California National Park Units

Name

Classification

Date*

Hectares

Acres

Features

Cabrillo	National Monument	1913	65	160	Memorial to Juan Rodríquez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer who claimed the West Coast for Spain in 1542
California Coastal	National Monument	2000	not set	not set	Hundreds of tiny island, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles along the entire state coast
Channel Islands	National Park	1938	100,998	249,651	Five islands off the southern California mainland, with sea lion rookeries and sea bird nesting sites
Death Valley	National Park	1933	1,351,867	3,340,410	Large desert, nearly surrounded by mountains; contains the lowest point in the western hemisphere (Also in Nevada)
Devils Postpile	National Monument	1911	323	798	Basalt columns rise 12 to 18 m (40 to 60 ft) and resemble a giant pipe organ; John Muir Trail crosses the monument
Eugene O'Neill	National Historic Site	1976	5.3	13.2	House near Danville where the playwright lived and wrote some of his best-known plays from 1937 to 1944
Fort Point	National Historic Site	1970	12	29	Classic brick and granite coastal fort dating from the mid-19th century
Golden Gate	National Recreation Area	1972	30,278	74,816	Shoreline areas of San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties; ocean beaches, redwood forest, the Presidio, and Alcatraz Island
John Muir	National Historic Site	1964	140	345	Home of the noted conservationist, also includes adjacent Martinez Adobe
Joshua Tree	National Park	1936	412,035	1,018,122	Desert region containing a representative stand of Joshua trees and various plants and animals
Kings Canyon	National Park	1890	186,925	461,901	Mountain wilderness and canyons; giant sequoias
Lassen Volcanic	National Park	1907	43,047	106,372	Signs of volcanic activity include hot springs, steaming fumaroles, mud pots, and sulfurous vents
Lava Beds	National Monument	1925	18,842	46,560	Rugged landscape created by molten rock and lava; site of Modoc War (1872-1873)
Manzanar	National Historic Site	1992	329	814	Recalls the internment of Japanese-Americans beginning in 1942 during World War II
Mojave	National Preserve	1994	604,892	1,494,666	Protects habitat of the desert tortoise, vast open spaces, and historic mining scenes
Muir Woods	National Monument	1908	224	554	Virgin stand of coastal redwoods named for conservationist and writer John Muir
Pinnacles	National Monument	1908	6,583	16,265	Rock formations about 150 to 370 m (about 500 to 1,200 ft) high, with caves and a variety of volcanic features, surrounded by flat terrain
Point Reyes	National Seashore	1962	28,761	71,068	Beaches backed by cliffs; offshore bird and sea lion colonies; lagoons and forests
Redwood	National Park	1968	45,575	112,613	World's tallest known trees in coastal redwood forests
Rosie the Riveter WW II Home Front	National Historical Park	2000	59	145	Recognizes work of American women, minorities, and men toward a common goal in a manner that has been unequaled since World War II
San Francisco Maritime	National Historical Park	1988	20	50	Historic vessels and National Maritime Museum; library and collections of ship plans and photographs at the Fort Mason Center
Santa Monica Mountains	National Recreation Area	1978	62,171	153,621	Rugged chaparral-covered landscape along Pacific Coast north of Los Angeles
Sequoia	National Park	1890	162,895	402,503	Groves of giant sequoias, Mineral King Valley, Mt. Whitney
Whiskeytown -Shasta- Trinity	National Recreation Area	1965	17,201	42,503	Mountainous backcountry with large reservoir and remains of gold rush buildings
Yosemite	National Park	1864	308,073	761,266	Spectacular mountain scenery with groves of giant sequoias, cliffs, and waterfalls
* Earliest date of federal government involvement with the area.