Protecting State Parks

Road Journals Blog—National Parks get a lot of attention. They are the divas and pop stars of the country’s parks. But often just as amazing and precious are our state parks, some of which may be almost literally at your back door. These are our scruffier and shyer, but nevertheless, talented performers.

California has 279 gorgeous state parks, widely distributed, from the coastline to the tree line of the Sierra Nevada. Utah has 43 state parks, and Nevada has 24.

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A redwood reaches for blue at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve.

National Parks get a lot of attention. They are the divas and pop stars of the country’s parks. But often just as amazing and precious are our state parks, some of which may be almost literally at your back door. These are our scruffier and shyer, but nevertheless, talented performers.

California has 279 gorgeous state parks, widely distributed, from the coastline to the tree line of the Sierra Nevada. Utah has 43 state parks, and Nevada has 24.

In my time as a resident and native of the Golden State, I’ve visited dozens of these designated wildernesses, sometimes without knowing their protected status. My favorites include awesome landmarks like Mount Tamalpais [3] and Mount Diablo [4], whose towering vistas of the Bay Area often provide a good dose of perspective on my busy, cluttered life. At Armstrong Redwoods, giant, ancient trees dwarf not only my body, but my lifespan, (not to mention much of the history of western civilization).

Perspective isn’t always what I’m after though. For pure relaxation in summer, there’s Tahoe’s sheltered Emerald Bay to float around in, and Big Sur’s Andrew Molera State Park to get lost in.

As the ongoing news about California state parks [5] reminds us, our state parks are in trouble. Utah [6] and Nevada [7] parks need help too.

Tell us about your favorite state parks, whether nearby or at the other end of a road trip. Are the parks near you safe from closure? You can follow AAA.com/facebook [8] to find out how AAA is supporting state parks.

This blog post was first published in June 2012. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.