California's Mountains and Deserts
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Joshua Tree National Park, California

California's Mountains

Sierra Nevada Mountains: These high alpine mountains run parallel to the ocean for half the length of the state and contain some of Cailfornia's most dramatic hiking and biking trails, superb mountain climbs, and stunning scenic drives. But beware the cold, even in mid-summer (at night) and prowling bears.
Some of the best National Parks in the Sierra Nevada are Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia and the John Muir Wilderness.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park: One of the most popular parks in the country; massive trees, big waterfalls (tho' not if it's a dry summer), monstrous monolithic rocks and huge crowds can be found in Yosemite Valley, but head up to the hundreds of miles of trails around beautiful, alpine Tuolumne Meadows and similar areas to escape from the masses. Yosemite Pictures and information.

Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks are right next to each other so treat them as one experience.

See the world's largest tree, the General Sherman in the Giant Forest, and the General Grant in its namesake Grove, climb Moro Rock for the views and enter the massive Crystal Cave.

Lake of the Lone Indian, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada

Gold Rush Sierra Nevada foothills: at the bottom of the north west slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range are the hills and rivers that created the great 19th century gold rush.
There's plenty to explore just like the prospectors before you, try the Empire Mine State Historic Park for the old mines and North Star Mining Museum for the tools used to mine them; Jackson has the Kennedy Mine and related museum; Cave City 9 and Murphy's have further tourable mining caverns; Sutter Creek still has good architectural references to it's 19th C mining days.

Lake Tahoe: cut by both California and Nevada borders is this grand lake embraced by forests and mountains. Head for Lake Tahoe - Nevada State Park and DL Bliss State Park for hiking and beaches but avoid the charmless southern shores.

Cascade Range
This fiery volcanic mountain range extends all the way from northern California through Oregon, Washington and into British Columbia, Canada.
Mt Shasta for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, golf, skiing in the winter and other activities; McCloud town at Shasta's base is pleasant and convenient.
Lassen Volcanic National Park offers miles of lava flows and craters. It could save a trip to Iceland except it lacks stinking fish.
Lava Beds National Monument: geothermal hot spots, sulphorous vents and caves, as well as Lassen Peak, the biggest plugged volcano in the world.

California Deserts

Mojave Desert: The smallest desert in North America is also the most extreme, handle with care, it will melt you if given the chance, so perhaps visit in spring?

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park (photo at top): a striking park of strange wind-twisted Joshua trees (yuccas), cacti galore, big piles of granite rocks and some discreet wildlife. Hike or mountain bike, plus it's got great, cheap camping and some of the best rock climbing in the state. Joshua Tree Pictures and information

Palm Springs, adjacent to Joshua Tree NP, there's not much in the way of sights but an exclusive place to relax (or live full time), with pools and air con to keep the desert heat at bay. Excellent for panoramic golf courses but otherwise just stop by to hike in the San Jacinto Wilderness State Park and visit the Desert Museum.

Sonoran Desert: California's hottest desert, reaching into Arizona and also Mexico, where it takes its name from the state of Sonora. Cacti are in abundance; visit during spring for cooler weather and flowers in some parts.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, east of San Diego and just north of the Mexican border, there are some fine hiking routes and 4WD tracks but self-sufficiency is required, this is no place for amateur adventurers.

Possible Activities

Hiking: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, Sierra Nevada Mountains; Marin Headlands (Mt Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods National Monument, Point Reyes National Seashore); Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks, Mojave Desert.

Climbing: Joshua Tree National Park for small-time fooling around or Yosemite (and nearby Mammoth) for the real thing. El Capitan to be precise. Otherwise there's also Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks or Pinnacles National Monument in Castle Crags.

Mountain biking: Mt Tamalpais State Park, Marin Headlands; Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave Desert.

Skiing and snowboarding: Mammoth Mountain, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Sierra Nevada Mountains; Mt Shasta, Cascade Range.

Surfing: Huntington Beach, Long Beach.

Skateboarding and inline skating: San Francisco, let gravity do the work; Venice, Los Angeles, to hang out and look cool, but watch out for local restrictions.

Birdwatching: Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge.

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