State Parks near Chico, CA

Located in Southeastern Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, in Northern California, Annadel State Park, also known as Trione-Annadel State Park is 5,092 acres in size. It lies approximately eight miles from Kenwood. Some of the natural attractions within this day-use park include marshes, creeks, wildflowers, rocky outcroppings, woodlands, chaparrals, and meadows. Amidst the hilly terrain of Annadel State Park lies Lake Ilsanjo, one of the area’s prime attractions. This 26- acre recreational humanmade lake was built in 1953. It is popular with anglers and swimmers.

There are lots to see and do in Annadel State Park. When your interest is on land activities, you will find over 40 miles of trails scattered throughout the park. They are open for …

Auburn State Recreation Area is located on the western edge of California near the state’s border with Nevada. This 42,377-acre area was once a sought-after place for gold panning and still is thanks to its abundance of minerals. During the 1950s, a dam was to be built on the grounds, but this plan was soon abandoned due to fears of its construction causing an earthquake.

Numerous people still flock to Auburn State Recreation Area to enjoy its beautiful scenery or to attend one of its many endurance races. The area tends to have very mild temperatures year-round, with summers being cool and winters being somewhat warm.

Brannan Island State Recreation Area is a 329-acre park located on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Located around four miles away from the town of Rio Vista, this lovely area consists of sloughs, marshes, levees, rivers, and channels. It's no surprise that fishing, swimming, and boating are among the most popular activities for campers and day-use visitors here.

Thanks to its habitat and diverse wildlife, the park always has a lively atmosphere, even during the off-season. The park has amazing RV campgrounds as well, so book an RV in Sacramento County to make the most of your Brannan Island State Recreation Area camping trip.

Whether you want to unwind with the sounds of nature in the background, have a …

Located in the north-western mountains of California, Castle Crags State Park has become a popular haunt for those who have an RV rental in Siskiyou County. Conveniently located just off Highway 5, this spectacular park has direct access from both Sacramento and Eugene, OR.

Established as a state park in 1943, Castle Crags State Park was recognized for its remarkable glacial rock formations. However, this state park is much more than just stunning landscapes. In fact, it was once the location of a bloody battle between the Modoc Indian tribe who settled in the area, and gold miners who were on the hunt for the valuable metal.

Today, visitors choose to rent a camper near Castle Crags State …

China Camp State Park is situated on California’s central coast and is located near major cities such as San Francisco and Oakland. The park was once a shrimp-fishing village for Chinese-Americans during the 1800s, something that it’s named after. However, before this, numerous Native American tribes lived on the land. In the 1970s, California designated the land as a state park.

China Camp State Park is known for its beautiful salt marshes and views of the San Pablo Bay. It has also been showcased in various films and TV shows. Visitors to the park will find that the area has very comfortable weather, including during the summer, with average temperatures being around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Long before the European settlers arrived, the region was used by Washoe Native Americans, who are known to have lived and hunted in the Great Basin (the area near Tahoe Lake) for at least 6,000 years. Due to the harsh terrain and arid conditions, the settlers nicknamed it Devil’s Valley. It was used primarily for cattle grazing for much of the 19th century. Around the turn of the century, alarmed by development creeping in, the US Forest Service began purchasing land and started the process of turning it into a federally-managed park. It was initially established as Desolation Valley Primitive Area in 1939 and later recategorized as Desolation Wilderness in 1964.

The small town of South Lake Tahoe, CA, …

In the northeast of California, near Lake Tahoe, is Donner Memorial State Park. This park is near the border shared between California and Nevada, between the Tahoe National Forest and the cities of Carson City and Reno, in Nevada. Donner Memorial State Park marks the site of the ill-fated Donner Party, a group of explorers who were trapped by weather during the winter of 1846-1847. When you book an RV in Nevada County, you’ll be able to see this park and more during your trip.

Contained within the park are both the Emigrant Trail Museum and the Pioneer Monument, both of which are dedicated to travelers who braved the Emigrant Trail through the mountains. This park covers over …

Lake Tahoe is a popular tourist destination, and almost two miles of the western shore is in Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park near Tahoma, California. The park has about 1,000 hectares of densely forested mountains. Carson City, Nevada is less than an hour and a half from the park, and Sacramento is just over two hours away.

No need to worry if you don't own a motorhome — you can still enjoy camping at Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. Book an RV in El Dorado County and spend time visiting nearby attractions on your Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park camping adventure. Drop in and visit Tahoe City to stock up on camping supplies before …

Gushing waterfalls, lakeview campsites, and a Norwegian-styled mansion are just a few of the treasures awaiting South Lake Tahoe campers. Originally sold to California by lumberman Harvey West in 1953, Emerald Bay State Park was promptly designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969. Right on the crest of California’s Sierra Nevada, South Lake Tahoe is neighboring cities with contemporary Truckee and is about half an hour’s drive away from the lush landscapes of the El Dorado National Forest.

Located in one of a handful of cities on the historic Lake Tahoe, the park features California’s first ever maritime heritage underwater trail for divers to explore and interact with. Prefer to be in the woods? Numerous nature trails swirl around …

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area surrounds California’s Folsom Lake and sprawls at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Book an RV in Sacramento County and set a course for the Recreation Area, which can be reached from either Highway 50 or I-80. Located near the town of Folsom, the recreation area sits approximately 30 minutes away from Sacramento, the Golden State capital. 

The park’s two reservoirs, Folsom Lake and Lake Natoma, are the sites for diverse activities and events held throughout the year, including sailboat regattas, rowing competitions, fishing tournaments, horseback endurance rides, foot races, and more. In addition to its scenic beauty, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area also has historical significance. It became one of the …

Nestled on the Sonoma County coastline, some 12 miles away from the small town of Jenner, is an old Russian settlement also known as Fort Ross State Historic Park. Fort Ross lies on a wave-cut terrace, overlooking steep bluffs and the ocean on one side and coastal redwood forests and hills on the other.

Sonoma County campers, divers, and anglers are often found in the lower part of the park, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of Sandy Cove beach. Those who love to observe wildlife often explore the park's forests of bishop pine, Douglas fir, and redwood. These magnificent woodlands house different animal species, like gray foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, and black-tailed hares, and keen explorers are likely to encounter …

Set on the Van Duzen River, Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park gets you up close with the tallest trees on the planet. While the pocket-sized park occupies less than one square mile, it protects several important groves of old-growth coast redwoods. Unlike other parks such as Humboldt Redwoods and Jedediah Smith, Grizzly Creek is wonderfully off the radar and receives far fewer visitors. This makes it a fantastic place to reconnect with nature and soak in the grandeur of California's redwood forests. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the redwood forest, whether you're hiking scenic nature trails, cooling off in the Van Duzen River, or relaxing at the secluded campsite.

Are California's majestic redwood forests on your bucket list? …