California Parks and Recreation Areas with Wildlife Watching

Cool temperatures are moderating the wildflower bloom. If you are going to be in the park this weekend, try looking along Kelbaker Road between Baker and Kelso. Below are wildflower lists from some recent visits. -Kelbaker Road, at the lava beds about 15 miles south of Baker, on March 19: wild-heliotrope, red-stemmed filaree, brittlebush, Wallace's wooly daisy, globe mallow, Fremont pincushion. -Kelbaker Road, 10.5 miles south of Baker, on March 19: desert chicory, chia, brittlebush, red-stemmed filaree, desert dandelion, dodder, bladderpod, beavertail cactus are just beginning to bloom. -West of the Black Canyon Road-Cedar Canyon Road intersection, on March 13: evening primrose, desert rock pea, red-stemmed filaree, rock gilia. -Foshay Pass and Vulcan Mine, on March 13: chia, desert canterbury bell, Arizona lupine, desert rue, desert dandelion, brittlebush, desert marigold, desert sage. -Cima Road and Ivanpah Road - Joshua trees are just beginning to bloom. The wildflower season is also when desert tortoises are most active. Please keep your vehicle speed down and watch for tortoises on the roadway, especially after rains. Road Conditions The Mojave Road across Soda Dry Lake is impassable due to mud. Rangers ask that you avoid crossing Soda Lake until it has dried completely, as vehicles frequently become stuck when crossing during muddy conditions; crossing in the mud also causes extensive road damage. Ivanpah Road - high clearence recommended. Wild Horse Canyon Road south of Mid-Hills - high clearance recommended. Macedonia Canyon Road - may be impassable even with 4-wheel drive. Coliseum Mine Road - may be impassable even with 4-wheel drive. Caruthers Canyon - Last section of road into the canyon may be impassable even with 4-wheel drive. Park rangers recommend avoiding all dirt roads during and immediately after rains. If you are not sure about a certain road, call the Baker Desert Information Center, 760-733-4040.

Phone: (760)252-6100   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Barstow   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Backpacking, Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting and Shooting, Rock Climbing, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring, Nature Walks, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Mojave National Preserve

Redwood National and State Parks are home to some of the world's tallest trees: old-growth coast redwoods. They can live to be 2000 years old and grow to over 300 feet tall. Spruce, hemlock, Douglas-fir, berry bushes, and sword ferns create a multiple canopied understory that towers over all visitors. The parks' mosaic of habitats include prairie/oak woodlands, mighty rivers and streams, and 37 miles of pristine Pacific coastline. Cultural landscapes reflect American Indian history. The more recent logging history has led to much restoration of these parks.

Phone: 707-464-6101   Price Range: $0 - $5   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Crescent City   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park, State Park   Activities: Backpacking, Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Boating and Watercraft, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Swimming, Whitewater Rafting, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Redwood National and State Parks

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is one of the largest urban national parks in the world. Established in 1972, as part of a trend to make national park resources more accessible to urban populations and bring parks to the people, GGNRAs 75,398 acres of land and water extend north of the Golden Gate Bridge to Tomales Bay in Marin County and south to San Mateo County, encompassing 59 miles of bay and ocean shoreline. These lands represent one of the nations largest coastal preserves and attract 16 million visitors each year, making GGNRA one of the National Park Service most highly visited units.

Phone: (415) 561-4700   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: San Francisco   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Boating and Watercraft, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Swimming, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The Site preserves the 14 room mansion where the naturalist John Muir lived from 1890 to his death in 1914. While living in Martinez, Muir accomplished many things: he battled to prevent Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy Valley from being dammed, served as the first president and one of the founders of the Sierra Club, played a prominent role in the creation of several national parks, and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles and several books expounding on the virtues of conservation and the natural world. Muir's work laid the foundations for the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. The Muir house and historic Martinez adobe became part of the National Park Service in 1964. In 1992, Mt. Wanda was added to the Site. The 325 acre tract of oak woodland and grassland was historically owned by the Muir family.

