All Episodes 2002 - 2011

Watch as Huell advocates for the California State Park system in a special episode sponsored by KIXE.

First up in our new series is Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Established in 1902, it's actually California's oldest State Park and is celebrating its centennial this year. Home to the largest continuous stand of Coast Redwoods south of San Francisco, as well as numerous waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and incredible scenery - this is a trip you will not want to miss.

Located in Riverside, California, Citrus State Historic Park recaptures the days when "Citrus was King" in California. The design of the park is reminiscent of a 1900s city park and includes an activity center, amphitheater, interpretive structure and demonstration groves. The land within the park still continues to produce high-quality fruits, too.

Huell Howser travels to Weaverville Joss House Historic Park, home to a Taoist Temple of Worship and the oldest still-in-use Chinese Temple in California.

Shasta City is located six miles west of Redding. During the California gold rush it was the "Queen City" of California's northern mining district prospering from 1850-1890. Huell Howser visits Shasta State Historic Park, a reminder of the area's gold rush legacy with brick ruins of a once thriving gold rush shopping district and a courthouse museum filled with original artifacts from the era.

Huell goes National in this episode of California's Golden Parks as he visits Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lava flows, jagged craters and steaming sulphur vents make up some of Lassen's breathtaking landscape.

This California State Park's name means "Mountain of Gold" and comes from the golden wildflowers that bloom there in the spring. Located on the central coast near Morro Bay, Huell Howser discovers the park's boundless natural beauty which also includes rugged cliffs, secluded beaches, streams and canyons.

Huell Howser travels to Sutter's Fort State Historic Park in midtown Sacramento. The park marks the 1839 settlement that would become our state's capital, and play a major role in California history when gold was discovered nearby in 1848.

San Diego became California's first Spanish settlement when a mission and fort were established there in 1769. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park recreates life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872. Stroll along with Huell Howser through original adobes, San Diego's first newspaper office, mansions and a blacksmith shop.

On September 28, 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo landed at San Diego Bay. This event marked the first time that a European expedition had set foot on what later became the west coast of the United States. Huell travels to Cabrillo National Monument, where Cabrillo's exploration is commemorated with a statue and a museum flanked by scenic views of San Diego's harbor and skyline.

It was once the center of social activity as Napa Valley settlers gathered to have their corn and wheat ground into meal or flour. Travel with Huell Howser just three miles north of St. Helena off Highway 29 to Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, the site of a water-powered grist mill that was built in 1846.

Año Nuevo State Reserve is the site of the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal. Huell ventures out to this low, rocky, windswept point jutting out into the Pacific Ocean 55 miles south of San Francisco to see hundreds of seals during breeding season.

Huell travels to the beautiful Sierra Nevadas and Donner Memorial State Park which commemorates those who emigrated to California from the east in the mid-1800s. It is named for one of the earliest pioneer wagon trains, the Donner Party, forced by circumstances to camp at the east end of Donner Lake in the winter of 1846-47, resulting in human suffering and loss of life.

Huell drops by the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa to see our state's official collection of more than 13,000 minerals, rocks, gems, historic artifacts and fossils.

Rescued from future development and a history of oil drilling, the 42-acre Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve in Torrance is one of the last remaining vernal marshes in Southern California. The non-profit, volunteer organization Friends of the Madrona Marsh fought vigorously throughout the '70s and '80s to save this delicate natural habitat. Although Huell's visit shows us a great success story, he also learns that the restoration is ongoing.

Huell visits Temescal Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades which was a major center of the Chautauqua Movement in the 1920s and ‘30s.

Huell travels to the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in the East Bay. It was once a thriving coal and sand mining area, and is now a great place to bike and hike while taking in the beautiful landscape filled with blue oaks, manzanitas and carpets of springtime flowers. Huell stops by the Underground Mining Museum and also hikes to the remains of the mines.

