List of National Natural Landmarks in California

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

From

List of National Natural Landmarks, these are the National Natural Landmarks in California. There are 37 in total.[1]

California National Natural Landmarks (clickable map)
Name Image Date Location County Ownership Description
Amboy Crater May 1973 34°31′11.69″N 115°43′26.92″W / 34.5199139°N 115.7241444°W / 34.5199139; -115.7241444 San Bernardino Federal (Bureau of Land Management) A 6,000-year-old volcanic
pahoehoe, just off historic U.S. Highway 66
.
American River Bluffs and Phoenix Park Vernal Pools American River 1976 38°39′10.33″N 121°12′59.95″W / 38.6528694°N 121.2166528°W / 38.6528694; -121.2166528 Sacramento Federal (United States Bureau of Reclamation), state (California State Parks), and municipal (Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District) Contains
blue oak woodlands.[2]
Año Nuevo State Reserve
Año Nuevo State Reserve 1980 37°7′7.24″N 122°18′24.02″W / 37.1186778°N 122.3066722°W / 37.1186778; -122.3066722 San Mateo State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
One of the largest mainland breeding grounds for the northern elephant seal.[3]
Anza-Borrego Desert Anza-Borrego Desert 1974 33°14′57.38″N 116°24′24.63″W / 33.2492722°N 116.4068417°W / 33.2492722; -116.4068417 Imperial, Riverside, San Diego State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
The largest desert state park in the nation.[4]
Audubon Canyon
Audubon Canyon 1968 37°55′46.01″N 122°40′55.85″W / 37.9294472°N 122.6821806°W / 37.9294472; -122.6821806 Marin Private The largest known nesting area for
great blue herons and great and snowy egrets on the Pacific Coast.[5]
Black Chasm Cave
Black Chasm Cave
Black Chasm Cave
1976 38°26′3.4″N 120°37′35.3″W / 38.434278°N 120.626472°W / 38.434278; -120.626472
Amador
Private A small three-level cave containing a variety of
speleothems and some of the best helictite formations in the western U.S.[6]
Burney Falls Burney Falls 1984 41°0′43.79″N 121°39′7″W / 41.0121639°N 121.65194°W / 41.0121639; -121.65194 Shasta State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
Contains some of the best examples in the western United States of a river drainage regulated by stratigraphically controlled springs.[7]
Cinder Cone Natural Area Cinder Cone 1973 35°17′21.95″N 115°35′6.99″W / 35.2894306°N 115.5852750°W / 35.2894306; -115.5852750 San Bernardino Federal (Mojave National Preserve) A complex of over 20 large
cinder cones of recent origin with extensive and continuous lava flows.[8]
Cosumnes River Riparian Woodlands Cosumnes River Preserve 1976 38°15′56.57″N 121°26′21.22″W / 38.2657139°N 121.4392278°W / 38.2657139; -121.4392278 Sacramento Private, Federal, State, and County A small remnant of a rapidly-disappearing riparian woodland community type that once formed a major part of the central valley.[9]
Deep Springs Marsh 1975 37°20′00″N 118°01′03″W / 37.33333°N 118.01750°W / 37.33333; -118.01750 Inyo Private An example of increasingly rare desert marsh.[10]
Dixon Vernal Pools 1987 38°16′31.29″N 121°49′25.49″W / 38.2753583°N 121.8237472°W / 38.2753583; -121.8237472 Solano Private The best example of valley needlegrass grassland in the central valley.[11]
Elder Creek
1964 39°43′32.04″N 123°37′34.35″W / 39.7255667°N 123.6262083°W / 39.7255667; -123.6262083 Mendocino State (University of California Natural Reserve System) A largely undisturbed watershed containing large old stands of Douglas fir, broadleaf evergreens, and deciduous trees.[12]
Emerald Bay Emerald Bay 1968 38°57′25.49″N 120°5′36.3″W / 38.9570806°N 120.093417°W / 38.9570806; -120.093417 El Dorado State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
An outstanding example of glacial geology.[13]
