Central Valley District

The Central Valley District

Welcome to the Central Valley District (CVD) of California State Parks! The CVD is made up of 15 special park units! Central Valley State Parks offer a wide array of recreational, cultural, and historical adventures for the public's enjoyment! These parks are centrally located for easy access from many metropolitan areas. Explore the groves of awe-inspiring giant sequoias, rolling mountain ranges, historic time capsules, and much more!

California State Mining & Mineral Museum

Mariposa, CA

The California State Mining and Mineral Museum houses a large collection of rare minerals and gems, as well as mining artifacts. The museum is home to the official mineral collection for the state of California. With more than 13,000 pieces from all around the world including, the largest remaining mass of crystalline gold, the Fricot Nugget. visit the mine tunnel to see how gold was mined in the mid-1800s. Start the working, scale model of a stamp mail to see how the gold was extracted from the rocks The museum includes interactive exhibits and rotating exhibits to keep things new each time you visit. Make this must-see stop on your way to Yosemite or visit to Mariposa County.

Caswell Memorial State Park

Ripon, CA

This park part preserves one of the few places to enjoy the natural state of the Central Valley. The majestic valley oak forest provides shady relief from the peak heat in the summer, while the river access provides visitors with a place to splash, swim, float, kayak, and fish. Recreational opportunities include hiking, camping, river access, and wildlife observation.

Dos Rios

Modesto, CA

Welcome to Dos Rios, a proposed California State Park)! Dos Rios is located on the confluence of the Tuolumne River and the San Joaquin River. A once private agricultural operation has now been converted back into its natural state of a riparian floodplain forest. At 1,600 acres, Dos Rios is the largest floodplain restoration project in the state of California and now serves as a thriving ecosystem that supports a rich diversity of plants and wildlife.

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park

Pine Grove, CA

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, 12 miles east of Jackson, CA. This special park allows visitors to learn about the indigenous people who have inhabited the area for centuries The Chaw’s Regional Indian Museum reflects the architecture of the traditional Roundhouse and exhibits basketry, feather regalia, jewelry, arrow points, as well as other tools and objects. Visit a reconstructed Miwok village, the Roundhouse, and the limestone grinding rock. Visitors can view mortar cups and petroglyphs from above on a raised boardwalk. The park preserves a great outcropping of marbleized limestone with some 1,185 mortar holes -- the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America. With 135 acres of the park to explore, visitors can recreate by camping, observing wildlife, and walking through open meadows dotted with valley oaks.

McConnell State Recreation Area

Ballico, CA

The Merced River, after coursing its way through the Yosemite Valley, becomes calm and inviting as it flows through McConnell State Recreation Area. Towering cottonwoods and sycamores offer relief from the dry heat of the San Joaquin Valley. Visitors can enjoy fishing, river access, hiking, camping, and wildlife observation.

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area

Friant, CA

With over 40 miles of shoreline, this SRA offers visitors picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating and other water sports. The hills surrounding the lake provide good opportunities for hiking with different perspectives of the lake. Wildlife in the park includes ground squirrels, cottontails, mule deer, badgers and many raptors, including bald and golden eagles. During winter, the park has special boat tours to view the bald eagles. 

Pacheco State Park

Hollister, CA

The park has beautiful displays of vibrant spring wildflowers, scenic vistas, and outstanding trails for horse-back riding, hiking, and mountain biking. The 28 miles of trails offer several loop options to give visitors the choice of a hike or ride of from one to twenty miles or more. During the spring the park's grassy slopes abound with blossoming wildflowers. With sweeping views and open meadows, visitors can hope to see golden eagles, black-tailed deer, and tule elk, and other wildlife while out on the trail.

San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Are

Gustine, CA

San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area is nestled in the grassy hills of the western San Joaquin Valley near the historic Pacheco Pass. At 64,000 acres, the largest park unit in the district, San Luis Reservoir SRA, has many recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, water sports, fishing,  four boat launches, and even an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) area.

Wassama Roundhouse State Historic Park

Ahwahnee, CA

This park preserves a traditional meeting place of the Southern Sierra Miwok and Chukchansi Yokuts. The Roundhouse is a place of spiritual and ceremonial significance to many native people. Ancient customs of local Native California Indians are honored and passed down to younger generations at the park during the annual Gathering Days event, held during the third weekend in October.