California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s shelter-at-home order doesn’t restrict state residents from enjoying the outdoors.
However, you likely won’t be enjoying the outdoors at many state parks and beaches that have closed their parking lots due to an excess amount of visitors during the COVID-19 emergency.
“This past weekend, many state parks and beaches received record visitation which made it impossible for the public to implement appropriate social (physical) distancing practices,” according to a statement from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Newsom initially limited the parking closures to well-trafficked destinations along the Pacific Coast.
On Thursday, the state announced a new round of closings that will deter access parks ranging from Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, to Calaveras Big Trees in the Sierra foothills, Morro Bay State Park in San Luis Obispo County and Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County.
The elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park will get a break from tourists, too. That beach’s parking lot is closed.
The parks department said that further closures may prove necessary in the future.
“State Parks will continue to monitor visitation and physical distancing at all state park units and if the safety measures implemented thus far are not sufficient to protect public health, additional measures may be taken to fully close parks including trails, bathrooms, and other amenities,” the department said.
As of Thursday evening, here’s what’s closed:
Calaveras County
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Contra Costa County
Mount Diablo State Park
El Dorado County
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Emerald Bay State Park
Folsom Lake State Recreational Area
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
Los Angeles County
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
El Matador State Beach
Leo Carillo State Park
Los Angeles State Historic Park
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Malibu Pier (though restaurants remain open for to-go service)
Point Dume State Beach
RH Meyer State Beach
Topanga State Park
Will Rogers State Historic Park
Sequoias stretch toward the sky in Arnold at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Randy Pench rpench@sacbee.com
Marin County
Angel Island State Park
China Camp State Park
Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park
Mount Tamalpais State Ppark
Olompali State Historic Park
Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Tomales Bay State Park
Mendocino County
Jug Handle State Natural Reserve
MacKerricher State Park
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park
Russian Gulch State Park
Van Damme State Park
Merced County
George J. Hatfield State Recreational Area
Monterey County
Andrew Molera State Park
Carmel River State Beach
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Monterey State Beach
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Point Sur State Historic Park
Nevada County
Donner Memorial State Park
Empire Mine State Historic Park
South Yuba River State Park
Orange County
Bolsa Chica State Beach
Chino Hills State Park
Crystal Cove State Park
Doheny State Beach
Huntington State Beach
San Clemente State Beach
San Onofre State Beach
Placer County
Donner Memorial State Park
Folsom Lake State Recreational Area
Kings Beach State Recreational Area
Riverside County
Chino Hills State Park
California Citrus State Historic Park
Lake Perris State Recreational Area
Sacramento County
Folsom Lake State Recreational Area
San Bernadino County
Chino Hills State Park
Silverwood State Recreational Area
San Diego County
Cardiff State Beach
Carlsbad State Beach
San Elijo State Beach
Silver Strand State Beach
San Onofre State Beach
South Carlsbad State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
San Joaquin County
Caswell Memorial State Park
San Luis Obispo County
Cayucos State Beach
Morro Bay State Park
Morro Strand State Beach
Ano Nuevo elephant seals Adam Blauert Sun-Star correspondent
San Mateo County
Año Nuevo State Park
Bean Hollow State Beach
Burleigh Murray State Park
Castle Rock State Park
Cowell Ranch
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Half Moon Bay State Beach
Montara State Beach
Pescadero State Beach
Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park
Pomponio State Beach
San Gregorio State Beach
Santa Barbara County
Carpinteria State Beach
El Capitan State Beach
Gaviota State Park
Refugio State Beach
Santa Cruz County
Castle Rock State Park
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Manresa State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach
New Brighton State Beach
Seacliff State Beach
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Shasta County
Castle Crags State Park
Sonoma County
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Austin Creek State Recreational Area
Fort Ross State Historic Park
Jack London State Historic Park
Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park
Salt Point State Park
Sonoma Coast State Park (and associated sub-units)
