National parks near Colfax, California
Colfax sits inside the Rocklin area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Rocklin for the full write-up.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is the closest national park to Colfax, California — 101 mi (162 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 50 min behind the wheel.
Lassen Volcanic makes a full day trip — leave early. Yosemite, Pinnacles, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Redwood are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Colfax gates the entrance itself, but 5 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Colfax has a population of about 1,995.
National parks near Colfax
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 101 mi (162 km) | 2 hr 50 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Yosemite National Park | 114 mi (184 km) | 3 hr 9 min | Best as a weekend |
| Pinnacles National Park | 181 mi (292 km) | 4 hr 45 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 202 mi (325 km) | 5 hr 14 min | Best as a weekend |
| Sequoia National Park | 221 mi (355 km) | 5 hr 41 min | Best as a weekend |
| Redwood National Park | 221 mi (356 km) | 5 hr 41 min | Best as a weekend |
| Crater Lake National Park | 272 mi (438 km) | 6 hr 53 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Death Valley National Park | 300 mi (483 km) | 7 hr 33 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 357 mi (575 km) | 8 hr 54 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Channel Islands National Park | 362 mi (582 km) | 9 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Colfax
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Volcanic | Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Yosemite | Half Dome Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Kings Canyon | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Sequoia | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Colfax
Within reach of Colfax, 62 campgrounds across 9 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 16 at Yosemite, 14 at Lassen Volcanic, 9 at Kings Canyon, and 7 at Sequoia, plus 5 more parks with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Lassen Volcanic National Park is generally best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow, with late June and late September as the quieter shoulder either side.
High passes and trails hold snow from October into June, and some roads close entirely for the winter.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast above treeline in summer. Start early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Colfax are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Canyon → Sequoia | 21.1 mi (33.9 km) | 48 min |
| Yosemite → Kings Canyon | 88 mi (142 km) | 2 hr 32 min |
| Yosemite → Sequoia | 108 mi (174 km) | 3 hr |
| Yosemite → Pinnacles | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
Planning a trip from Colfax
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Placer County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Colfax?
Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is about 101 mi (162 km) from Colfax, roughly 2 hr 50 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Colfax?
Yes — Lassen Volcanic National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Colfax?
10 parks are within reach of Colfax, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Colfax?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 5 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits, Half Dome Permits at Yosemite, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Colfax?
Recreation.gov lists 62 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Colfax. They are spread across 9 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Colfax?
For Lassen Volcanic National Park, the closest one, generally July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow. Either side of that, late June and late September stays quieter.