunning landscape. Juaneño Native Americans lived in Villages here for thousands of years and lived off the land.
#327 Park Boulevard
A drive along Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree National Park takes you up close and personal through one of the most famous 'Yucca brevifolia' strands in the World. Traveling Mormons in the 19th century named the trees after Joshua in the bible because they seemed to raise their hands in prayer and guide. This legendary name stuck and has been an iconic desert symbol ever since.
#325 San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway
San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway is a National Scenic Byway that extends 57 miles from San Luis Obispo to Big Sur. It follows the California Coast along one of the most dramatic stretches of the Pacific. From charming Morro Bay, the small towns of Cayucos, Harmony and Cambria to the enchanting Hearst Castle, take your time and enjoy the many vistas along the way. In Winter, the golden hills turn unbelievable shades of green.
#322 Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) travels from Giant Sequoia Groves down into the heart of the Sierra Nevada Wilderness. The canyon is the deepest in North America and will keep you on your toes as you make the mountain-hugging descent. Stop at Junction View for a stunning panoramic vista. Once in the canyon, the drive follows the impressive Kings River, several waterfalls and lush forest surrounded by towering granite peaks.
#320 Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is a must-see stop in Death Valley National Park. Its colorful badlands and erosional cliffs started forming 5 million years ago from an ancient lakebed. The vista was named after Christian Brevoort Zabriskie, manager of the famous Pacific Coast Borax Company. A short walk will bring you to the top of the lookout: the best in the wild west.
#318 Willis Palm Oasis
Willis Palm Oasis, located in the Coachella Valley Preserve, is a great place for solitude. A half-mile hike takes you to the base of the oasis which can be explored by hiking the cliffs and springs. Climbing to the top provides sweeping views of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley and the San Jacinto Mountains making it the perfect spot to watch the sunset.
#317 General Grant Grove
A walk around the General Grant Grove of Kings Canyon National Park is the perfect way to experience gentle giants up close. Several Giant Sequoia's surround winding trails of lush forest leading to the second largest tree in the world, General Grant, which measures 268 feet tall and 34 feet in diameter. President Coolidge named this Sequoia the Nation's Christmas tree in 1926 and has been famous ever since.
#316 Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area
Figueroa Mountain is a Recreation Area north of Santa Barbara in Los Padres National Forest. Spring is the best time to visit when the hills and mountains put on the most stunning wildflower displays in California. Grass Mountain can become completely covered in poppies it looks orange from miles away and views from the top stretch across the Santa Ynez Valley all the way to the ocean. Whether hiking the many trails or enjoying a scenic drive, Figueroa Mountain will be an unforgettable experience.
#312 Stonewall Peak
Stonewall Peak in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is one of the highest peaks in San Diego at 5,730 feet. A four mile out and back trail takes you to the summit and provides sweeping 360 degree views of the Laguna Mountains, Palomar Mountain, San Jacinto Peak, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the Salton Sea. This moderate trail climbs 1,000 feet and begins at Paso Picacho. The final ascent includes a mild sense of acrophobia with hand rails which adds to the adventure.
#310 Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs is a beautiful desert community surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Named after the town's most famous residents, Borrego means 'bighorn sheep' in Spanish. The town is an International Dark Sky Community, one of only a few in the country, making it the perfect place to watch the stars and a meteor shower. If winter rains allow, springtime brings the most stunning desert bloom on the continent with miles of explosive bloom.
