Northern California is a place of endless natural beauty, which is why it’s no surprise to us that new parks seem to pop up left and right to protect incredible places in this region. The Berryessa Snow Mountains National Monument was established on July 10, 2015 and is the newest federal park in Northern California.

It’s a hard place not to fall madly in love with. Here’s why.

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument starts nearly at sea level and rises up to peaks reaching 7,000 feet above snow level.

Flickr/ Gary Ford

The monument encompasses 330,780 acres from Lake Berryessa in the south to the Snow Mountain Wilderness in the north and the Yuki Wilderness on the east.

Flickr/ Bureau of Land Management

It’s located north of Sacramento and the Bay Area and offers a wealth of natural, historical and cultural resources.

Flickr/ Bureau of Land Management

There are also endless opportunities for recreation for its visitors. In addition to camping, people also come to hike and view wildlife.

Flickr/ Bureau of Land Management

A popular activity is also wildflower spotting. In the spring and early summer, there’s no better place for spotting rare and colorful blooms.

Flickr/ Gary Ford

This area has been inhabited by Native Americans for over 11,000 years. Over 8 different tribes have lived in this region, making it a linguistically diverse spot.

Flickr/ Gary Ford

The geology here is fascinating. Some of the peaks visitors can climb once rose out of the bottom of ocean and never touched the surface. Over time, shifting plates pushed them higher and higher until they formed the peaks we see today.

Flickr/Bureau of Land Management

Flickr/ USFS Region 5

For more information on the National Monument, click here.

Flickr/ Gary Ford

Flickr/ Bureau of Land Management

Flickr/ Bureau of Land Management

Flickr/Bureau of Land Management

Flickr/ USFS Region 5

Have you visited the Berryessa Snow Mountains National Monument? What did you think about this beautiful area?

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