Eureka Dunes
1983 37°5′45.6″N 117°40′30″W / 37.096000°N 117.67500°W / 37.096000; -117.67500 Inyo Federal (Death Valley National Park) The tallest dune complex in the Great Basin.[14]
Fish Slough Area of Critical Environmental Concern 1975 37°28′8.69″N 118°24′3.1″W / 37.4690806°N 118.400861°W / 37.4690806; -118.400861 Inyo, Mono Mixed- federal (Bureau of Land Management), state, municipal A large, essentially undisturbed, desert wetland that provides habitat for the
alkali mariposa lily and the endangered Owens pupfish.[15]
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes 1974 34°57′56.13″N 120°39′1.24″W / 34.9655917°N 120.6503444°W / 34.9655917; -120.6503444 San Luis Obispo Mixed- federal (Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge), state, private A coastal dune tract with off-road vehicle recreation, a national wildlife refuge, beaches, and nesting for the western snowy plover.[16]
Imperial Sand Hills
1966 32°55′0″N 115°3′0″W / 32.91667°N 115.05000°W / 32.91667; -115.05000 Imperial Federal (Bureau of Land Management) One of the largest dune patches in the United States.[17]
Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks 2006 33°43′53.4″N 117°41′34.8″W / 33.731500°N 117.693000°W / 33.731500; -117.693000 Orange Mixed- state, county, municipal A remarkably complete stratigraphic succession ranging in age from late Cretaceous to the present.[18]
Lake Shasta Caverns Lake Shasta Caverns May 2012 40°48′16.2″N 122°18′15.98″W / 40.804500°N 122.3044389°W / 40.804500; -122.3044389 Shasta Private A well-decorated Solutional cave that contains a diverse assemblage of calcite cave formations.[19]
Lanphere Dunes and Ma-le'l Dunes 2021 Humboldt Federal (Bureau of Land Management, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge) Considered to be the largest and best quality sand dune ecosystems representing coastal dunes in the area.[20]
Miramar Mounds 1972 32°50′43″N 117°8′19″W / 32.84528°N 117.13861°W / 32.84528; -117.13861 San Diego Federal (Marine Corps Air Station Miramar) Contains unique soil features called
vernal pools.[21]
Mitchell Caverns and Winding Stair Cave Mitchell Caverns 1975 34°56′26.97″N 115°30′51.97″W / 34.9408250°N 115.5144361°W / 34.9408250; -115.5144361 San Bernardino State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
Regarded as the most important solution caverns in the Mojave Desert.[22]
Mt. Diablo State Park
Mt Diablo 1982 37°52′37.75″N 121°55′25.79″W / 37.8771528°N 121.9238306°W / 37.8771528; -121.9238306 Contra Costa State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
One of the few areas in the region where geologic strata of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary age can be seen in an aggregate thickness of 42,000 feet (13,000 m).[23]
Mount Shasta Mount Shasta 1976 41°24′35.6″N 122°11′41.52″W / 41.409889°N 122.1948667°W / 41.409889; -122.1948667 Siskiyou Federal (
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
)
One of the world's largest and most impressive
stratovolcanoes, within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.[24]
Pixley Vernal Pools 1987 35°59′3.85″N 119°12′45.04″W / 35.9844028°N 119.2125111°W / 35.9844028; -119.2125111 Tulare Private One of the few remaining natural vernal pools containing rare endemic crustacean species such as
vernal pool fairy shrimp.[25]
Point Lobos
Point Lobos 1967 36°31′1.56″N 121°56′33.36″W / 36.5171000°N 121.9426000°W / 36.5171000; -121.9426000 Monterey State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
An outstanding example of terrestrial and marine environments in close association, and the only known habitat of
Monterey cypress and variegated brodiaea.[26]
Pygmy forest at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve 1969

