California National Parks Road Trip Mapped
A new gallery showcases California's nine national parks in a spectacular road trip route that spans from Death Valley's desert landscapes to Yosemite's granite domes and the coastal beauty of Channel Islands. The suggested itinerary is designed for filling National Park Service Passports, as California has more national parks than any other state. The route offers diverse terrain perfect for adventure-packed journeys combining desert, mountain, and coastal environments.
- In 2023, California's 28 national park sites drew 36.2 million visitors who spent $3.2 billion in nearby communities, supporting 39,678 jobs and generating a total economic benefit of $5.1 billion. - The nine California national parks are Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, and Yosemite. A road trip to visit all nine is estimated to take at least three weeks to cover the vast distances between them. - Death Valley is a park of extremes, holding the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth and featuring Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. It is also the largest national park in the contiguous United States. - Yosemite National Park, established in 1890, features iconic granite cliffs like El Capitan and Half Dome and is home to Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America. The 1864 Yosemite Grant Act, which protected Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, set a precedent for the creation of national parks. - Often called the "Galapagos of North America," the five islands of Channel Islands National Park host more than 145 plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth, including the island fox. The oldest known human remains in North America were also discovered on Santa Rosa Island. - The National Park Service Passport program, mentioned in the context of the road trip, was launched in 1986 to help visitors document their trips. Visitors can obtain free, dated ink stamps at park visitor centers and ranger stations.