Phone: (925)228-8860   Price Range: $0 - $3   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: Martinez   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Historic Site   Activities: Birding, Hiking, Wildlife Watching, Nature Walks, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: John Muir National Historic Site

Phone: 1-559-565-3341   Price Range: $0 - $5   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Three Rivers   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Backpacking, Birding, Cross Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Rock Climbing, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Snowshoeing, Star Gazing, Tours   Details Provided By: Kings Canyon National Park

Out in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, the island of Alcatraz is a world unto itself. Isolation, one of the constants of island life for any inhabitant - soldier, guard, prisoner, bird or plant - is a recurrent theme in the unfolding history of Alcatraz. Alcatraz Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations, offering a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits to the public.

Phone: (415) 561-4900   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: San Francisco   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: Recreation Area   Activities: Birding, Hiking, Wildlife Watching, Nature Walks   Details Provided By: Alcatraz Island

Port Chicago Naval Magazine was dedicated as a National Memorial to honor the courage and commitment of the Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Merchant Mariners, and working civilians killed and injured in the largest homeland disaster during World War II. On July 17, 1944, 320 men, over 200 of which were African-Americans, were instantly killed when a loaded munition ship blew up during loading operations. The Memorial recognizes the critical role they and the survivors of the explosion played in winning the war in the Pacific. Port Chicago National Memorial was dedicated in 1994 by the survivors of that tragic event and their families, Naval personnel, and National Park Service. The explosion and its aftermath was a catalyst, one of many, that helped persuade the U.S. Navy and the military establishment to begin the long journey on the road to racial justice and equality following WWII.

Phone: (925) 838-0249   Price Range: N/A   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Danville   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Monument   Activities: Birding, Wildlife Watching, Interpretive Programs   Details Provided By: Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Located at the west end of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, this park includes the fleet of national historic landmark vessels at Hyde Street Pier, a visitor center, a maritime museum, and a library/research facility. Visitors can board turn-of-the-century ships, tour the museum and learn traditional arts -- like boatbuilding and woodworking. The Park offers educational, music and craft programs for all ages, and provides unique opportunities for docents, interns and volunteers to learn more about the nation's maritime heritage.

Phone: (415)447-5000   Price Range: $0 - $5   Open Season: N/A   Camping: No
Nearest Popular City: San Francisco   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park, National Historic Site   Activities: Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Wildlife Watching   Details Provided By: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

The Devils Postpile formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world's finest examples of columnar basalt. Its columns tower 60-feet high and display an unusual symmetry. Another wonder is in store just downstream from the Postpile at Rainbow Falls, once called “a gem unique and worthy of its name. When the sun is overhead, a bright rainbow highlights the spectacular Falls.

Phone: 760-934-2289   Price Range: $4 - $7   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Mammoth Lakes   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Monument   Activities: Backpacking, Birding, Cross Country Skiing, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Wildlife Watching, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Snowshoeing, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Devils Postpile

Lake based recreational opportunities are Whiskeytowns primary focus during the hot and dry summer months. Whiskeytown Lake provides 36 miles of shoreline and 3,200 surface acres of water, and is excellent for most water-related activities including swimming, boating, water skiing, fishing and scuba diving. Personal Watercraft are prohibited on Whiskeytown lake, but are still allowed on Shasta and Trinity Lakes. Whiskeytown Lake has become a popular area for kayaking, long distance swimming and rowing. Ranger guided programs are offered during the summer months and include free kayak tours! Year round activities include picnicking, hiking, mountain bike riding, horseback riding, trail running, photography, bird watching and wildlife viewing on and near the lake, as well as in the mountainous back country. California 1849 Gold Rush history and remains are also found at Whiskeytown.

Phone: 530 242-3400   Price Range: $0 - $5   Open Season: N/A   Camping: Yes
Nearest Popular City: Whiskeytown   Nearest Lake or River: N/A   Park Type: National Park   Activities: Backpacking, Biking / Bicycling, Birding, Boating and Watercraft, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting and Shooting, Kayaking, Swimming, Wildlife Watching, Auto Touring, Nature Walks, Interpretive Programs, Star Gazing   Details Provided By: Whiskeytown National Recreation Area