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| Sentinel Fall, Yosemite National Park |
Channel Islands National Park
Spectacular views of the ocean and California coast await day hikers on the Cavern Point Loop Trail at Channel Islands National Park. The moderately difficult, 2-mile round trip trail sits on Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the park’s five isles. The trail gives but a glimpse of all that the island, at 96 square miles in size with an official population of two, has to offer.
Little Rock Reservoir
Little Rock Recreation Area
If visiting the Mojave Desert, a great spot to find a little blue water and green lushness is the Little Rock Recreation Area. In the Angeles National Forest bordering California’s Antelope Valley, the rec area centers on a reservoir made from the dammed Little Rock Creek.
Sentinel Fall
Yosemite National Park
Among Yosemite National Park’s many iconic sights is Sentinel Fall. Located on Yosemite Valley’s south side next to Sentinel Rock, the waterfalls drops 1920 feet over five drops. It’s among the world’s hundred highest waterfalls, ranking at No. 60.
Bodie State Historic Park
Families can amble through a ghost town from the 1800s at Bodie State Historic Park near Bridgeport. While not a wilderness hiking trail, Bodie’s streets offer a change of pace for visitors to Yosemite National Park. The state historic park provides a more complete picture of California and its past – not everyone settling in the Golden State lives in a lush mountain setting or along the ocean.
Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.
