Aside from the 500 kilometres of hiking trails, a diverse range of bird species and the emblematic Yucca brevifolia (or Joshua Tree), the biggest drawcard of this incredible park – just over two hours drive east of Los Angeles – is arguably rock-climbing. There are more than 8,000 climbing routes and 2,000 bouldering spots, including one of the park’s highest peak (and most popular peaks), The Sentinel, which stands at 60 metres. 

Not a thrillseeker? Opt instead to enjoy the expansive vistas of weathered rocks and boulders, jagged ancient fault lines and gardens of endemic wildflowers on a guided horseback tour through the high desert with Knob Hill Ranch.

The marinescapes of California’s Channel Islands are incredible, spanning kelp forests, sea caves and vibrant corals. This eight-island archipelago off the coast of Los Angeles is accessible by tour boat or public ferry from Ventura Harbour but once you arrive transport options are limited. On wind-whipped Santa Rosa Island, for example, you’ll only have your two legs, a  kayak or inter-island boat trips to get around. If you really want to dive in at the deep end, Channel Islands Adventure Company offers a range of sea kayaking tours that traverse the milky blue waterways, navigating around undulating seaweed while guides reveal the stories of Santa Cruz Island; the focus of the tours. Visitors can also camp on five of the islands but all spots must be booked in advance.

Despite its name, this below-sea-level basin is a thriving, 3.4-million-hectare swathe of wilderness five hours’ drive from Los Angeles. The park’s unique craters and earthy hues are enduring hallmarks of its volcanic history and nowhere in the park demonstrates this better than Artists Palette, where striking blue, green and pink mineral deposits are locked in stone. (If you’ve come by car, take the 45-minute Artists Drive route.) Another of the Death Valley’s notable sights is Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, where there are hundreds of kilometres of walkable, ripple-marked salt flats.

There’s an activity here for Star Wars fans, too: the NPS app has a self-guided tour of filming locations that featured in the Episode IV - A New Hope and Episode VI - Return of the Jedi movies.

Home to some of the tallest timber in the world, Redwoods National Park and its towering canopies of endemic coniferous trees offers a peaceful spot to take a scenic drive or cycle. There’s plenty of space to spread out: the UNESCO World Heritage Site near the California/Oregon border also has backcountry campsites along an incredible 320 kilometres of trails, an abundance of wildlife viewing areas (look out for Roosevelt elk south of the Klamath River and gray whales from the Klamath River Overlook) and even pristine beaches where you might see sea lions and breaching whales. After gazing up at those iconic trees, plan to dip your toes in at Enderts Beach, where you can wander past ever-changing rock pools, photograph wildflowers and pause to witness the changing tides.

You’ll be constantly surprised by this park, where scorched, orange-toned rocky plateaus give way to lush expanses of conifers. Four distinct types of volcanoes bubble and steam in this singular landscape, some four hours drive from San Francisco – in fact, it’s the only place on earth where shield, composite, cinder cone and plug dome kinds exist together. At Bumpass Hell, in the park’s southwest corner, visitors can uncover hectares of boiling springs, spluttering steam vents and hissing fumaroles on a 4.8-kilometre walking track (mind the sulphuric, eggy scent).

The valleys, mountains and waterfalls of Yosemite National Park have such a distinctive grandeur that it has become the most visited national park in California. The variety is staggering, from some of the world’s largest waterfalls (including the 739-metre Yosemite Falls and the 188-metre Bridalveil Fall) to giant sequoia groves, ancient granite rock formations and lush meadows. To try and tackle it, you might like to stay a few days in the 3,080-square-kilometre reserve. Consider AutoCamp Yosemite, where bunking options range from vintage airstreams to glamping tents with outdoor fire pits.

Craggy pires, deep canyons and rich volcanic rock are all found at Pinnacles National Park near the San Andreas Fault, about three hours drive south of San Francisco. Known for its talus caves – rare formations that are created when rock chunks are wedges in narrow canyons – Pinnacles has two main clusters, Bear Gulch and Balconies (the latter open year-round). Both are cool, damp and atmospheric places to wander through. The park is also home to the critically endangered California Condor, a bird with an almost three-metre wingspan; if you spot one, you’re encouraged to report it to park officials to assist with ongoing recovery programs. You can hike from one side of Pinnacles to the other in about four hours (depending on fitness) but book a spot at the on-site campground (which has a pool during summer, fire rings and coin-operated showers) if you’re spending a handful of days here.

Wondering how tall a 2,000 year-old tree can get? Sequoia National Park’s grove of namesake sequoia trees includes the 83-metre-tall General Sherman (the largest in the world) and the Washington Tree (another towering tree at 35 metres high). The park is just over four hours drive north of Los Angeles and visiting in June or September, on either side of the local summer school holidays, promises milder temperatures for the paved Congress Trail loop, which starts beneath the aforementioned trees and takes you on a wilderness journey for about five kilometres. Another key attraction is the Crystal Cave, which is an underground marble cavern with beautiful stalactite formations. There’s a free park shuttle that can help you zip around if you’re short on time.

Kings Canyon National Park is home to kilometres of horse-riding trails, walking paths and breathtaking views of the untamed American wilderness unique to this patch of California. (It’ll take you less than four hours to drive here from San Francisco if there’s no traffic.) The best spot to take in the reserve’s beauty is arguably Kings Canyon Overlook, where you can watch birds fly between leafy peaks and over rugged, rust-coloured canyons. Or, if you’re an angler, try your luck at hooking a rainbow trout, native to to the Sierra Nevada. Throwing a line out with a guide is a great way to get better quickly.

15 Things You Wouldn’t Expect to Find in Washington, DC