California State Parks

When someone takes a photo of you unexpectedlywe’ve all been caught off guard like this pack rat, also known as woodrats. This adorable guy, comfortably sits in his nest at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area. Pack rats can be any of the species in the rodent genus Neotoma. They have a rat-like appearance with long tails, large ears and large black eyes. Fun facts: Pack rats are nest builders. They use plant material such as twigs, sticks, and other available debris. They are particularly fond of shiny objects. A peculiar characteristic is that if they find something they want, they will drop what they are currently carryingfor example, a piece of cactusand "trade" it for the new item. They can also be quite vocal and boisterous. #WildlifeWednesday #CAStateParks #ProvidenceMountainsSRA #MitchellCaverns #Woodrats

Following the most destructive wildfire season in CA’s recorded history, the Governor’s California Forest Management Task Force today issued a comprehensive action plan to reduce wildfire risk for communities, improve forest health & accelerate action to combat climate change. https://fmtf.fire.ca.gov

With ICU capacity below 15% for the Bay Area Region, state campgrounds within this region continue to be temporarily closed in accordance with the Regional Stay at Home Order. Affected reservation holders will be contacted by ReserveCalifornia via email and provided with a refund. Thanks for your understanding as we protect you and our employees from exposure to #COVID19. ICUs are filling up and we need to do our part to prevent California from experiencing a surge on top of a surge. #StopTheSurge

Are you looking to get a fresh start in the new year? Walking has many health benefits. You completed our last virtual Yellowstone walk in less than a week. Now, the WALK California virtual trek from California to Washington, D.C. is underway. (This destination came in second in our recent online polls.) How quickly can we log 7,127,050 steps (3,307 miles)? If you haven't already, register with World Walking and join the WALK California group here: https://bit.ly/3qENLul a...nd start logging your steps in your local neighborhood or park. Don't forget to #RecreateResponsibly - stay local, plan ahead, and wear a face covering when you can't maintain a six-foot distance from those outside your immediate household. #WalkCalifornia #WalkAcrossTheUSA #NewYearResolutions

Millions of Californians are struggling due to #COVID19. In his proposed #CABudget, California Governor announced the Golden State Stimulus to provide $600 rapid cash directly to 4 million low-income Californians & called for an extension of eviction protections. #CaliforniaForAll

#PopQuiz Sunday: Can you guess which state park has these amazing fall and winter-like colors? Hint: large pine, fir and cedar trees make the park one of the few areas in southern California with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere. Leave us your guess in the comments. Remember, when visiting our parks to follow our #COVID19 guidelines: stay local, wear a face mask when you can’t maintain a physical distance from others, and no gatherings w/those not from your immediate household. #CAStateParks

Your first #CAStateParks Weekly Digest issue of 2021 is here: https://bit.ly/3sfLwi3 Read about: How you can virtually learn about these wild creatures - elephant seals - from our Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo Coast districts staff. Restoration work at Ocotillo Wells SVRA helps bring back native vegetation at the Truckhaven Bowl. Old Sacramento State Historic Park signs get a makeover.... A celebration of women in science and the next generation of scientists from our Gold Fields District. . New, completely bilingual, exhibits installed at Silverwood Lake State Rec Area celebrate the local history and natural resources of the park. See more

Walking into 2021 like...this striped skunk at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. During the winter, they make themselves scarce, hunkering down to wait out the onslaught of ice and snow. It isn’t uncommon for striped to burrow with each other for extra warmth these cohabitating have the advantage of social thermoregulation, where they use each other to stay warm. Fun Facts: produce an oily, yellow sulfur-alcohol compound that contains sulfuric acid. This pungent liquid is stored in two separate scent glands located on each side of the anus and can be squirted accurately at targets as far as 6 to 10 feet away as a self-defense mechanism. The secretion is acrid enough to cause nausea and can produce severe burning and temporary blindness if it strikes the eyes. #WildlifeWednesday #CuyamacaRanchoSP #Skunk

With ICU capacity below 15% for the Greater Sacramento Region, state campgrounds within this region continue to be temporarily closed in accordance with the Regional Stay at Home Order. Affected reservation holders will be contacted by ReserveCalifornia via email and provided with a refund. Thanks for your understanding as we protect you and our employees from exposure to #COVID19. ICUs are filling up and we need to do our part to prevent California from experiencing a surge on top of a surge. #StopTheSurge

Get ready to jump on your hoverboard and rev up your DeLorean today is #BackToTheFutureDay. October 21 is the day Marty McFly travels back to the future. ICYDK scenes from Back to the Future III were filmed at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. Visitors will be able to see the Sierra No. 3 (aka 131 in the film), the train that Marty and Doc rode. This year, fans of the sci-fi classic are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the original movie filmed in 1985. How was that 35 years ago already? Great Scott! #BTTF35 #Railtown1897SHP #MartyMcFly #DocBrown