Named in honor of Augustus F. Hawkins, who represented South Central Los Angeles from 1963 to 1991 in the U.S. House of Representatives, Augustus F. Hawkins Natural Park provides open space serenity in the heart of Los Angeles. It was once a cement pipe storage yard and is now an 8.5-acre state-of-the-art natural park which hosts numerous interpretive and learning programs. Join Huell as he visits the park and some eager Junior Rangers.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is a 14,000 acre sanctuary of old growth coast redwoods, which offers hiking, nature study, wildlife viewing, beach combing, picnicking, a visitor center with exhibits and a nature store. Join Huell as he hikes to Fern Canyon, one of this state park's most enchanting locations.

Huell travels to the city of Pacific Grove located on the Monterey Peninsula to visit Asilomar. Meaning "a refuge by the sea," Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds sits on 107 breathtaking acres. The conference grounds began in 1913 as a camp and conference site for the YWCA, and its historic buildings were designed by the California architect Julia Morgan, who also designed Hearst Castle. Today, among other activities, the facility is home to the California State Parks training facility.

Huell travels to Eureka and the Civil War military post, Fort Humboldt. Ulysses S. Grant served there briefly in 1854. The details of his tenure, along with other important historical facts can be experienced at this state historic park set on a grassy bluff overlooking Humboldt Bay.

Situated in the Oakland Hills, with sweeping views of the Bay Area, Joaquin Miller Park contains one of the only urban second growth redwood groves in existence. It is named for Miller,” Poet of the Sierras, who settled in the hills above the “City of Oaks.”

Located east of San Diego and encompassing 25,000 acres, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park was devastated by the wildfires in October 2003. Join Huell on a somber visit to the park as he learns about plans to help these wildlands recover quickly and prevent future damage to this fragile landscape.

Huell’s off to the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve. More than 50,000 acres of permanently protected open space in the heart of Orange County which offers a rich menu of recreational opportunities. The land is diverse; stretching 22 miles from the mountains to the sea and comprising more than half of the historic 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch.

A visit to Alum Rock Park in San Jose.

Huell visits one of our state’s most scenic and important State Parks. China Camp State Park is located right on San Francisco Bay and is the last remaining example of the numerous Chinese fishing villages that once dotted the shoreline. Not only does he walk through the quaint village and learn about its colorful history, but he sails out on the Bay in a recently constructed replica of an early Chinese junk. History is so fragile and this is a fine example of how we are preserving it for further generations.

There’s nothing quite as exciting as uncovering a hidden treasure. And that’s exactly what Huell does when he visits one of our smallest and least-known state parks. Located on the rocky, windswept coast of Sonoma County in Northern California, this entire park is only 60 feet in circumference and goes over 100 feet in the air! It’s been mysteriously perched there since 1970 and leaves a visitor with more questions than answers. Join Huell as he learns about the Bufano Peace Statue.

Pio Pico State Historic Park welcomes Huell Howser. It is the site of "El Ranchito," the final home of the last Mexican Governor of California.

Huell's off to Henry W. Coe State Park to attend their annual TarantulaFest. Put on specifically to help break down the negative myths and stereotypes so many of us have about these spiders, this festival has become a big hit. There are tarantula nature walks and tarantula lectures, but Huell's favorite event is the up close and personal tarantula experience. In fact, people of all ages line up for the opportunity to allow these huge spiders to crawl up their arms, around their necks and across their faces.

Huell tours the the Victorian residence in Martinez where the naturalist John Muir lived from 1890 to his death in 1914, and meets the special folks who are responsible for preserving this important site. While living there, Muir laid the foundations for the creation of the National Park Service in 1916.

Huell travels to the Yuba Gold fields near Marysville and learns about the mining operation along the Yuba River that was at one time the most profitable operation in the world.

Join popular PBS host Huell Howser and ecologist Jim Cornett as they explore Joshua Tree National Park for a look at these amazing trees found in only four states and no where else in the world. Included is a visit to the record holding “Barber Pole” tree and an up close look at the desert night lizard, one of the smallest reptiles in the world, which lives under the dead limbs of the Joshua Tree.

