The opinions and views expressed in the news stories of interest do not always reflect those of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
News Stories of Interest
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Week of June 1, 2026
The opinions and views expressed in the news stories of interest do not always reflect those of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Celebrate 5th annual California State Parks Week includes Lake Tahoe events: California State Parks and partners will be celebrating the fifth annual California State Parks Week with special events at state parks throughout the Sacramento Region June 10-14. Presented by California State Parks, California State Parks Foundation, Parks California, and Save the Redwoods League, this exciting celebration will feature special programs and activities highlighting the incredible diversity of the nation’s largest state park system.
South Tahoe Now, June 5
Life jackets save lives: Officials urge water safety as weather heats up: Every year, rescue crews from the Folsom Fire Department, California State Parks, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, El Dorado Hills Fire Department and other agencies respond to emergencies throughout the region’s waterways. Some calls involve stranded paddleboarders or exhausted swimmers. Others involve overturned boats, missing persons, swift-water rescues and tragic drowning incidents.
Megan Davis, Folsom Times, June 5
Volunteers Sought to Help Tend the Arroyo Seco Trail This Saturday: Saturday’s volunteer day is part of a broader stewardship effort. The One Arroyo Foundation and the city broke ground in July 2024 on the One Arroyo Trail Critical Linkages Project, a $500,000 initiative funded through a California State Parks grant designed to reconnect the Hahamongna, Central Arroyo, and Lower Arroyo sections of the trail system, which heavy use, erosion, and deferred maintenance had made partially inaccessible.
Pasadena Now, June 5
Dana Point Beaches Receive High Grades in Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card: Though a wet, rainy winter and resulting runoff pollution negatively affected water quality along Southern California beaches, most Dana Point and San Clemente beaches still earned high grades on Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card this year.
Hayze Law, Picket Fence Media, June 5
Parks California accepts applications for 2027 Route to Parks grants: California State Parks and nonprofit partner Parks California are accepting 2027 Route to Parks Grants. The program will award $1.1 million to help more low-income people experience California’s state parks, the largest and most diverse state park system in the nation.
The Press Hometown News, June 4
North Coast Redwoods Looking for Volunteers to Pull Invasive Plants in June: The Redwood Parks Conservancy is putting out the call for volunteers to help with habitat restoration work across North Coast redwood parks this June. They’re partnering with California State Parks North Coast Redwoods District to tackle invasive species that are crowding out native plants.
Active NorCal, June 4
Central Coast beach town named best in the country for the second year in a row: USA Today released its list of the top 10 coastal small towns in America for 2026, and readers rewarded Pismo Beach for the second year in a row with the top spot. And after two years of being runner-up, the squirrely town’s beach on the Central Coast was also named the best beach in California.
Olivia Harden, SF Gate, June 4
Questions Surround Future of Recreational Access to San Onofre State Beach’s Parcel 1: For decades, mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners and other outdoor enthusiasts have used the inland trails of San Onofre State Beach’s Parcel 1 as a recreation hub stretching across nearly 2,000 acres along the Orange-San Diego county line.
Angélica Escobar, Picket Fence Media, June 4, 2026
Over 280 stunning California state parks are offering 170+ free events for five days only starting next week — from redwood forests to sunny beaches: California Parks Week returns with free activities inviting visitors to explore some of the state’s most iconic outdoor spaces.
Sofia Delpueche, Secret Los Angeles, June 4, 2026
MendoParks announces the 2026 Snapshot Cal Coast photography contest: Join MendoParks’ Snapshot Cal Coast 2026 photography contest during the month of June and celebrate the incredible biodiversity of Mendocino’s coastal State Parks.
The Mendocino Beacon, June 4, 2026
Monterey Bay Equestrian Center offers one-of-a-kind horseback riding excursions through coastal dunes: Few places around Monterey Bay offer such an experience, a chance to do what was once common in the region’s early days: ride horseback through a wild stretch of Monterey County.
Katie Rodriguez, Monterey County Now, June 4, 2026
Tahoe’s Best Bike-In Campgrounds: Here are a few of Tahoe’s most accessible bike spots to pitch a tent and stay for the night.
