California State Parks Closures

Last month it was announced that 70 California State Parks would be closing to help balance the state's budget. There are close to 300 state parks that cover almost 1.5 million acres. The closures, according to the state parks department, were selected based on attendance statistics and historical importance. Here are the parks on the chopping block...

SHP = State Historical Park. SP = State Park. SB = State Beach. SRA = State Recreation Area.

Anderson Marsh SHP
Annadel SP
Antelope Valley Indian Museum
Austin Creek SRA
Bale Grist Mill SHP
Benbow Lake SRA
Benicia Capitol SHP
Benicia SRA
Bidwell Mansion SHP
Bothe-Napa Valley SP
Brannan Island SRA
California Mining & Mineral Museum
Candlestick Point SRA
Castle Crags SP*
Castle Rock SP
China Camp SP**
Colusa-Sacramento River SRA
Del Norte Coast Redwoods SP
Fort Humboldt SHP
Fort Tejon SHP
Garrapata SP**
George J. Hatfield SRA
Governor's Mansion SHP
Gray Whale Cove SB
Greenwood SB
Grizzly Creek Redwoods SP
Hendy Woods SP
Henry W. Coe SP
Jack London SHP
Jug Handle SNR*
Leland Stanford Mansion SHP
Limekiln SP**
Los Encinos SHP
Malakoff Diggins SHP
Manchester SP
McConnell SRA
McGrath SB
Mono Lake Tufa SNR
Morro Strand SB
Moss Landing SB**
Olompali SHP
Palomar Mountain SP
Petaluma Adobe SHP
Picacho SRA
Pio Pico SHP
Plumas-Eureka SP
Point Cabrillo Light Station*
Portola Redwoods SP*
Providence Mountains SRA
Railtown 1897 SHP
Russian Gulch SP**
Saddleback Butte SP
Salton Sea SRA
Samuel P. Taylor SP**
San Pasqual Battlefield SHP
Santa Cruz Mission SHP
Santa Susana Pass SHP
Shasta SHP
South Yuba River SP
Standish-Hickey SRA
Sugarloaf Ridge SP
Tomales Bay SP*
Tule Elk SNR
Turlock Lake SRA
Twin Lakes SB
Weaverville Joss House SHP
Westport-Union Landing SB
William B. Ide Adobe SHP
Woodson Bridge SRA
Zmudowski SB

Since we started camping with the boys in 2005, the state parks have been our family's summer vacation destinations. We've done at least three 1000+ mile trips, camping at different state parks each night. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries at the parks. We've even clung to a cliff's edge camping site during a Valentine storm on the Big Sur coast. Whenever we can, the boys complete the Junior Ranger program at the park. It's been a great way to see the state, to see different environments from the redwoods to the desert, and to spend time at a slower pace, enjoying each other's company and getting lots of fresh air and sunshine along the way.

I've starred the parks we've visited, double-starred the ones we've visited multiple times. Over the next few days, I'll be going back to look through trip photos. And I'll be telling stories about the places we've visited and what we've learned...because everywhere we go, the boys learn things and we learn things. Note: neither of the state parks above are on the closure list, but they could be in the future.

What a travesty to be losing access to these natural wonders!