Southern California national parks

1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., San Diego

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th-century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources.

1901 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura

Close to the California mainland, yet worlds apart, Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.

74485 National Park Drive , Twentynine Palms

The United States Congress designated the Joshua Tree Wilderness in 1976 and it now has a total of 557,802 acres. All of the wilderness is in California and is managed by the National Park Service. The Joshua Tree Wilderness is bordered by the Sheephole Valley Wilderness to the north.

The East Mojave National Scenic Area was established in 1980. It's a vast piece of land shaped roughly like a wedge of pie, covering most of the ground from the California-Nevada state line west almost to Barstow and between Interstates 15 and 40.

401 West Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks

Portraying Africa, the Amazon and the Old West? That's talent! Combining the scenic and the imagination play a big role in the movies and at this national park. Close to Hollywood, with beaches, grasslands, canyons and oak woodlands, this coastal mountain range has star quality. Explore a rare, diverse landscape inspiring preservation and creativity. Meet the Santa Monica Mountains in person.