Kayla Anderson, Tahoe Daily Tribune, June 4, 2026
White House drops huge power move over offshore oil rig Gavin Newsom’s trying to destroy: The Trump administration is ramping up its backing of Sable Offshore, dispatching two Cabinet secretaries to Santa Barbara while the Texas oil giant clashes with California regulators in court.
Nina Joudeh, NY Post, June 3, 2026
Celebrate State Parks Week on the Mendocino Coast: More than 50 years ago, the paths above one of the loveliest coves on the West Coast were protected as a California State Park thanks to the “vision and perseverance” of a local woman named Emmy Lou Packard.
Justine Frederiksen, Fort Bragg Advocate-News, June 3, 2026
This coastal gem 3 hours from L.A. has just been crowned California’s best beach for 2026 — it’s also the state’s longest, spanning 17 miles: Pismo serves as the gateway to the state’s longest continuous stretch of sand, Pismo State Beach, spanning an impressive 17 miles. It’s the perfect spot for those who want to experience the vast, open beauty of the Central Coast without the typical city obstructions.
Sofia Delpeuche, Secret Los Angeles, June 3, 2026
Where to See Rhododendrons in Bloom in Sonoma County: California State Parks senior environmental scientist Brendan O’Neill explains that crews thin the redwood, tan oak, and fir forest by removing smaller trees from beneath the main forest canopy, then piling the cuttings and covering them to cure, before burning the piles in winter when conditions allow. “The rhododendrons depend upon sunlight and openings in the forest to be at their greatest,” O’Neill says.
Nate Seltenrich, Sonoma Magazine, June 3, 2026
America's 8 Beaches With The Most Whale Sightings (And The Best Time To See Them): One of the best beaches in Monterey for spotting whales is Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, the "Crown Jewel of the California State Park System."
Reannon Muth, Islands, June 3, 2026
Time Travel Through Monterey County: Monterey County is one of those places where California history doesn’t just linger; it stacks, layer upon layer, across coasts, valleys, and mountains. On a single journey, you can move from Indigenous homelands to Spanish presidios, from Mexican-era ranchos to 20th-century artist colonies, and onward into a region shaped by agriculture, military history, creativity, and ecological conservation.
Atlas Obscura, June 2, 2026
6 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns On The Pacific Coast: Decades of saltwater tumbling smoothed every shard into rounded pebbles, and the beach is now part of MacKerricher State Park. Visitors can walk the beach but cannot legally collect glass.
Bryan Dearsley, World Atlas, June 2, 2026
11 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in Northern California: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, just south of town, protects 554 acres of coastal headlands and offshore kelp forests, with the Cypress Grove Trail loop offering one of the most photographed coastal scenes in the country.
Andrew Cowie, World Atlas, June 2, 2026
These 12 Unforgettable California Hikes Are Under 5 Miles and Perfect for the Whole Family: Theodore Roosevelt once called Burney Falls the eighth wonder of the world, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with him. Located in McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, the 0.5-mile loop trail to the base of the falls is short, easy, and completely unforgettable.
Evan Cook, Fast Food Club, June 2, 2026
CA State Parks Approves Beaumont's Next Phase Of Stewart Park: See why the Stewart Park revitalization project is a significant milestone for Beaumont.
Ashley Ludwig, Patch, June 2, 2026
Take a hike! | Casey’s Corner: This is a perfect time of year, before the weather gets summer-scorching again, to head out with your furry companion for a hike. Subscription required.
Joan Merriam, Oroville Mercury-Register, June 2, 2026
10th annual Powerfest Taps and Tunes returns June 13 for good cause: Craft beer, local history and live entertainment will once again come together at one of the region’s most iconic landmarks as the Friends of the Folsom Powerhouse prepare to host the 10th Annual Powerfest Taps & Tunes on Saturday, June 13.
Bill Sullivan, Folsom Times, June 1, 2026
Celebrate History, Culture, and Community at the 4th annual Legacy Day: The Sierra State Parks Foundation and California State Parks are holding the fourth annual Legacy Day, a vibrant, family-friendly celebration of the cultural, natural, and historical richness of the land at Donner Memorial State Park.