The Carrizo Plain is a southerly extension of the San Juan Valley, about 20 miles southwest of Bakersfield. Its 250,000 acres allow visitors to imagine what much of California was like 300 years ago. Huell learns about its rare plants and animals, as well as its human history.

Join Huell as he visits Bidwell Park in Chico. Encompassing almost 3,670 acres, it is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. 2005 marks the centennial of the park’s original gift of pristine California countryside by the Bidwell family, Chico’s founders, for the “pleasure of the people of said city for all time.”

Once the second largest city in California, Columbia is a wonderfully preserved gold rush-era town, and it's where Huell attends the annual Columbia Diggin's celebration.

Huell's off to Yosemite National Park where he walks the newly rehabilitated trails to the base of Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America.

Huell sets off from where the Sacramento and American River meet on a bike ride along the beautiful 23-mile American River Parkway.

At one time it was home to one of California’s most important and powerful families. Today its been beautifully restored and is open to everyone as one of California’s State Historic Parks. Join PBS host Huell Howser as he tours this historic mansion and discovers its treasures!

Before it was dammed in the early 1900s, John Muir called it more beautiful than Yosemite Valley itself. And now, in a one-hour special, Huell travels to this historic and spectacular place to document its past and talk about its future.

Huell boats to Catalina Island and visits the The Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens.

The Hearst Ranch began with the first purchase of land by George Hearst in 1865 and is the largest privately owned working cattle ranch on the California coast. Now, through a historic conservation plan, at least 18 miles of coastline including close to 1,500 acres will be available for use by all Californians. Huell hears about the future of the ranch, and how all Californians will be able to enjoy its scenic vistas and learn about this critical wildlife habitat.

Carpinteria State Beach is just twelve miles south of Santa Barbara and is a great family destination that offers a mile of beach for swimming, surfing, fishing, tidepool exploring and camping. Huell learns about all of this, plus how Carpinteria got its name and the role that naturally-occurring tar played in its history.

Huell learns about another success story in conservation when he tours the Audubon Center at Debs Park, an urban oasis in Los Angeles. A cutting-edge environmental education center and ecological monitoring program is housed within nearly 300 acres of city park, which contains walnut-oak woodland, grassland and coastal sage scrub, a remnant of the native habitats that once rimmed the Los Angeles Basin.

"Where the waters come together...." is a translation of the word Ahjumawi, which is also the self describing word used by the band of Pit River Native Americans who inhabit the area. Join Huell as he visits this amazing State Park.

Huell attends the grand reopening of the Kelso Depot and not only tours the beautifully renovated and restored 1928 building, but talks with locals about its rich history. It’s a true celebration as the Kelso Depot begins its new life as a museum and information center for the Mojave National Preserve.

Sacramento has a unique feature that many residents are unaware of: a city underneath a city. Huell Howser goes below the city of Sacramento to explore the remaining historic sidewalks, doorways and building relics that were all part of the original downtown area before flooding moved the entire city upstairs one level. Huell gets a special tour of this restricted and mysterious area.

Huell visits the Cayuga Playground in downtown San Francisco. This amazing playground was once a beaten down, overgrown, weed-choked space and has been transformed by Demi Braceros into a beautiful park with flowers and paths decorated with twisted twig fences, wood carvings and inspirational messages.

Located in beautiful Old Sacramento and regarded as one of North America’s finest and most visited railroad museums, The California State Railroad Museum is also part of the California State Park System. Huell explores the exhibits and rides beautifully restored railroad cars and locomotives that illustrate a railroad history unique to California and the West.

Join Huell as he visits the magnificently restored Camarillo Ranch, which was named for “the last Spanish Don”, Adolfo Camarillo, who assumed ownership of the gigantic 10,000 acre ranch in 1880 at the age of 16. The city of Camarillo is named after the charismatic and successful Adolfo, who is known for having bred white horses. Huell takes a special tour of the ranch and “La Casa Grande,” the 6,000 sq. foot Queen Anne Victorian Camarillo built for his wife, Isabella. Once the original Rancho Calleguas, the ranch was one of the last of the Mexican land grants. Mexican Governor Alvarado gave Jose Pedro Ruitz the land in 1847. Juan Camarillo obtained the Rancho from the Ruiz family in 1875. At Juan’s death, his eldest son, Adolfo Camarillo assumed operation of the ranch at the age of 16. Sucessfully operating the ranch for 68 years, Adolfo was fondly referred to as the “Last Spanish Don”, and the City of Camarillo is named after him.

