California's State Park System Is Getting A Major Expansion With Three New Locations
The state of California is paradise for anyone who loves spending time outdoors. Stretching along the West Coast of the United States, it's home to towering mountain ranges, otherworldly deserts, beautiful beaches, and lush forests. California boasts nine breathtaking (and road trip-worthy) national parks, which is more than any other U.S. state. The fun doesn't stop there, because California also has over 250 state parks, with another three on the way. Plus, thousands more acres of land are being added to some of the parks that already exist.
In April, 2026, California's governor announced that three new state parks are in the works, and all of them will be located in the Central Valley region. Fittingly, Governor Newsom announced the new state park expansion on Earth Day.
"As Trump sells out America's national parks, California is doubling down on protecting the Golden State's natural beauty. Today, through the State Parks Forward initiative, we're expanding our park system with three new state parks, creating new outdoor recreation opportunities for Central Valley communities, deepening our conservation commitments, and preserving our lands for generations of Californians to come," Governor Newsom said.
Three new state parks will offer more outdoor recreation opportunities in the Central Valley region
According to Governor Gavin Newsom's website, people who live in the Central Valley region of California have had less access to state parks compared to other Californians. "Now through State Parks Forward we're bringing more parks to more places – particularly in the Central Valley, a beautiful region that has too often been overlooked for new parks," Governor Newsom said. The three new state parks will span a total of 330 miles and will stretch all across the Central Valley.
Feather River Park will be located in Yuba County and will be the county's very first state park. It's located along the Feather River, and will have a boat launch and a beach for visitors to enjoy. San Joaquin River Parkway will extend through parts of Fresno County and Madera County. The land is an important wildlife corridor and in total, the new park will encompass over 800 acres. It's close to the city of Fresno and will provide residents and visitors alike with excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation.
The third new park will be Dust Bowl Camp. It will include the Sunset Migratory Labor Camp, which is already on the National Register of Historic Places. "The Grapes of Wrath," an iconic novel by John Steinbeck, was partially inspired by the labor camp. It is not currently open to the public, but as a state park, visitors would have the opportunity to view the historic buildings and learn about the challenges that migrant workers in California faced during the Great Depression. With the addition of these three parks, California will have a total of 283 state parks, which is more than any other US state.
Existing parks will also expand over the next few years
In addition to the creation of three brand new state parks, the state of California also plans to expand upon its existing network of parks where locals and tourists already enjoy fun outdoor adventures. The State Parks Forward Initiative aims to ensure that 30% of land in California is conserved by the year 2030.
"The bold vision laid out today by Governor Newsom sets California on a path to not just grow the State Park System but also provide more access and instill a greater connection and sense of pride for all Californians in their state parks," California State Parks Director Armando Quintero said in response to the announcement.
The state of California aims to acquire thousands of acres of public land over the coming years. In total, the initiative outlined by Governor Newsom would add around 30,000 acres of land to state parks by 2030. Efforts are already well underway. Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve recently acquired 453 additional acres. South Yuba River State Park added 218 additional acres. 133 acres were added to Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. These efforts aim to help "expand access to the outdoors so more children and families can connect with California's unmatched natural beauty," First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said. If you're looking for places to enjoy the outdoors in California, make sure to visit its most underrated state parks with hot springs and alpine vistas or the largest state park full of stunning desert flowers.