South Tahoe Now, June 1, 2026
California State Parks' Most Coveted Reservation Is Historic Cabin Stay On A Spectacular Coastal Bluff: One of the best places to take in those vistas is also the most coveted, hard-to-get reservation in the entire state parks system, the Steep Ravine Cabins.
Hillary Louise Johnson, Islands, June 1, 2026
This gorgeous Pacific Coast drive in California feels like a scene straight out of a movie: California’s Highway 1, also known as CA-1, is one of the most breathtaking road trips you can take in the entire United States.
Evan Cook, Fast Food Club, June 1, 2026
Between Los Angeles And Bakersfield Is California's Mountain Community With Rugged Trails And Canyon Views: An ideal way to explore the canyons is on an offroad trail, and Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) is an approximate 15-minute drive south.
Kelley Dukat, Islands, June 1, 2026
Tahoe campground reopens after three years, but reservations hard to come by: California reopened the popular Tahoe campground May 21 after a lengthy construction project that kept the park closed for three years.
Russ De Maris & Tina De Maris, RV Travel, June 1, 2026
Suspect detained after domestic violence call in Big Sur, officers suffered minor injuries: State Parks and California Highway Patrol officers responded to reports of domestic violence in Big Sur, Sunday afternoon.
Joseph Copitch, KSBW, June 1, 2026
Captain Fletcher’s Inn – Navarro-By-The-Sea Day Announced: MendoParks is announcing the return of Navarro-by-the-Sea Day at Captain Fletcher’s Inn at Navarro Beach (Navarro River Redwoods State Park) on Saturday, June 6th from noon—5:00 pm.
Caroline Brodsky, Anderson Valley Advertiser, June 1, 2026
These Are the 10 Most-loved U.S. State Parks, According to a New Ranking: National parks often get all the love and rank high on travelers’ bucket lists, but there are plenty of state parks filled with hikes, waterfalls, mountains, lakes, coastlines, and forests that are just as worthy of planning a trip for.
Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, June 1, 2026
The 10 Most Underrated Beaches in California: Stretching from San Diego County and north to Humboldt County, here are the ten most underrated beaches in California.
Fiona Chandra, Fodor’s Travel, June 1, 2026
Gold Runner to Run Special Trains to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for 2026 Juneteenth Celebration: Travelers from Northern California, the Bay Area, or the Central Valley are invited to experience a scenic day trip aboard the Gold Runner, arriving directly at the gates of the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for its 2026 Juneteenth Celebration, Saturday, June 13.
Contra Costa News, May 31, 2026
Coast Guard releases video of cave rescue at a California beach: Responding agencies included CAL FIRE, Santa Cruz County Fire, the U.S. Coast Guard, Santa Cruz City Fire with a lifeguard, Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol and California State Parks lifeguards.
Ricardo Tovar, KSBW, May 31, 2026
Can I get a DUI on an ATV in California? Know these rules before going off-road: Although these areas don’t have paved streets or traffic lights, the rules of the road still apply. That includes drug and alcohol use.
Alexiah Syrai Olsen, San Luis Obispo Tribune, May 31, 2026
Tahoe's top attraction is chaotic. Officials hope they've found a fix: The lookout at Emerald Bay is an immensely popular stopover but has little parking relative to the number of visitors. Subscription required.
Gregory Thomas, SF Chronicle, May 30, 2026
Finding Sanctuary | ‘Herculean’ effort combats avian influenza outbreak in California’s marine mammals, birds: The avian influenza outbreak that put some of California’s most beloved marine mammal and sea bird populations at risk has subsided in marine mammals, according to officials who confirmed no positive cases have been detected since March 14. Subscription Required.
Lisa Uttal, Santa Cruz Sentinel, May 30, 2026
11 Towns Made For A Quiet Getaway In California: The eleven California towns below have, by various combinations of geography, zoning, and stubbornness, kept the conditions for genuine quiet.
Olivia DiMauro, WorldAtlas, May 30, 2026