October 16, 2014
•
Seven Wonders of California
According to Jared Updike.
1. Volcanic North
![](https://updike-org.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/PhotoPublishing/blog-pics/ca1-DSC_0231.jpeg)
- Lassen National Park
- Lava Beds National Monument
- Mount Shasta
- Castle Crags State Park (we need to go here)
2. Redwood Coast
![](https://updike-org.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/PhotoPublishing/blog-pics/ca2-DSC_1850.jpeg)
- Redwood National Park
- Redwood State Parks
- Point Reyes National Seashore
3. High Sierra
![](https://updike-org.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/PhotoPublishing/blog-pics/ca3-DSC_2875.jpeg)
- Yosemite National Park (Yosemite Valley)
- Kings Canyon National Park
- John Muir Wilderness
- Mount Whitney and Inyo National Forest
- Alabama Hills
4. Golden Gate
![](https://updike-org.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/PhotoPublishing/blog-pics/ca4-DSC_3493.jpeg)
- The Golden Gate Bridge
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- The Marin Headlands
- Alcatraz
- San Francisco Bay
5. Big Sur Coast
![](https://updike-org.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/PhotoPublishing/blog-pics/ca5-DSC_2900.jpeg)
- Point Sur
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (Mcway Falls)
- Hearst Castle (San Simeon)
- California Missions
6. Massive and Ancient Trees
![](https://updike-org.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/PhotoPublishing/blog-pics/ca6-DSC_6203.jpeg)
- Sequoia National Park
- Ancient Bristlecone National Forest
7. Great Basin Deserts
![](https://updike-org.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/PhotoPublishing/blog-pics/ca7-DSC_7472.jpeg)
- Death Valley National Park
- Mojave National Monument and Preserve (Kelso Dunes)
- Joshua Tree National Park
I did not even include certain Southern California wonders, such as the Channel Islands, including Catalina Island, which are beautiful, world-class destinations. Nor did I include the coastal places to go scuba diving with the kelp forests and seals and sea lions, the garibaldi fishes. Also missing are places like Carrizo Plain, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve, which can undergo superblooms, with wondrous wildflowers in the springtime.