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California national parks

Spectacular granite formations, plus unique desert plants, make Joshua Tree National Park a rock star. Climbers from around the world scramble across its boulder fields and ascend its spires and pillars. They're joined by hikers, campers, nature buffs and families -- about 1.2 million visitors annually. A favorite spot is Hidden Valley, a recreation area concealed by huge boulders. Its surreal landscape of jumbled rocks and pinyon pines is popular with climbers and families during the day and with stargazers at night. The evening sky astounds visitors with its brilliance. Where else can you see a zillion stars framed by the stark limbs of the Joshua tree? Info: A seven-day vehicle permit costs $15. Hidden Valley Campground has 44 spaces; nearby campgrounds include Ryan, with 31, and Jumbo Rocks, with 124. Joshua Tree National Park (760) 367-5500 -- Rosemary McClure ALSO: Your California Bucket List: Essential adventures and experiences in the Golden State »

Spectacular granite formations, plus unique desert plants, make Joshua Tree National Park a rock star. Climbers from around the world scramble across its boulder fields and ascend its spires and pillars. They’re joined by hikers, campers, nature buffs and families -- about 1.2 million visitors annually. A favorite spot is Hidden Valley, a recreation area concealed by huge boulders. Its surreal landscape of jumbled rocks and pinyon pines is popular with climbers and families during the day and with stargazers at night. The evening sky astounds visitors with its brilliance. Where else can you see a zillion stars framed by the stark limbs of the Joshua tree?

Info: A seven-day vehicle permit costs $15. Hidden Valley Campground has 44 spaces; nearby campgrounds include Ryan, with 31, and Jumbo Rocks, with 124. Joshua Tree National Park (760) 367-5500

-- Rosemary McClure

ALSO: Your California Bucket List: Essential adventures and experiences in the Golden State »

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
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A list, from Alcatraz Island to Yosemite National Park, with programs, fees and directions.

Find out about historic and scenic sites as well as programs, fees and directions to California’s national parks, monuments and recreation areas:

Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Mason, B201, San Francisco; (415) 561-4900 or (415) 981-7625 (tickets), https://www.nps.gov/alca or https://www.alcatrazcruises.com.

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Cabrillo National Monument, 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego; (619) 557-5450, https://www.nps.gov/cabr.

California National Historic Trail, 324 S. State St., Suite 200, Box 30, Salt Lake City, Utah; (801) 741-1012, https://www.nps.gov/cali.

Channel Islands National Park, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura; (805) 658-5730, https://www.nps.gov/chis.

Death Valley National Park, P.O. Box 579, Death Valley; (760) 786-3200, https://www.nps.gov/deva.

Devils Postpile National Monument, P.O. Box 3999, Mammoth Lakes; (760) 934-2289, https://www.nps.gov/depo. Open early June to mid-October.

Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site, P.O. Box 280, Danville; (925) 838-0249, https://www.nps.gov/euon.

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Fort Point National Historic Site, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Mason, B201, San Francisco; (415) 556-1693, https://www.nps.gov/fopo.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (includes Crissy Field, Ocean Beach, Sweeney Ridge, Rancho Corral de Tierra, Marin Headlands, Phleger Estate, Fort Funston, Alcatraz and the Presidio), Fort Mason, B201, San Francisco; (415) 561-4700, https://www.nps.gov/goga.

John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez; (925) 228-8860, https://www.nps.gov/jomu.

Joshua Tree National Park, 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms; (760) 367-5500, https://www.nps.gov/jotr.

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 333 Bush St., Suite 500, San Francisco; (415) 623-2340, https://www.nps.gov/juba.

Lassen Volcanic National Park, P.O. Box 100, Mineral; (530) 595-4480, https://www.nps.gov/lavo.

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Lava Beds National Monument, 1 Indian Well Headquarters, Tulelake; (530) 667-8113, https://www.nps.gov/labe.

Mammoth Lakes: Welcome Center, (760) 924-5500 (open year-round), https://www.fs.usda.gov/inyo.

Manzanar National Historic Site, 5001 U.S. Highway 395, Independence; (760) 878-2194, https://www.nps.gov/manz.

Mojave National Preserve, 2701 Barstow Road, Barstow; (760) 252-6100, https://www.nps.gov/moja.

Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley; (415) 388-2595, https://www.nps.gov/muwo.

Pinnacles National Monument, 5000 Highway 146, Paicines; (831) 389-4485, https://www.nps.gov/pinn.

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Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station; (415) 464-5100, Ext. 2, camping reservations (415) 663-8054, https://www.nps.gov/pore.

Pony Express National Historic Trail, 324 S. State St., Suite 200, Salt Lake City, Utah; (801) 741-1012, https://www.nps.gov/poex/.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, P.O. Box 280, Danville; (925) 228-8860, https://www.nps.gov/poch. Reservations are required.

Presidio of San Francisco, Presidio Trust, 34 Graham St., San Francisco; (415) 561-4323, https://www.presidio.gov and https://www.nps.gov/prsf. Officers club and visitors center closed for remodeling, but a temporary visitor center is open at the corner of Montgomery Street and Lincoln Boulevard.

Redwood National and State Parks, 1111 2nd St., Crescent City; (707) 465-7335, California State Park camping reservations, (800) 444-7275, https://www.nps.gov/redw.

Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, Melville Square/Esplanade Drive, Richmond; (510) 232-5050, https://www.nps.gov/rori. Visitor center opening mid-2012; call for information.

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San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Fort Mason Center, Building E, San Francisco; (415) 447-5000, https://www.nps.gov/safr. Renovation of the museum at 900 Beach St. is structurally complete. The lobby is open and currently displays small exhibits and murals.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks; (805) 370-2301, https://www.nps.gov/samo. Visitor center is relocating in mid-2012.

Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor, 51-500 Highway 74, Palm Desert; (760) 862-9984, https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/santarosa.html.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers; (559) 565-3341, https://www.nps.gov/seki.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 188, Whiskeytown; (530) 246-1225, https://www.nps.gov/whis.

Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite National Park; (209) 372-0200, https://www.nps.gov/yose.

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