Counting down the days to Halloween? For today’s #WildlifeWednesday, we are featuring the creepy, yet fascinating giant hairy desert scorpions (Hadrurus arizonensis). These guys can be found fairly easily at Ocotillo Wells SVRA at night by using a black light, as the UV radiation from the light makes their exoskeletons luminesce bright green. Fun facts: Generally found within the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, they occupy abandoned burrows, small caves, and crevices. They molt 4 to 6 times before reaching adulthood in about 4 years. #CAStateParks #OcotilloWellsSVRA

Get your morning and read our #CAStateParks Weekly Digest! https://bit.ly/2H52SLu Highlights include: Signs of recovery begin to resprout at Big Basin Redwoods State Park after devastating CZU Lightning Complex Fire. It’s back! Anza-Borrego Desert State Park invites visitors back to the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail. California State Parks PORTS Distance Learning Program takes over Lake Tahoe with virtual underwater livestreams!... Girl Scouts from near and far virtually visit California’s state parks. Plus amazing photos like a dirt bike-riding pumpkin and a Halloween-appropriate desert hair scorpion. See more

If you have kids learning from home, our California State Parks PORTS Distance Learning Program has virtual learning programs. This coming week, students can learn about the Monterey Bay Aquarium, fire ecology from the Hendy Woods State park, and great white sharks from San Clemente State Beach. Make sure to sign up today! #DistanceLearning #PORTSFan

Join Parks California for a sneak peek of their ParkSpeak event from Anza Borrego and register for the Zoom event at 5:00pm by registering here: bit.ly/ParkSpeak

#ThankYouThursday to those of you who have already completed the #2020Census and for all those people working to collect this important data. In case you didn't know, TODAY (October 15) is the LAST DAY to fill out your Census. For every person left uncounted, California could lose $1,000 per person each year for the next 10 years. Completing the Census helps ensure California receives the funding for more health care services, parks, roads that support your local community.... To fill out your Census: Go to https://my2020census.gov or Call (844) 330-2020 It takes just a few minutes. Do it now! #EveryoneCounts #BeCounted California Census

The second week of October observes #NationalWildlifeRefugeWeek. State Parks has a great network of park units and waters that conserve and protect California’s precious wildlife heritage. They provide vital habitat for thousands of native species such as the Roosevelt elk, monarch butterflies, and brandt's cormorants to name a few. Refuge week is a perfect time to rediscover nature and enjoy the wildlife that inhabit these lands and waters. #WildlifeWednesday #CAStateParks Sinkyone Wilderness State Park Pismo State Beach Oceano Dunes District - Pismo Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Today on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate the Indigenous people who call California home and who have survived and thrived in the face of unimaginable challenges to shape California’s past, present and future. California State Parks is inspired to work towards better representation of Indigenous peoples' history and persistence. To read California Governor's Proclamation on #IndigenousPeoplesDay, visit https://bit.ly/2SL2FiU

Thank you for your patience! Here is the video at Castro Adobe State Historic Park with our Director Armando Quintero talking about equity in parks and his own personal experiences in some of our historic sites for National Hispanic Heritage Month!

Thank you all for your patience. Due do to connectivity issues, we will not be live but will post a video from Castro Adobe State Historic Park with our Director Armando Quintero for National Hispanic Heritage Month. Stay tuned!

Your Saturday morning #CAStateParks Weekly Digest read is here! https://bit.ly/33L98AD This week covers: Our museum collection center's crucial role during fire season Natural Resources Agency Secretary Crowfoot spoke with "60 Minutes" about #wildfires and #climatechange Which agency took Operation Dry Water's top award...... Plus amazing from across our state parks! See more

Join us on Monday (Oct. 12) at 10:45 a.m. for a live broadcast as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from Castro Adobe State Historic Park. The Castro Adobe is the last surviving Mexican-era rancho hacienda in central California’s Pajaro Valley. Staff will provide a virtual tour and speak with our new director Armando Quintero who has been a life-long student of State and National Parks. Tune in to our Facebook to learn more about this park and our new director. #HispanicHeritageMonth #LatinxHeritageMonth

It’s #DesertTortoiseWeek! The desert tortoise is designated California’s State reptile and is found in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of Southern California. On Friday, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park will host an online zoom discussion on the genetic origins of the tortoise at the park. Make sure to tune in to learn about this iconic reptile. #DYK 95% of a tortoise’s life is spent underground. it can weigh between 8 and 15 lbs., and live to be 80-100 years old. #WildlifeWednesday #CAStateParks #AnzaBorregoDesertSP