Huell visits the south fork of the Yuba River. The area includes the longest single-span covered bridge in the world, four miles of the steep rugged canyon of the South Yuba River, and the Independence Trail — a wheelchair accessible trail. See water pouring over massive granite ledges, and historic toll crossings and bridges that tell a story of day-to-day life during the Gold Rush era.

Huell visits Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and hears all about this new and improved state park and the exciting disovery of an enormous 400 foot waterfall, which was hidden on private property until 2006. Then, Huell explores the freshly cut trail that has been made for everyone to enjoy this gorgeous “new” waterfall.

Huell attends the annual Return of the Salmon Festival in Shasta County to see huge numbers of fall Chinook Salmon coming up river to spawn.

Huell visits Doheny State Beach to help celebrate the 75th anniversary of the park. Doheny is famous for its surfing and laid back California atmosphere. We’ll visit with families who have multiple generations that have grown up on the great waves of Doheny. We’ll also learn about camping throughout years at this idyllic spot.

Join Huell as he visits the beautiful and historic William S. Hart Park and Museum in Newhall. Join Huell as he visits the beautiful and historic William S. Hart Park and Museum in Newhall. William S. Hart was born in Newburgh, New York on December 6, 1864.Hart started his acting career in his twenties. At the age of 49, Hart came west to Hollywood to start his movie career. During the next 11 years, he made more than 65 silent films, the last being "Tumbleweeds" in 1925.In 1921, Hart purchased a ranch house and surrounding property. He built a 22 room mansion which today houses Hart's collection of western art, Native American artifacts, and early Hollywood memorabilia. Hart lived at the ranch nearly 20 years until his death in 1946. In his will, Hart gave the Horseshoe Ranch to the County of Los Angeles. It was to be set aside for the use and enjoyment of the public, at no charge.William S. Hart MansionToday, the Horseshoe Ranch consists of 265 acres. Both the ranch house and the Hart residence are open to the public. An assortment of animals reside at Hart Park, including a small herd of bison which were a gift from the Walt Disney Studios in 1962

Sometimes you need to look under the surface to find the real treasures at a state park. Huell travels to Sacramento to Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park to get a behind the scenes look at some of the gems that are stashed away in the parks large archive. From Native American artifacts to a doll from the original Donner Party, this is a wonderful example of the many treasures that our state parks hold.

In this adventure, Huell visits the California Coastal National Monument which runs the entire length of the California coast (1,100 miles) between Oregon and Mexico, extends 12 nautical miles from the shoreline, and encompasses thousands of BLM administered islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles above mean high tide.Cooperatively managed with other federal, state, local government, universities, and private interests, the primary purpose of the Monument is to protect important biological and geological values. The islands, rocks, reefs, and pinnacles provide forage and breeding grounds for significant populations of birds and sea mammals.

Once owned by famous Hollywood move star Leo Carrillo, Los Quiotes is a 27 acre historic park in the lovely town of Carlsbad. It contains and protects many of the original historic structures and outbuildings associated with Leo Carrillo's use of the ranch. This ranch was Leo’s way to escape the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and a place for he and his wife to “get away”. This beautiful ranch eventually fell off the radar and was almost lost forever, until a group of concerned citizens stepped in. Now a historic park, the ranch is filled with early California history and even a couple of peacocks.

San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County covers some 2100 acres and has five miles of beach, including Trestles – one of the most famous and truly iconic surf spots in the world! Park Supt. Rich Rozzelle showed Huell a spectacular section of the park that most people don’t know exists. Turns out the park goes four miles inland, contains several archeological sites, is the home of seven threatened or endangered species and protects significant portions of San Mateo Creek, which is one of the last relatively unspoiled watersheds in Southern California. San Onofre State Beach is now the focus of a huge controversy! Tune in to find out all about it.

