Besides Yosemite waterfall, the nation's third oldest national park is also home to numerous famous waterfalls. Bridalveil Fall (the first waterfall visible when entering the valley) and Horsetail Fall, a waterfall that appears on fire in mid- to late-February when reflecting the orange glow of sunset.
The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is the world's largest tree when measured by trunk volume in Sequoia National Forest in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. MonumentalTrees.com describes giant sequoias as evergreen conifers with reddish-brown thick bark and enormous trunks.
National Geographic reports that Chumash tribes inhabited the eight Channel Islands off the Southern California coast until the early 19th century. Founded in 1980, Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary encompass five of these islands and six nautical miles of surrounding sea.
Joshua Tree National Park is located at the confluence of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts and stretches almost 800,000 acres. Several interesting geological displays can be found in the desert, including rugged mountains twisted by the elements and granite monoliths exposed by the sun.
This natural bridge, carved and eroded by crashing waves, is the main attraction of Natural Bridges State Beach. In addition to birds, migrating whales, seals, and otters offshore, the California Department of Parks and Recreation recommends visiting the beach at low tide to see sea stars, crabs, and sea anemones.
Located 60 feet high, Devils Postpile is a rare geological formation. Atlas Obscura reports that these columns formed when flowing lava from the Upper Soda Springs area cooled. The columns of basalt were formed by vertical cracking in the rocks as the lava cooled. A glacier then exposed the column formation, according to the National Park Service..
Tahoe is one of the highest-elevation alpine lakes in North America and the second-deepest lake in the United States, according to Lonely Planet. Swimming, hiking, skiing, and snowboarding are some of the outdoor activities available year-round.