Parking lots partially reopen at 27 California state parks

A family set up at a beach looking out towards the San Diego skyline Tuesday, May 19, 2020, in Coronado, Calif. With encouraging results in their fight against the coronavirus, San Diego County supervisors voted Tuesday to ask the state to allow California's second-largest county to be a test case for whether more rapid reopening can safely occur.

Gregory Bull | AP

The parking lots of 27 California state parks have partially reopened weeks after the 280 state parks and beaches closed their parking lots to discourage non-local visitors, officials said Tuesday.

Parking lots were partially reopened at Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma County, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area in Butte County and several state beaches in Orange County, including Huntington, Bolsa Chica and Crystal Cove, among others.

Gloria Sandoval, deputy director of California's state parks department, said even though there is increased access at some parks and beaches, officials still encourage people to stay close to home.

“State Parks will continue to monitor visitation and physical distancing across the system and if unsafe conditions develop, park units may close again,” she said.

Visitors are also advised to check online to see if the park or beach they want to be visit is open before leaving home, what new visitor guidelines are in effect and if parking is available, she said.

As of Tuesday, 36 parks were closed and 244 were open though campgrounds, restrooms, visitor centers and other facilities remain closed at all state parks.

Here is list of parks that now have limited parking:

Butte County

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area

El Dorado County

Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Emerald Bay State Park

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area (also in Sacramento and Placer counties)

Lake Valley State Recreation Area

Washoe Meadows State Park

Kern County

Onyx Ranch

Nevada County

Donner Memorial State Park

Orange County

Bolsa Chica State Beach

Doheny State Beach

Huntington State Beach

San Clemente State Beach

Crystal Cove State Beach

Placer County

Auburn State Recreation Area

Kings Beach State Recreation Area

Riverside County

Lake Perris State Recreation Area

San Benito County

Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

Santa Cruz County

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Wilder Ranch State Park

Shasta County

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

Sonoma County

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Austin Creek State Recreation Area

Jack London State Historic Park

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Trione-Annadel State Park

Tuolumne County

Columbia State Historic Park