Over 200 of California’s state parks are open for free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Looking for one to visit? Start with these five.
(Photo: Praveen P.N via Getty Images)
Updated January 16, 2026 10:08PM
California’s hikers can now explore state parks for free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Governor Gavin Newsom just announced free vehicle day-use entry for over 200 state parks, with the caveat that those with per-person entry or tour fees, such as Hearst Castle, will still require payment. In a press release from Governor Newsom, the free park entries on MLK day come from “the generosity of the California State Parks Foundation—not taxpayer dollars.”
The announcement comes just weeks after the National Park Service announced in November that it had canceled free entry to national parks on MLK Day and Juneteenth—instead holding fee-free days on Independence Day weekend and Flag Day, which is also President Donald Trump’s birthday. In the press release, Newsom framed California’s move as a response to the federal government’s cuts, saying that the administration had “whitewashed civil rights history.”
So, where should Californians go on Monday? Desert reigns this time of year. But luckily, after a period of heavy rain around the holiday, sections of the state that are normally sepia-brown are now lush and verdant. I’m a lifelong Californian, and here are my picks for state parks (and some corresponding hikes) this time of year. You can find the full list of participating fee-free parks here.
Low-light views from the descent down Granite Peak in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. (Photo: Emma Veidt)
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Spend the evening looking up at the stars in California’s largest state park, which is also an International Dark Sky Park. During the day, keep your eyes peeled for the park’s bighorn sheep population. (“Borrego” in Spanish means “lamb,” referring to the bighorn sheep that call the area home.) The area, just east of San Diego, has a history of human habitation dating back more than 10,000 years. Eager for a wintertime overnight? We named this state park as one of the best in the country for backpackers.
Hike it: Borrego Palm Canyon Loop
Along this popular dayhike, you’ll likely encounter bighorn sheep, huge groves of California fan palms, and, this time of year, plenty of desert wildflowers. Keep an eye on the weather; this canyon is vulnerable when it comes to flash floods. At the time of publication, however, trail conditions MLK weather are predicted to be dry and hikeable.
The California state flower making up the “Mountain of Gold” along the Pacific. (Photo: Denise Taylor via Getty Images)
Montaña de Oro State Park
Although not quite as large as Anza Borrego, Montaña de Oro (translates to “Mountain of Gold” because of its beds of California poppies) is one of California’s biggest state parks, and yet it receives a fraction of the visitation as the state’s flashier national parks. A win-win for hikers wanting to explore California’s central coast in peace.
Hike it: Valencia Peak Trail
Get 360-degree views of the Pacific and the surrounding mountains from Valencia Peak, which is one of the tallest destinations in the state park. Keep an eye out in the first quarter-mile or so on the hike: Hikers have reported poison oak early on the trail.
Embedded within some of the park’s rusty rocks are the remains of prehistoric animals like three-toed horses and alligator lizards. (Photo: Mimi Ditchie Photography via Getty Images)
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Red rocks aren’t only in Utah and Arizona; we have them in California too. At the intersection of the Sierra Nevada’s southern tip and the El Paso Range, this park is home to rock formations that belong on Mars. Although it’s a tad early for wildflowers, Red Rock Canyon is still a feast for the eyes, with plenty of desert cliffs and buttes. There are also historic petroglyphs from the Kawaiisu people.
Hike it: Nightmare Gulch Loop Trail
Starting a half-mile from the park’s entrance, the Nightmare Gulch Loop Trail is a scenic tour of the state park’s red rocks via a dry wash. Throughout the dayhike loop, you earn panoramic views of the gulch and the Sierra, descend into the canyon, and explore slot canyons along the path.
Many of these coastal redwoods can grow over 300 feet tall. (Photo: Seth K. Hughes via Getty Images)
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
This state park, which is about twice the size of San Francisco, was voted the best in the country on Tripadvisor in 2024 and 2025. See what the fuss is about among the largest expanse of ancient redwoods left on the planet; about one-third of the park’s size is just redwood forest. Winter’s the best time to visit because seasonal rain gives the forest a refreshing lushness compared to the dry summer months. Maybe the most famous attraction here, though, is Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile scenic highway through the forest.
Hike it: Williams Grove Trail
Stop to stretch your legs along the Avenue of the Giants on this steep 5-mile out and back. The trail gets its name from its eponymous grove of redwoods—perhaps a better namesake than the nearby Eel River. On the trail, keep an eye out for stretches of poison oak close to the 101.
This area was heavily logged in the late 1800s, which cleared many old-growth trees from the Tahoe basin. That allowed construction of resorts and lodges around Lake Tahoe. (Photo: Courtesy of California State Parks, 2026)
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Named after a former member of the California State Assembly who prioritized environmental legislation, this state park is not only the largest in Lake Tahoe, it’s also the only in the area where you can camp during the winter. Want to get in some cross-country skiing? Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point was where the Olympics held the event in the winter of 1960. Today, the park provides groomed cross-country ski trails for day use.
Hike it: Sugar Pine Point State Park Nature Trail
Camping in Sugar Pine Point Campground and want to hike among the recent snow? Or, just making a day trip and want a peaceful, snowy hike along a creek? This nature trail will satisfy. Note: Bears are common in this area. Follow all bear safety protocols, even in winter.