NEWS CLIPS

 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 Sept. 22, 2025

 

Tahoe’s rope swing battle: Athlete arrested after 100-foot jump: For decades, a rope swing tucked along the cliffs of D.L. Bliss State Park drew thrill-seekers of all kinds to Lake Tahoe. This wasn’t just any rope tied to a tree — it dangled from a massive pine rooted in solid granite, launching jumpers more than 40 feet above the lake’s deep, crystal-blue water.

Petra Molina, Tahoe Daily Tribune, Sept. 26, 2025.

Exploring The Stunning Shooting Locations Of 'One Battle After Another': Set against the diverse landscapes of California and Texas, One Battle After Another is an American epic action thriller, premiering in theatres across the US on September 26, 2025. The Warner Bros film stars Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio, along with Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro in lead roles.
Ankriti Srivastava, Travel + Leisure, Sept. 26, 2025.

6 National & State Parks In California You Have To Visit: California’s enormous selection of state and national parks displays some of the most diverse landscapes in all of the United States. From towering redwoods and ancient sequoias to desert expanses and rugged Pacific coastline, these protected areas highlight the state’s ecological and cultural offerings in ways that are truly unique and spectacular.
Brendan Cane, World Atlas, Sept. 25, 2025.

California State Parks launches the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park planning effort: California State Parks has announced the official launch of the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park planning effort. This begins a community-centered process to reflect and shape the future of the park after an arson fire destroyed much of the mansion, an iconic Chico landmark, in December 2024. 
Lake County News, Sept. 25, 2025 

This Small Town in Northern California Feels Like It’s Straight Out of ‘Twilight’: A small former logging town nestled deep in the woods, near the ocean, rural and eclectic, with a distinct focus on tourism and nature—sounds like the perfect location for a story about vampires!
Charlie Boyle, Only In California, Sept. 25, 2025.

3 hikes near L.A. to observe Yom Kippur in nature:My friend Deborah and I had already walked two miles around the Arroyo Seco, and I was beginning to worry we’d missed it. Somewhere along this path lay a labyrinth. “Whenever I trail run here, it just kind of appears,” I told her, telling myself we couldn’t have missed it. And then, just when I started to lose faith, I noticed a clearing ahead.
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, Sept. 25, 2025.

Photo contest invites Mendocino County photographers to showcase state parks: Photographers of all experience levels are invited to submit their captures of California’s state parks for the California State Parks Foundation Photo Contest. The annual contest invites submissions showcasing the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks.
Sarah Stierch, The Mendocino Voice, Sept. 25, 2025.

Ghost town Bodie lends itself to stunning Sierra loop day trip: Two things will strike you as you approach what is arguably the most unusual unit in the California State Park system. You are traveling on the poorest excuse for a state highway. And what person in their right mind looked for gold in this forsaken remote valley?
Dennis Wyatt, Escalon Times, Sept. 25, 2025.

State Parks planned to build a seaside campground in SLO County. What happened?: A crumbling, ocean-view motel that sits atop the Piedras Blancas bluffs in San Luis Obispo County was supposed to be the site of California’s next seaside campground.
Stephanie Zappelli, The San Luis Obispo Tribune, Sept. 25, 2025 

Fourth graders and their families can enjoy state parks for free for a year: Any public school fourth grader can download the California State Park Adventure Pass now to enjoy a full year of access to 54 participating state parks for free at www.parks.ca.gov/AdventurePass?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
The Press, Sept. 24, 2025.

4 interesting events coming up in Marin: The Mount Tamalpais State Park Science Quest Day features activities, talks and workshops about the mountain and its natural history on Saturday in various locations throughout the state park. All events are free. For a full list of events and to RSVP, visit eventbrite.com. 
Daniel Bromfield, Marin Independent Journal, Sept. 24, 2025 (subscription needed to read the full article).

State encouraging residents to enter its parks photo contest: Have you ever taken a breathtaking photo in one of California’s state parks and thought, “This is so good it could win a contest”? Now’s your chance. Inspired by the Golden State’s 175th anniversary this month, California State Parks is holding a photo contest inviting Californians to celebrate the state’s natural beauty and history.
The Press, Sept. 24, 2025.

