Jacob Myers Park gives Riverbank a Stanislaus River front yard
A mile-long paved walk, a playground, and Stanislaus River access share Jacob Myers Park. Seasonal parking fees and trail hours change the plan.
California outdoors
A beach afternoon, a river walk, or a weekend in the mountains. Find a place to go and the rules that matter for your day.
Tunnel View, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite NP, May 2013. Photo: DAVID ILIFF. CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and cropped for display; the photograph remains under the same license.
Plan your day outside
Camping and public lands
Every campsite answers to a land manager. Find yours first, and the fire, pet, and reservation rules stop being surprises.
Plan campingFishing licenses and rules
A lake, ocean beach, and public pier have different license and gear rules, even for the same angler.
Check fishing rulesBeaches and coastal access
Find public access, check water quality, and look at surf or rip-current warnings before a beach day.
Find beach accessTrails, hiking, and biking
Trails feel open until a rule says otherwise. Check the manager page for pets, bikes, permits, and closures before you go.
Plan a trail dayOHV and off-road riding
ATVs and side-by-sides need different rider checks. Neither a sticker nor a street plate opens a closed trail.
Check OHV rulesState park passes and reservations
Start here for day-use fees, annual passes, camping reservations, and the up-to-six-month booking window.
See park passesBefore you leave
A reservation does not settle road, fire, or weather conditions. Check the park's current alerts, road closures and chain controls, and the forecast for your destination.
Three places, three different days
Headwaters Forest: the paved mile and the longer redwood walk
Near Eureka, Elk River Trail starts with a paved mile. BLM has scheduled a September 21-October 2, 2026 trail closure for repairs; reopening may change.
Two deserts meet at Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park brings the Mojave and Colorado deserts together, with Joshua trees, rock formations, dark skies, trails, camping, and desert travel rules.
All outdoor guides
Before you go
The checks that save the day: who manages the place, what pass or license applies, and whether anything is closed today.
Start here
Check the manager before the rule
Use this first when you are not sure who sets the rule for the place you want to visit.
Check the managerCornerstone guide
State park passes and reservations
Start here for day-use fees, annual passes, camping reservations, and the up-to-six-month booking window.
See park passesFirst stop
City and county parks
The park across the street has its own rulebook. Find the official page for the exact park before you plan the day.
Check local parksHunting, fishing, and field rules
Licenses, seasons, current regulations, and the CDFW pages to check before a trip.
Cornerstone guide
Fishing licenses and rules
A lake, ocean beach, and public pier have different license and gear rules, even for the same angler.
Check fishing rulesCornerstone guide
Hunting licenses and field rules
Start with hunter education and the license. Then check tags, current rules, land access, and nonlead ammunition.
Check hunting rulesCoast, beaches, boating, and water
Beach access, coastal permits, tide pools, marine protected areas, water quality, boating safety, surf, paddling, and the live conditions that matter.
Field guide
Beaches and coastal access
Find public access, check water quality, and look at surf or rip-current warnings before a beach day.
Find beach accessRules signpost
Coastal development permits
A simple first pass before you build, grade, or change use in the coastal zone.
Check coastal permitsField guide
Tide pools and marine protected areas
Tide pools are a look-first world. Learn the low-tide timing and the protected-area rules before you touch or take anything.
Check tide poolsField guide
Boating, paddling, and water safety
Before the boat or board touches the water, run the short list: registration, the Boater Card, life jackets, and conditions.
Check water safetyParks, camping, trails, and riding
State parks, local parks, national parks, forests, BLM land, campgrounds, dogs, trail rules, and OHV riding.
Cornerstone guide
Camping and public lands
Every campsite answers to a land manager. Find yours first, and the fire, pet, and reservation rules stop being surprises.
Plan campingSafety guide
Bears, food storage, and camp safety
What counts as bear food, when to use a locker or canister, why car rules vary, and what to do when a black bear appears.
Read this guideField guide
Trails, hiking, and biking
Trails feel open until a rule says otherwise. Check the manager page for pets, bikes, permits, and closures before you go.
Plan a trail dayField guide
Dogs and pets outdoors
California is dog-friendly in patches. Check the exact beach, park, or trail before you load the leash.
Bring a dogField guide
OHV and off-road riding
ATVs and side-by-sides need different rider checks. Neither a sticker nor a street plate opens a closed trail.
Check OHV rulesRedwoods, deserts, mountains, wildlife, and night sky
The places people dream about, plus the simple rules that keep them open and healthy.
Field guide
Wildlife, birding, and viewing
Wildlife watching works best at a respectful distance. Learn the site rules and the space animals need before you go.
Watch wildlife safelyWhere-to-go guide
Redwoods, deserts, mountains, and big parks
The big famous places run on reservations, roads, and weather. This is the first stop before redwoods, deserts, or high country.
Explore big parksWhere-to-go guide
Stargazing and night sky
Dark sky is easy to find and easy to get wrong. Check the gates, the moon, and whether you can legally be there after dark.
Plan stargazingWeather, wildfire, smoke, snow, and hazards
Safety can change the whole outdoor day: fire restrictions, smoke, heat, snow, roads, water, and fast-changing hazards.
Safety guide
Fire restrictions and campfires
A campfire is legal until it is not. Check the permit, the current restrictions, and the weather before you strike anything.
Check fire rulesSafety guide
Wildfire defensible space around the home
Start here before yard work near the home. It also explains the wildfire hazard map.
Check defensible spaceSafety hub
Outdoor weather and hazard checks
The last check before you leave: weather, smoke, heat, water, and roads, from the live sources that actually know.
Check weather hazardsSafety guide
Snow, chains, and winter roads
Mountain driving changes with the sky. Check chain controls and road conditions before you leave, not on the shoulder.
Plan snow roadsOfficial sources
Fishing and hunting rules
Current CDFW regulations.
State park passes
Day-use and annual pass details.
Coastal access
Public access tools and basics.
Weather warnings
Forecasts, alerts, surf, heat, snow, and storms.
Road conditions
Closures, chains, traffic, and mountain roads.
Campfire permits
Permit source and fire-rule reminder.