1973

39°22′29.3″N 123°47′22.15″W / 39.374806°N 123.7894861°W / 39.374806; -123.7894861 Mendocino State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
Includes a five step
ecological staircase on which a unique forest of low, stunted trees and shrubs is located.[27]
Rainbow Basin Rainbow Basin syncline 1966 35°1′46″N 117°2′12″W / 35.02944°N 117.03667°W / 35.02944; -117.03667 San Bernardino Federal (Bureau of Land Management) Deep erosion canyons with rugged rims with fossil evidence of insects and Miocene mammals.[28]
La Brea Tar Pits (Rancho La Brea) 1964 34°3′46.62″N 118°21′21.49″W / 34.0629500°N 118.3559694°W / 34.0629500; -118.3559694 Los Angeles Municipal (
City of Los Angeles
)
Site of the world-famous natural asphalt tar pits.[29]
San Andreas Fault San Adreas Fault 1965
San Benito
Private One of the best illustrations of earth displacement caused by small crustal movements.[30]
San Felipe Creek Area 1974 33°10′11″N 115°49′19″W / 33.16972°N 115.82194°W / 33.16972; -115.82194 Imperial, San Diego Federal (Bureau of Land Management), state (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) A marsh containing probably the last remaining perennial natural desert stream in the Colorado Desert region.[31]
Sand Ridge Wildflower Preserve Sand Ridge Wildflower Preserve 1984 35°18′31.26″N 118°47′24.29″W / 35.3086833°N 118.7900806°W / 35.3086833; -118.7900806 Kern Private A remnant natural area displaying a great diversity of floral species including the Bakersfield cactus.[32]
Sharktooth Hill
1976 35°26′30.57″N 118°56′26.18″W / 35.4418250°N 118.9406056°W / 35.4418250; -118.9406056 Kern Private One of the most abundant, diverse and well- preserved fossil marine vertebrate sites in the world.[33]
Tijuana River Estuary Tijuana River 1973 32°33′7.2″N 117°7′9.59″W / 32.552000°N 117.1193306°W / 32.552000; -117.1193306 San Diego Federal (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve), state, municipal One of the finest remaining saltwater marshes on the California coastline.[34]
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Torrey Pintes 1977 32°54′59.58″N 117°14′58.7″W / 32.9165500°N 117.249639°W / 32.9165500; -117.249639 San Diego State (
California Department of Parks and Recreation
)
Contains a natural
Torrey pine forest, high bluffs and sea cliffs, and endangered bird species.[35]
Trona Pinnacles Trona Pinnacles 1967 35°37′3.81″N 117°22′5.08″W / 35.6177250°N 117.3680778°W / 35.6177250; -117.3680778 San Bernardino Federal (Bureau of Land Management) A relict landform from the Pleistocene containing unique formations of calcium carbonate.[36]
Turtle Mountain Turtle Mountains (California) 1973 34°19′5.53″N 114°51′7.28″W / 34.3182028°N 114.8520222°W / 34.3182028; -114.8520222 San Bernardino Federal (Bureau of Land Management), state Contains two mountain sections of entirely different composition.[37]

References

  1. ^ "National Natural Landmarks Program, California". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  2. ^ "American River Bluffs and Phoenix Park Vernal Pools". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  3. ^ "Año Nuevo State Reserve". CA State Parks. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  4. ^ "Anza-Borrego Desert State Park". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  5. ^ "Audubon Canyon Ranch". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  6. ^ "Black Chasm Cave". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  7. ^ "Burney Falls". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  8. ^ "Cinder Cone Natural Area". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  9. ^ "Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center | BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT". www.blm.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  10. ^ "Deep Springs Marsh". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  11. ^ "Dixon Vernal Pools". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  12. ^ "Elder Creek". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  13. ^ "Emerald Bay". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  14. ^ "Eureka Dunes - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  15. ^ "Fish Slough Area of Critical Environmental Concern". www.blm.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  16. ^ "Nipomo Dunes-Point Sal Coastal Area". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  17. ^ "Imperial Sand Hills". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  18. ^ "Irvine Ranch". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  19. ^ "Lake Shasta Caverns". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  20. ^ "High Plateaus, Smelly Caverns, and Coastal Dunes, Meet the Nation's Newest Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  21. ^ "Miramar Mounds". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  22. ^ "Mitchell Caverns and Winding Stair Cave". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  23. ^ "Mount Diablo". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  24. ^ "Mount Shasta". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  25. ^ "Pixley Vernal Pools". CNLM. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  26. ^ "Point Lobos State Reserve". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  27. ^ "Jug Handle Ecological Staircase Trail - Mendocino Land Trust - 2017". Mendocino Land Trust 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  28. ^ "Rainbow Basin". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  29. ^ "Rancho La Brea". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  30. ^ "San Andreas Fault". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  31. ^ "San Felipe Creek Area". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  32. ^ "Sand Ridge". CNLM. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  33. ^ Choi, Charles Q. (June 9, 2009). "Vast Bed of Ancient Bones and Shark Teeth Explained". Live Science. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  34. ^ "Tijuana River Estuary". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  35. ^ "Torrey Pines State Reserve". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  36. ^ "Trona Pinnacles". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  37. ^ "Turtle Mountaoins Wilderness". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.