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at Joss House Oct. 4: History will come alive when a traditional Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is presented at the Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park, 630 Main St., Weaverville. California State Parks and the Weaverville Joss House Association are inviting the public to this free special event on Saturday, Oct. 4.
The Trinity Journal, Sept. 24, 2025.

A Tiny Seabird Faces Growing Threats in the Forest: Russian fur traders settled at Fort Ross on the rock-studded California coast in 1812, felling a grove of towering redwood trees for lumber to build a fort, homes and a church. More than two centuries later, the fort is a state park, and the redwood grove has regained the shady, canopy feel of old-growth forest, with a fern-bedecked floor and a creek purling beneath. 
Jim Robbins, The New York Times, Sept. 23, 2025 (subscription needed to read the full article).

Historic fashion shows support Hearst Castle preservation, education: The Foundation at Hearst Castle and The Monday Club of San Luis Obispo are partnering to present two fashion shows on Saturday, Oct. 4, to support historic preservation and education programs. Both organizations were designed by Julia Morgan, California’s first licensed female architect. 
Paso Robles Daily News, Sept. 23, 2025.

California State Parks photo contest: Inspired by the Golden State’s 175th anniversary earlier this month, California State Parks is holding a photo contest inviting Californians to celebrate the state’s natural beauty and history. You can submit photos taken in one of 280 state parks in up to five categories for a chance to win special prizes! Photos must be taken in 2025. Be sure to submit yours by Oct. 9, 2025. 
Gold Country Media, Sept. 23, 2025.

‘Amazing Nobody Died’: Reckless Boater Charged at Trestles (Video): On Friday afternoon, seemingly out of nowhere, a boat came barreling northbound up the coast near San Onofre State Park, and plowed through the crowded lineup at Lower Trestles. By all accounts, it was a serious close call; luckily no injuries reported.
Dashel Pierson, SURFER Magazine, Sept. 23, 2025.

'Amazing that no one died': Calif. boater plows through famous surf spot: Tragedy nearly struck the world-famous Lower Trestles surf spot in Southern California on Friday afternoon, after a boater plowed directly through a crowd of surfers, nearly hitting multiple people.
Lester Black, SFGATE, Sept. 23, 2025.

Thousands volunteer for state’s cleanup effort: Tens of thousands of Californians turned out Saturday, Sept. 20 to take part in the 41st annual California Coastal Cleanup Day — the state’s largest annual volunteer event. Participants scoured cleanup sites, removing hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash before it could be washed out to sea during the rainy season.
Escalon Times, Sept. 23, 2025.

Popular Big Sur trail finally reopens: Here’s a welcome bit of news for RVers who love Big Sur: The Pfeiffer Falls Trail is open again! This short redwood hike is one of the park’s most photographed spots.
Gail Marsh, RV Travel, Sept. 23, 2025.

Dreamy stretch of Big Sur’s Highway 1 will finally reopen: ...Yet another dramatic incident occurred in March 2024, when storms caused part of the highway to erode, forcing one-way traffic restrictions and extensive delays for anyone hoping to visit Point Sur Historic State Park and California’s “mini-Yosemite,” Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. That reconstruction project was completed this summer.
Astrid Kane, The San Francisco Standard, Sept. 22, 2025.

Volunteers collect at least 178,000 pounds of trash for California Coastal Cleanup Day: Thousands of volunteers flocked to the California coast and waterways on Saturday to participate in the 41st annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. The event, which is largest single-day volunteer event in the world, according to Guinness World Records, invited volunteers across the state to pick up trash along coastal areas ranging from Lake Tahoe to the San Francisco Bay.
Sarah Stierch, NBC Bay Area, Sept. 22, 2025.

Will the Reel Inn rise again? Iconic seafood shack in back-and-forth limbo with state: The fate of one of the most iconic restaurants along Pacific Coast Highway is in limbo months after its destruction in January’s Palisades fire, but in an about-face, California State Parks says it will work to allow the Reel Inn to rebuild on or near its original site.
Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, Sept. 22, 2025.

California State Parks taking reservations for fall tours at Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park: It's astonishing to learn that the ruins of a 2,000-year-old Native American village exist near the much younger, 149-year-old village of Tehachapi. Located a short drive from the mountain town about 40 miles east of Bakersfield, Tomo-Kahni served as the winter village of the Kawaiisu, or Nuwä, people for more than 20 centuries.
The Bakersfield Californian, Sept. 22, 2025.

