7 Cutest Small Towns Near California National Parks

California’s huge wilderness is a haven for outside lovers, providing a various panorama of towering mountains, historical forests, arid deserts, and breathtaking coastlines. Whereas nationwide parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, and Demise Valley draw international acclaim, it is price appreciating the laid-back small towns in California nestled close to these pure wonders.

These scenic cities present a peaceable distinction to the grand, untamed fantastic thing about the parks, permitting vacationers to expertise the most effective of each worlds. Right here, vacationers take pleasure in exploring historic streets, cozy cafés, and one-of-a-kind sights that mix seamlessly into the encircling wilderness.

Staying in these cities additionally provides an additional layer of comfort and luxury to a trip, as vacationers have a spot to relaxation after a day of exploring the park’s various landscapes. For these in search of each journey and rest, these small towns in California that are also perfect for next year’s edition function the important thing hubs for guests heading to California’s finest nationwide parks.

7 Exeter

1 hr 18 minutes (44.5 miles) to Kings Canyon Nationwide Park

Exeter is a wonderful city close to Kings Canyon, an underrated national park like Yosemite without crowds. With its pleasant environment, Exeter is the right cease for guests trying to expertise native artwork, small-town allure, and quick access to a few of California’s pure wonders.

Within the close by Kings Canyon Nationwide Park, nature lovers hike the Grant Grove Trails, resulting in one of many world’s largest dwelling bushes and viewpoints, like Buena Vista Peak. However, golf lovers soak in scenic views of the encircling mountains whereas having fun with a soothing spherical of golf on the Exeter Public Golf Course.

Exeter’s Mural Gallery is one other must-see attraction, providing an open-air artwork expertise. The gallery showcases vibrant murals depicting the city’s wealthy historical past and agricultural heritage.

6 King Metropolis

37 minutes (24.7 miles) to Pinnacles Nationwide Park

King Metropolis is a captivating agricultural city with a deep connection to its rural roots. Situated in Monterey County, this city is an ideal base when exploring Pinnacles National Park, recognized for its woodlands, towering rock spires, uncommon caves, and canyons.

Adventurers discover the park’s distinctive panorama alongside varied hikes with straightforward to strenuous problem, together with the reasonable Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop. This path leads hikers by means of Bear Gulch and previous talus caves to the reservoir whereas providing picturesque views of rugged rock formations.

Whereas exploring Pinnacles Nationwide Park is a must-do when visiting the city, there are different sights price testing within the space. These embrace the Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum, which affords a glimpse into the native historical past with agricultural-related artifacts courting again to the late 1800s.

5 Chester

25 minutes (9.8 miles) to Lassen Volcanic Nationwide Park

Chester is likely one of the obscure towns in California, dwelling to lower than 3,000 folks. This city boasts a picturesque setting and a pleasant neighborhood, luring guests year-round with its proximity to a few of California’s most stunning pure areas.

Amongst them is the close by Lassen Volcanic National Park, famend for its jagged peaks, fumaroles, wildflower-covered meadows, and pristine alpine lakes. Right here, outside adventurers take pleasure in every little thing from mountain climbing to tenting beneath the celebs or a country retreat with family and friends in one of many park’s cabins and bungalows.

Chester additionally affords quick access to Lake Almanor, which is likely one of the largest lakes within the county, providing boating and fishing alternatives. In summer time, this lake is a favourite spot for swimming, jet snowboarding, and even water-skiing, because of the splendid temperatures.

4 Lee Vining

17 minutes (12.7 miles) to Yosemite Nationwide Park

Lee Vining is a small, serene city nestled close to the jap entrance to Yosemite National Park. Nonetheless, there may be extra to this city aside from its proximity to Yosemite, as it’s dwelling to Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. This scenic nature reserve protects Mono Lake, a wonderful historical lake courting again over a million years in the past, spectacular tufa towers, wetlands, and fowl habitats.

The reserve’s distinctive landscapes present wonderful alternatives for having fun with a buoyant swim within the saline lake, mountain climbing, and boating throughout summer time. Fowl watchers even have their share of enjoyable as they spot over 300 residents and migrant birds, together with California gulls, Wilson’s phalaropes, eared grebes, ospreys, and sandpipers.

Winter visits to Mona Lake supply the benefit of fewer crowds and breathtaking views of the tranquil waters, with the tufa towers making a dramatic but ethereal environment.

3 Furnace Creek

quarter-hour (13.5 miles) to Demise Valley Nationwide Park

Furnace Creek is an oasis within the coronary heart of Death Valley National Park, one of many hottest and driest locations on earth. Regardless of its distant location and small inhabitants, this distinctive city affords a lot for guests to discover.

The Furnace Creek Customer Heart is the right start line to study Demise Valley’s geology, local weather, and wildlife. Afterward, adventurers can head to the nationwide park for immersive mountain climbing, backpacking, and even backcountry driving excursions.

The park additionally affords ranger-led excursions exploring scenic areas just like the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, recognized for its dazzling sunsets and as a major sand-boarding spot. On the town, historical past buffs can delve into the area’s mining historical past on the Borax Museum, that includes relics from the mining period, together with images, wagons, and carriages.

2 Three Rivers

12 minutes (5.8 miles) to Sequoia Nationwide Park

Three Rivers is a picturesque city nestled within the Sierra Nevada foothills within the scenic San Joaquin Valley. Situated in Tulare County, this city is understood for its creative neighborhood and proximity to the famed Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the place the mighty large sequoias loom massive. This makes it a must-visit for these trying to immerse themselves in California’s pure wonders through mountain climbing.

Past its pure magnificence and quaint allure, Three Rivers enchants vacationers with its wealthy historical past, finest explored on the Three Rivers Historical Museum. This gem shows artifacts associated to the Tribal Communities who lived within the space earlier than the arrival of the Europeans and early ranchers.

Historical past buffs additionally uncover a manner larger-than-life statue of Paul Bunyan intricately carved by Carroll Barnes from a fallen sequoia tree.

1 Joshua Tree

9 minutes (5.2 miles) to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park

Joshua Tree is a desert city famend for its proximity to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park and its quirky creative aptitude. With a inhabitants of simply over 6,000, this city combines small-town allure with a definite Bohemian vibe with its distinctive sights.

Among the city’s must-visit gems embrace the whimsical World Famous Crochet Museum, that includes crochet creations, and Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, recognized for its large-scale sculptures.

Past its creative sights, Joshua Tree additionally affords unparalleled stargazing and sunsets on the close by Joshua Tree Nationwide Park. One of many park’s designated stargazing areas is the Quail Springs parking zone, which is well accessible from city. Guests take pleasure in a one-of-a-kind expertise whereas watching constellations and the Milky Method and taking footage of the encircling panorama beneath the darkish sky.