Official California State Parks Twitter feed. RTs & follows are not endorsement.

California
It’s National Public Lands Day! Today is a perfect day to head to the outdoors and learn how you can help protect them. Everything we do – from keeping wildlife wild to picking up trash to volunteering – helps protect our public lands🌲🌊 Visit parks.ca.gov/volunteers for more.
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Your State Parks Weekly Digest is here! Click the link ⬇️ below… ⛰️ Your feedback is needed on proposal to restore Mutsun placename to Fremont Peak SP. 🏄‍♀️ Surfing at San Onofre State Beach, on the way to the 2028 Olympics. 📷 Plus great photos!
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Our last ‘Summer Starts Here’ top photo shows the weathered words of many years it has seen summer at Plumas-Eureka SP. Taken by Park Aide John, the sun-bleached wood reminded him of the summer heat. We hoped you enjoyed a little bit of summer from our top photo contest winners!
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Wildflower blooms don’t just happen during spring. @CuyamacaRancho SP, they happen as the weather warms. Our next ‘Summer Starts Here’ featured photo was taken in early July by Park Interpretive Specialist Michele featuring a swallowtail filling up on nectar from a Humboldt lily.
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The colorful lily contrasts the dark features of the swallowtail butterfly showcasing the beauty in nature. Here’s what she said about her photo: bit.ly/WDSept182026
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When the watcher becomes the watched…This top ‘Summer Starts Here’ photo contest winner’s subject wasn’t just posing, it was watching. Our Environmental Scientist Aly was surveying birds at Border Field State Park when she spotted this barn owl watching her, watching them.
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Aly captured its perfectly heart-shaped face, staring right into the lens as it sat perched on a weathered branch. Here’s what she said about her photo: bit.ly/WDSept182026
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Fall officially begins today and what a fantastic time to visit your California state parks!
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What are you looking forward to this fall? 🤔
45% 🍁 Gorgeous colors
36% 🥾 Cooler hiking weather
9% 🎃 Pumpkin everything
9% 🎉 Holiday festivities
11 votes • Final results
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A summer photo contest winner would not be complete if we didn’t feature a park in the desert. Deserts are not barren; they are full of life. You just need to know where to look. Our Interpreter Andrew at Providence Mountains SRA captured a perfect moment after the rain came...
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to the desert and the critters made their way out. His ‘Summer Starts Here’ top photo features a gopher snake blending into the dry golden, desert grass. Read what he said about his photo: bit.ly/WDSept182026
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Mondays are rough but not as rough 😉 as this chipmunk has it enjoying an 🍏 at Palomar Mountain State Park. Our next ‘Summer Starts Here’ top photo was taken by Park Interpretive Specialist Michele, showing us that summers are meant to enjoy your favorite places and foods.
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Read what Lillie said about her photo here: bit.ly/WDSept182026
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Sadly, summer is ending 😭 but we’re here to remind you how amazing it can be at California’s 280 state parks with our employee/volunteer ‘Summer Starts Here’ photo contest winners 🥳! All week we’ll be sharing the top winning photos.
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Reminding us that summer isn’t just heat, this picture (above) taken by Interpreter Lillie at Calaveras Big Trees State Park shows wildflower in bloom all summer long. Read what Lillie said about her photo here: bit.ly/WDSept182026
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Your State Parks Weekly Digest is here! Click the link ⬇️ below… 🎉 Latino Heritage Month kicked this week. Find events at state parks near you! 🎫 Get your fourth grader a Free Fourth Grade Pass now… 🌲 Tribal partnerships with state parks are growing. 📷 Plus amazing 📷
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It was a whale of a tale off the coast of Hearst San Simeon State Park. This humpback whale swam close to shore and the pier recently.
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Fun facts: 🐋 They have distinct bump-like knobs on their heads and flippers called tubercles that help them detect water movement. Hence their name.
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🐋 Adults can grow up to about 60 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons. 🎶 Male humpbacks sing loud, intricate songs lasting up to 30 minutes to attract mates. 🌊 They’re ocean acrobats, leaping completely out of the water and splashing down. #WildlifeWednesday
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