The best California State Parks to visit in May 2025
We rounded up the best California State Parks to visit in May 2025. From alpine lakes and redwood forests to high desert trails, these parks offer the season’s best weather, scenery, and experiences.
May is when California’s State Parks hit their stride. The weather sharpens—mild on the coast, warm and dry inland, and snow still hanging on in the high country. Trails are open, hillsides are green, wildflowers are at full strength, and we still have a few weeks before the summer crowds show up.
Jennifer Olney
We picked these nine state parks not just because they’re beautiful (they are), but because they each bring something special to the table in May.
Northern and Central California
Henry W. Coe State Park — Morgan Hill
This is the biggest state park in Northern California, and it feels like it. Coe is rugged, remote, and wild in the best way. In May, the trails wind through green hills scattered with mariposa lilies and golden poppies. We get wide-open views, spring-fed creeks, and almost no one else on the trail. Daytime temps usually land in the 70s, and the night skies are pitch black. If you’re looking for space, this is it.
Clear Lake State Park — Lake County
We love this park in spring—there’s color everywhere. Clear Lake sits just far enough north to catch migrating birds, while the wildflowers along Kelsey Creek light up the trail. There’s easy camping here, and if we’re lucky, we’ll spot otters or grebes cruising by while we sip coffee lakeside. It’s quiet, green, and just a couple hours from the Bay.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area — North Lake Tahoe
Here’s where we can paddleboard in the morning and go skiing in the afternoon. Thanks to a heavy snow year, Tahoe ski areas might still be spinning lifts into June. Meanwhile, Kings Beach is wide open for kayaking, picnicking, and watching snowcapped peaks reflected in the lake. The air’s crisp, the water’s cold, and the views don’t quit.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park — Santa Cruz Mountains
Redwoods, river trails, and just enough elevation to see the whole forest from above—Henry Cowell is one of our go-to parks for a spring day trip. It’s less crowded than Big Basin, but the old-growth groves here are just as majestic. We usually start with a hike up to Observation Deck, then loop back down for a swim or picnic by the San Lorenzo River.
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park — Sierra Foothills
This one’s easy to miss, but it shouldn’t be. East of Sacramento, Indian Grinding Rock tells stories older than the state itself. We’ve stood in the meadow here, looking out at oak woodlands and bedrock mortars carved by Miwok hands centuries ago. The petroglyphs are haunting. Add spring wildflowers and mid-70s weather, and it’s the kind of place that lingers with you.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park — Del Norte County
No redwood grove feels more otherworldly than this one. We’ve hiked here when the fog sits low, the rhododendrons are in bloom, and the only sound is a raven overhead. It’s far—up by the Oregon border—but worth every mile. May brings cool temperatures, lush undergrowth, and trails that weave through giants that have stood for thousands of years. There’s no place like it.
Southern California
Indio Hills Palms Park — Coachella Valley
Out near Joshua Tree, this park drops us into another world. Desert badlands split open by the San Andreas Fault, and inside the cracks, thick palm oases grow tall and wild. In May, it’s already hot—90s by afternoon—but if we hit the trails early, we get the golden light, the silence, and maybe a breeze coming off the fault line. It feels remote, cinematic, and alive.
California Citrus State Historic Park — Riverside
We don’t usually think of orchards as state park material, but this one is different. In spring, the citrus trees are blooming, and the whole place smells like sun and sugar. The park tells the story of California’s citrus boom—and we walk through it, grove by grove. Guided tours are free, and we can taste the fruit straight off the tree. Warm afternoons, blue skies, and zero crowds.
Crystal Cove State Park — Orange County
This is the kind of coastline we picture when we think of SoCal—tide pools, bluff trails, and weathered beach cottages from the 1930s. Crystal Cove delivers all of it. May mornings often start gray, but by noon we’re in the sun, hiking the backcountry or walking barefoot on the sand. If we’re lucky, we can snag a night in one of the restored cottages. It’s classic California.
What to Expect Weather-Wise
- Inland and foothill parks: Highs in the 70s and 80s, dry, and perfect for hiking and camping.
- Coastal areas: Mornings may be foggy, but afternoons usually clear up. Highs in the 60s.
- Desert parks: Plan for early starts. Highs often in the 90s, but the light and colors are stunning.
Forecasters are calling for a slow warm-up through mid-May across most of the state. That gives us a window: perfect spring conditions without the summer heat.
Final Word
We’ve hiked these trails, camped these sites, and walked these beaches. May is the moment. Wildflowers are up, rivers are full, and the parks are still breathing easy before the crowds roll in.
Pick your region. Pack your gear. Go.