Nearly 20-thousand volunteered for state’s Coastal Cleanup: Thousands of volunteers flocked to the California coast and waterways on Saturday to participate in the 41st annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. The event – the largest single-day volunteer event in the world, according to Guinness World Records – invited volunteers across the state to pick up trash along coastal areas ranging from Lake Tahoe to the San Francisco Bay.
Sunni Khalid, KALW-NPR, Sept. 22, 2025.

Local agencies share tips for bear safety in the Tahoe Basin: When you're roaming a habitat for black bears like the Tahoe Basin, scare them off so they don't steal your food. That's the core message of a presentation put on by California State Parks at Tahoe Bear Fest.
Alin Beane, 2News-TV (Nevada), Sept. 22, 2025.

California State Parks and First Partner Invite Fourth Graders and Families to Experience the State’s Unmatched Beauty and History for Free: With the school year just getting into full swing, California State Parks, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the California Natural Resources Agency are inviting all fourth graders in California public schools to download the free California State Park Adventure Pass.
Red Headed Blackbelt, Sept. 22, 2025.

Last of lead cable removed from Baldwin Beach at Lake Tahoe:  The lead-sheathed telecommunications cables resting in Lake Tahoe for decades are now out. In November 2024, agencies announced the eight miles of cable between Baldwin Beach and Rubicon Bay, but there was still one section remaining.
Paula Peterson, South Tahoe NOW.com, Sept. 21, 2025.

Sea Otter Awareness Week events planned in Morro Bay: California State Parks, in partnership with Sea Otter Savvy, will host a series of programs for Sea Otter Awareness Week from Sept. 21 to Sept. 27 in Morro Bay. The annual event is organized by Defenders of Wildlife, Sea Otter Savvy, California State Parks, the Elakha Alliance, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Paso Roble Daily News, Sept. 20, 2025.

Ghost town in ‘arrested decay’ is under four hours away & lends self to stunning Sierra loop day trip: Two things will strike you as you approach what is arguably the most unusual unit in the California State Park system. *You are traveling on the poorest excuse for a state highway. *And what person in their right mind looked for gold in this forsaken remote valley?
Dennis Wyatt, Manteca/Ripon Bulletin, Sept. 20, 2025.

County Clerk-Recorder Returns to Mount Diablo for “Destination Weddings”: The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, is once again partnering with California State Parks for “Destination Weddings,” a very popular event that brings weddings to the Summit of Mount Diablo. The event, scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2025, has limited appointments available.
Contra Costa News, Sept. 19, 2025.

State Park and Rec Commission to host public tour of Delta: The public is invited to join the California State Park and Recreation Commission on a tour of California State Parks sites in the Delta from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24. The tour includes Brannan Island State Recreation Area, the Delta Meadows Park Property and the Locke Boarding House Museum.
Lodi News-Sentinel, Sept. 19, 2025.

California State Parks holds photo contest: California State Parks is calling on state residents to share their photography talents and capture the sweeping majesty of the state’s parks. Entries may be submitted in five categories — A Wild Ride, Living Wonders, Heroes and Helpers, Space for All, and Landscapes and Legacy — until Oct. 9.
Lodi News Sentinel, Sept. 19, 2025.

Invasive Golden Mussels Threaten Southern California Lakes: Southern California is facing a new environmental challenge as invasive golden mussels have been detected in two major lakes: Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County and Pyramid Lake in Los Angeles County. This marks a significant spread from their initial discovery last fall at the Port of Stockton in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the first known appearance of the species in North America.
KFI-Radio, Sept. 19, 2025.

Boat Goes Wild, Drives Through Lower Trestles Lineup: Lower Trestles is known, among other things, for having a crowd that resembles rush hour on Interstate 5. But what transpired on Friday afternoon was downright diabolical. According to several reports and footage captured on a Surfline cam (and posted online by @lottrolls), a 30-foot sport fishing boat came in hot in between sets and steamrolled into the lineup at Lower Trestles.
August Howell, Surfer, Sept. 19, 2025.