California Natural Resources Agency Invites You to ‘Outdoors for All’
Updated: 7 hours ago
We invite you to explore California’s outdoors and support an ‘Outdoors for All’
California is known around the world for its iconic and beautiful outdoor spaces. Yet for too many Californians, these places, recreational activities, and their benefits remain out of reach. The State of California believes in the right of all Californians to have access to recreational opportunities, and to enjoy and protect the cultural, historic, and natural resources found across the Golden State.
Why is it important to prioritize time in the outdoors and safeguard these environments?
Nature is critical for our physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Research shows that people who visit outdoor spaces for 30 minutes or more during a week have lower rates of depression and high blood pressure.
Outdoor spaces help communities adapt to climate change by serving as refuge from extreme heat, filtering polluted water that runs off roads after it rains, and storing carbon dioxide in trees.
When designed with ecosystem health in mind, outdoor spaces can be good for wildlife and biodiversity, too, providing spaces for plants and animals to thrive.
Finally, outdoor recreation is a reliably powerful economic engine for the state.
California is home to the nation’s largest, active outdoor-industry economy.
Championed by Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom,
California created the Outdoors for All initiative to expand access to the outdoors. In
partnership with a broad array of governments, community organizations and tribes,
California is expanding parks and outdoor spaces in communities that need them the
most, supporting programs to connect with people who lack access, fostering a sense of
belonging for all Californians outdoors, and much more. We invite you to join the
movement of an Outdoors for All. On this webpage, you’ll find links to public outdoor
spaces at state parks and beyond, safety tips, grant programs, resources, a partner kit,
and much more.
If you’d like to stay connected and hear more about our work, success stories, and ways
to get involved, sign up for The Trailblazer, the new Outdoors for All Newsletter.
Check Out These Links
State Parks, Beaches and Museums
Outdoors for All Park Pass programs (free park passes)
FamCamp (Introduces camping to community groups)
Access for People with Disabilities
California’s public outdoor spaces are available for all, including people with disabilities. Unfortunately, not all spaces have ADA-accessible features. Rustic campgrounds, winding trails occasionally invaded by tree roots, isolated beaches with limited amenities, and historic sites can be challenging to access.
While accessibility improvements are ongoing throughout the properties under the jurisdiction of the California Natural Resources Agency, we encourage you to plan your outings to help ensure a memorable visit.
Explore the webpage of your destination to properly plan for your outing. For state parks, please visit their Accessible Features webpage.
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