California state parks

Matt Mohagen raises his arms in elation as he emerges from the barrel of a tube at Dockweiler State Beach.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Mati Waiya, a Chumash elder, performs a purification, cleansing and blessing ceremony at the sand where the Malibu Lagoon reaches the Pacific Ocean.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

View of Malibu pier and lagoon.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Surfrider Beach is one of the most famous surfing spots in the world.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Greg Domanski, 45, of Santa Monica, climbs down Point Dume amid warm weather and a gentle breeze at Point Dume State Beach in Malibu.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Swedish House Mafia performs at the Masquerade Motel two-day music festival at the Los Angeles State Historic Park.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Cyclists walk their bikes through the pedestrian tunnel at Crystal Cove State Park.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Beach-goers take to the cool ocean waves amid a hot day at Crystal Cove State Beach.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan Santos, 8 watches pelicans glide over his oceanfront campsite at South Carlsbad State Beach.   (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

People take in the view at sunset on top of the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State Park in Culver City.   (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

People ascend the steps to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Brian Rooney, a volunteer at “Mash” TV show set in Malibu Creek State Park.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The rising moon slips over the eastern wall of Coyote Canyon inside Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

The bright orange flowers of the thorny ocotillo are reaching full bloom inside Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

A fisherman pulls a tilapia from the waters of the Salton Sea State Recreation Area.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

California Department of Parks and Recreation Supt. Kevin Forrester stands at a lookout area inside Providence Mountain State Recreation Area.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A small pier in downtown Morro Bay is a great place to view the sun beginning to set over Morro Bay State Park.   (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Tourists stand near large marble columns on the edge of the Greco-Roman style Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle inside Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Bodie State Historic Park is a California gold-mining ghost town, where visitors can walk down the deserted streets of a town that once had a population of nearly 10,000 people.   (Marc Martin / Los Angeles Times)

Bodie was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and in 1962 became Bodie State Historic Park.  (Marc Martin / Los Angeles Times)

Kayakers paddle out of Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe.  (Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times)

A superintendent with Redwood National and State Parks walks along the Flint Ridge Trail.   (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

A mushroom sprouts from a mossy tree along the Flint Ridge Trail in Redwood National and State Parks.  (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)