There have been gardens on the island of Alcatraz since the days of the Civil War. People have always found a way to coax things of beauty from this windswept and desolate place. Inmates of the “Rock” found it especially nice to get out in the fresh air and tend to the gardens. After many years for neglect, the Gardens Conservancy and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area have begun a multi million-dollar restoration of the gardens. Huell gets a special look at this almost forgotten part of our history.

During the tense years from 1953 to 1979, the United States Army built and operated a total of 280 Nike missile-firing batteries in the United States. These missile sites were emplaced as the last line of defense against Soviet bombers. Today, a dedicated group of volunteers works in partnership with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area on the continuous task of restoration at site SF-88, which has been turned into a museum. This valuable historical resource is the only restored Nike missile site in the entire country and Huell gets a very special tour with a man who actually ran the site for many years.

Huell takes the Zzyzx off-ramp from the I-15 freeway and sees what this iconic exit is all about: from its early history as a Mineral Springs & Health Spa to its current incarnation as the Desert Studies Center.

With over 270 State Parks all over California, popular PBS Host Huell Howser wanted to know just how a park becomes a park, so he teams up with Park Superintendent Don Monahan for a look at two parks in progress. The first stop is at the John Marsh house which is being lovingly restored. Then it’s on to Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. As always, you’re invited to join us for this learning adventure.

The Trona Pinnacles are one of the most unusual geological features in California. The unusual landscape consists of more than 500 tufa spires, some as high as 140 feet rising from a dry lake bed. The Pinnacles have been used as a backdrop fort hundreds of movies and TV shows.

Located just off Highway 14, Red Rock Canyon State Park features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations. The park is not only rich in natural beauty, but has a deep human history as well. From the native Kawaiisu Indians, who left petroglyphs, to the 1870s 20-mule team freight wagons that stopped for water. There are also the remains of 1890s-era mining operations, and the area has been the site for a number of movies.

America's only Nobel Prize winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill, chose to live in the hills above Danville, California at the height of his writing career. Isolated from the world and within the walls of his home called Tao (dow) House, O'Neill wrote his final and most memorable plays; The Iceman Cometh, A Moon for the Misbegotten and Long Day's Journey Into Night. Today the home and grounds are a National Park and Huell gets the tour of this lovely and isolated park.

Huell meets up with Harry Medved author of HOLLYWOOD ESCAPES a book about movie locations in California. Harry tells Huell all about the long history of Leo Carrillo State Beach, and why it is probably the most filmed beach in the world. Then legendary filmmaker Roger Corman joins Huell to talk about some of the many films he's shot at this location, including one of his earliest ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS.

Huell looks back at sixty plus years of film history when he visits the Paramount Ranch. It has posed as Tombstone, Arizona, Dodge City, Kansas and has stood in for the rolling hills of Montana and the dusty streets of Laredo. Movie-goers have been fooled into mistaking it for the Royal Gorge of Colorado, the Ozark Mountains, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Tom Sawyer's Missouri. Producers have even passed it off as 13th century China, colonial Salem, and the island of Java.

Huell visits the Whitewater Preserve located just off the 10 freeway near Palm Springs. This amazing oasis contains 2,851 acres surrounded by the Bureau of Land Management San Gorgonio Wilderness and is part of the Wildlands Conservancy’s 33,000-acre Sand to Snow Preserve System. Included is and old trout farm and lodge that have been transformed into a visitor facility. There is also a picnic area, group campground, and a trailhead that is only a half-mile from the Pacific Crest Trail in the San Gorgonio Wilderness. This is truly a hidden gem!

Special one hour show featuring a visit to the California Railroad Museum where Huell rides restored vintage railcars and uncovers the mystery behind the lost Golden Spike -- the last spike driven into the Transcontinental Railroad.