California’s state parks are home to some of the most treasured natural and cultural landscapes in the country, and every year, thousands of volunteers give their time, energy, and heart to keep them thriving.
From restoring native habitats to maintaining trails and protecting historic structures, volunteers are essential partners in stewarding our shared public lands. This past fiscal year was no exception.
Together in Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024–June 2025), 3,144 volunteers joined us at 142 workdays across the state, contributing 10,915 hours of service. Their impact was powerful:
As we celebrate our Volunteer Appreciation Month this July, we’re reflecting on what this collective care made possible and highlighting a few of the parks where these efforts came to life:
Restoring Coastal Forests at Trinidad State Beach
Since 2019, volunteers at Trinidad State Beach (Humboldt County) have been helping restore rare coastal habitats in Northern California, including the unique Sitka spruce forest and coastal scrub ecosystems that make this park so special.
This year, volunteers focused on removing invasive plants like English ivy, Scotch broom, Aaron’s beard, wild onion, and the aptly named stinky Bob, which can choke out native species and disrupt local biodiversity. By clearing these invasive plants, volunteers helped improve the ecological health of the forest and allowed native vegetation to regenerate.
This ongoing stewardship effort is supported by dedicated Volunteer Core Leaders like Perry King, who was recently featured in our blog “Why I Volunteer: A Core Leader’s Story from Humboldt County”. Volunteers like Perry lead by example and show how long-term commitment can make a lasting difference.
👉 Interested in joining a workday at Trinidad State Beach? Sign up to volunteer here!
Creating Defensible Space at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
At Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park (Coloma County), volunteers are helping preserve California’s history, not just through interpretation, but by protecting historic buildings from wildfire.
Our volunteer workdays at this Sierra foothills site have supported the park’s defensible space plan, bringing it into compliance with the state fire safety code. Since 2022, volunteers have worked to clear brush, tall grass, and debris, creating a 5-foot perimeter around key structures. These areas are then filled with decomposed granite, creating a noncombustible barrier to reduce fire risk.
This work not only supports public safety and wildfire prevention but also helps preserve irreplaceable relics and Gold Rush-era buildings. Learn more in our blog “How Volunteers Are Preserving History and Protecting Our Parks from Wildfires”.
👉 Help protect parks like Marshall Gold State Historic Park by signing up to volunteer today!
Supporting Trails and Campgrounds at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Tucked into the Santa Cruz Mountains, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a favorite among hikers, campers, and families. Thanks to the ongoing support of our volunteers, it continues to thrive!
At the park, volunteers have helped with everything from habitat restoration to on the ground trail and campground maintenance since 2013. This year, they played a key role in caring for popular day-use areas and trails by watering and weeding native plantings and removing invasive species like Himalayan blackberry. Their work helps preserve the natural beauty of the redwood landscape while supporting biodiversity.
Volunteers also stepped up to repair fencing, trim overgrowth to improve trail safety, and prepare the campground for opening day in the spring. That work includes raking leaf litter, painting food lockers, staining picnic tables, and even reinstalling BBQ grills. After the winter storms in 2024, volunteers returned to help clear fallen branches and debris from roads and picnic areas, ensuring the park remained safe and welcoming for all.
👉 Help us care for this iconic redwood park by volunteering at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park!
Restoring Urban Habitat at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
In the heart of Los Angeles, Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (Los Angeles County) offers sweeping city views and a surprising richness of native plants and wildlife. Volunteers here prove that you don’t have to go far to make a meaningful difference in conservation.
Since 2011, our workdays, held in partnership with Nature Nexus Institute, have focused on urban habitat restoration. Volunteers support this mission by removing invasive species; planting California natives like sagebrush and prickly pear cactus; and assisting with seed collection, cleaning, and transplanting. Even seemingly small tasks, like fixing plant basins, play a big role in helping restored habitats thrive.
These efforts support not only plant life, but local wildlife too, including desert cottontail rabbits and other species that call this green space home. Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is a powerful reminder that conservation can flourish in urban spaces when communities come together.
👉 Are you in the Los Angeles area? Get involved and help protect this vital city habitat!
Maintaining Trails at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
At Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, located in the mountains east of San Diego, our volunteers are keeping the park’s scenic trail system accessible for all. Since 2016, they’ve been an essential part of ongoing trail maintenance and restoration work across this expansive landscape.
This year, volunteers focused on two key areas of trail upkeep: brushing and tread work. Brushing involves cutting back overgrown plants that block or narrow the trail, while tread work addresses uneven or eroded sections of trail to make walking and biking safer and more enjoyable.
With every step they take, our volunteers are helping to ensure that future hikers, bikers, and equestrians can enjoy these wild, beautiful paths for years to come.
👉 Want to give back while getting your boots dirty? Volunteer at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park!
Thank You for Making This Possible
As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month, we honor the thousands of people who protect and preserve California’s state parks. Whether you planted a tree, cleared a trail, restored habitat, or created fire-safe space around historic buildings — your efforts have left a lasting mark.
From redwood forests to city overlooks, your work helps protect biodiversity, connect communities to nature, and ensure these cherished public lands remain safe and welcoming for generations to come.
To all of our volunteers: thank you. California’s state parks are better because of you.
Want to get involved? There are many ways to support the parks you love:
• Volunteer with us in a park near you: https://volunteer.calparks.org.
• Make a donation to help support these vital parklands: https://www.calparks.org/donate.
• Follow us on social media for updates and upcoming events: @calparks on Instagram, Facebook, and @californiaparks on Bluesky.
• Get inspired by photos from this year’s workdays: View our volunteer photo album on Flickr.
Every action matters. Thank you for standing with us and for California’s state parks.