California State Parks Week Returns for Fifth Year with More Than 170 Events Statewide, June 10-14
Contact:
Newsroom@parks.ca.gov
What you need to know: Fifth annual celebration features 171 activities that highlight “This is Where You Live”, celebrating the people, places and programs that make California’s 280 state parks truly special. Registration for events is now open.
SACRAMENTO — As California continues to celebrate 175 years of statehood, join California State Parks and partners in celebrating the unparalleled diversity and beauty of the nation’s largest state park system with more than 170 events during the fifth annual California State Parks Week, June 10-14.
Hosted by State Parks along with California State Parks Foundation, Parks California and Save the Redwoods League, this year’s weeklong celebration has the tagline “This is Where You Live” and features 171 events statewide. The festivities, all at no additional cost, make it easier than ever to reconnect with nature or try a new activity, whether at a favorite state park or while exploring new places. Reservations are highly encouraged and are now open on CAStateParksWeek.org, which offers a full list of events, participation details and information on this year’s student poster contest, now expanded to include transitional kindergarten.
The fifth annual celebration includes five spotlight events over five days that highlight the unmatched diversity of California’s state parks – pristine coastlines, rich habitats teeming with wildlife, towering redwood forests and picturesque alpine lakes, providing just a small sample of everything your state parks have to offer:
- Wednesday, June 10 at Cardiff State Beach
“Explore the Shore”, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Find inspiration in the sights, sounds and scents of the ocean during the kickoff event at Cardiff State Beach near San Diego for a day of hands-on activities to learn about the coastline. Whether you’re interested in plants, animals, water or rocks, there's something for everyone to explore. Participate in expert-led demonstrations or check out a self-guided kit to explore on your own. All ages are welcome; children under the age of 16 must be supervised by an adult.
- Thursday, June 11 at Great Valley Grasslands State Park
“Celebrating Floodplain Restoration”, 8 to 10:30 a.m.
Join State Parks and partners to celebrate the completion of the Grasslands Floodplain Restoration Project, which has reconnected the San Joaquin River with more than 200 acres of historic floodplain in the Central Valley. Learn how this effort is supporting critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, including salmon, kit foxes and migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. The event will feature remarks from project partners, guided tours, interpretive programs and options for on-the-water experiences.
- Friday, June 12, at Big Basin Redwoods State Park
“Resilient Redwoods Rendezvous”, guided tours at 1 and 2 p.m.
Discover the resilience of California’s iconic redwoods – the world’s tallest trees – during a guided walk through Big Basin, where most old-growth trees survived the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire on the Santa Cruz Coast. Learn how these forests are recovering and explore the ongoing efforts to reimagine the park. Visitors can also connect with partner organizations at an on-site fair and find ways to get involved in the park’s future.
- Saturday, June 13, at Sue-meg State Park
“Visitor Center Grand Reopening”, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate the reopening of the Sue-meg State Park Visitor Center on California’s North Coast with a day of community activities, food, cultural sharing and hands-on learning. Enjoy guided cultural walks, Junior Ranger programs and interactive exhibits developed in partnership with the Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People, Trinidad Rancheria and the Yurok Tribe.
- Sunday, June 14, at Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
“The Mercury Turns 100”, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Celebrate the history, craftsmanship and cultural significance of one of Lake Tahoe’s most iconic historic vessels – the Mercury speedboat – at this special 100th anniversary event. Built in 1926 and once considered the fastest speedboat in the world, the innovative 35-foot all-metal vessel earned the President’s Cup from President Calvin Coolidge. Visitors can see the Mercury up close and enjoy interpretive programs and hands-on activities, including the unveiling of a new interpretive panel, highlighting maritime history, technology innovation and cultural resource stewardship.
Launched in 2022 and growing in popularity each year, California State Parks Week advances the “Outdoor Access for All” initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the California Natural Resources Agency’s “Outdoors for All” initiative. In partnership with a broad array of governments, community organizations and tribes, California is expanding parks and outdoor spaces in communities that need them the most, supporting programs to connect with people who lack access, fostering a sense of belonging for all Californians outdoors, and much more.
Why California State Parks Week?
California’s State Park System safeguards the state’s natural beauty and cultural heritage while providing essential spaces for recreation, education and connection. California State Parks Week is a fun way to celebrate the wonder and sense of community that the outdoors provides to Californians and visitors from all over the world.
- Armando Quintero, director of State Parks: “What started out as an idea five years ago has grown into a weeklong celebration of California’s state parks and an incredible reminder that ‘This is Where You Live!’ I invite all Californians to take part in the exciting events we have in store during the fifth annual California State Parks Week that highlight the truly transformative power of their state parks.”
- Rachel Norton, executive director of California State Parks Foundation: “California State Parks Week is an incredible way to make connections – among people, nature, history and more. At California State Parks Foundation, we believe that connecting people to parks has the power to create lifelong stewards of nature. We are happy to help California State Parks Week thrive by providing financial support for a range of free, accessible events across the state, making it easier for people to experience and enjoy their parks.”
- Jessica Carter, senior program director for Save the Redwoods League: “We’re thrilled to take part in California State Parks Week's fifth anniversary this June. The California State Park System is unrivaled in its size and diversity, and Save the Redwoods League is proud to help welcome visitors from all communities to the incredible redwood parks across the state. California State Parks Week is one of our greatest opportunities to connect people with the ancient majesty and importance of coast redwoods and giant sequoias, and we're looking forward to celebrating this week of amazing events and our continued partnership with California State Parks.”
- Kindley Walsh Lawlor, president and CEO of Parks California: “California's state parks are places where people come to find something – quiet, wonder, connection, a sense of belonging. That's true whether you've visited a hundred times or are walking into a park for the very first time. Keeping these places safe, healthy and welcoming is at the heart of what we do at Parks California. But this effort takes all of us – organizations, communities, tribes and partners across the state working together toward something bigger than any one of us can do alone. That's what State Parks Week is really about.”
State Parks protects the best of the state’s natural and cultural heritage, including more than 340 miles of coastline, ancient forests, deserts, rivers and historic sites. There are more than 5,200 miles of trails, 15,000 campsites, approximately 145,000 acres dedicated to off-highway vehicle recreation, prehistoric and historic archeological sites, ghost towns, historic homes and monuments — all waiting for you to explore.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.