Where You Can Enjoy | ||
| Place | County | Notes |
| Angeles National Forest | Los Angeles, San Bernardino | The Angeles National Forest includes the San Gabriel Wilderness, 36,000 acres given to the protection of natural chaparral and other habitats. |
| Angel Island State Park | Marin, San Francisco | A large, isolated natural landscape in the midst of the San Francisco Bay, within sight of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. |
| Chino Hills State Park | Orange, Riverside, & San Bernardino | A 13,000 acre wilderness park between the freeways in southern California. |
| Clear Lake State Park | Lake | California's largest natural freshwater lake. The trails of this park lead through scrubland and oak forests. |
| Channel Islands National Park | Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles | Probably the most pristine chaparral habitat in the state with many unique species of plant and animal life. Access is strictly by sea. |
| Cleveland National Forest | Orange, Riverside, San Diego | Cleveland is within easy driving distance for 20 million people. The Trabuco Canyon District, especially, features fine vistas and interesting hiking and mountain-biking experiences. |
| Golden Gate National Recreation Area | San Francisco, Marin, & San Mateo | Especially the Marin Headlands, Olema Valley, and Milagra Ridge |
| Henry W. Coe State Park | Santa Clara, Stanislaus | Largest single expanse of preserved chaparral wilderness in northern California. Careful backcountry planning advised! |
| John Muir National Historic Site | Contra Costa | Includes Mount Wanda, an open area once owned by Muir |
| Los Padres National Forest | Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles | California condors used to soar over these lands, stretching from the beaches of Big Sur to westernmost reaches of Los Angeles County. Cuesta Ridge features a habitat of the rare Sargent Cypress Tree. |
| Midpennisula Regional Open Space District | San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz | Includes many units given to chaparral conservation, especially Duveneck Windmills, Rancho San Antonio, Monte Bello and Los Trancos. |
| Montana de Oro State Park | San Luis Obispo County | A large tract of ocean-front and chaparral land south of Moro Bay. Named the Mountain of Gold for its spring wildflower displays. |
| Mount Diablo State Park | Contra Costa | A small mountain from which nearly a third of California can be seen. Unlike other mountains, the oldest rocks are at the top. |
| Olompali State Historic Park | Marin | Preserves several historic structures (Native American through the modern day) and sites in a chaparral woodland setting. A good place to get a feel for how people depended on chaparral plants for survival. |
| Pacheco State Park | Merced, Santa Clara | Part of a Spanish land holding which was recently turned over to the state by the descendant of the original owner. |
| Pinnacles National Monument | Monterey and San Benito | Nearly 13,000 acres of this NPS unit (given to the preservation of the remnants of an ancient volcano) consist of chaparral wilderness. |
| Point Mugu State Park | Ventura | Features both shoreline and inland habitats. Adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. |
| Point Reyes National Seashore | Marin | large areas of chaparral. Bear Valley Visitor Center is situated in the middle of chaparral landscape. |
| Robert Louis Stevenson State Park | Lake, Napa, Sonoma | Named after the author of Kidnapped and Treasure Island who spent his honeymoon here. The hike to the top of Mount Helena is the highlight here. |
| San Bernardino National Forest | San Bernardino, Riverside | Long box canyons near urban areas grant easy, if seasonal, access to the local chaparral. An interesting perspective is gained by ascending the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to Mount San Jacinto State Park. |
| San Bruno Mountain State Park | San Mateo | A large tract of open land just south of the San Francisco City/County line. |
| Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area | Los Angeles and Ventura | Oak-filled canyons and scrubby ridgelines make this one of the finest chaparral experiences in the state. |
| Topanga State Park | Los Angeles | 11,000 acres of backcountry adjacent to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and the City of Los Angeles. |
| Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary | Orange | Operated by California State University, Fullerton. This preserve offers a museum, an enclosed wildlife observation area, and access to the trails of the Cleveland National Forest. |
| Verdugo Mountains State Park | Los Angeles | A detached mountain chain amid Los Angeles urban sprawl. Operated by the City of Glendale. |
| Whiting Ranch Wilderness | Orange | Protects what is locally known as "The Little Grand Canyon". |
| For more information visit California's Chaparral Do you know of other special places preserving California's Chaprral? Write to the Caretaker | ||
| The background shows needle grass, an increasingly rare native California grass | ||