There's more to the high Sierra than Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon. These parks feature the similarly rugged scenery, giant trees, and mountain rivers and lakes that attract people to the region's great national parks. But given this is California, they all come with their own quirks.

1.	Sugar Pine Point State Park - This park provides almost two miles of public access to the shores of Lake Tahoe. The park features a swimming beach and a historic mansion. But don't overlook the hiking trails, first-rate trout stream, and excellent cross-country skiing in the winter.
2.	Grover Hot Springs State Park- This popular park lies in a valley surrounded by granite-topped mountains. The unique location creates a mercurial micro-climate that can be calm one second, stormy the next. Exploring the trails, camping the grounds, and of course, enjoying the springs are among the many available joys.
3.	Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve - This park is on the shores of ethereal Mono Lake. The signature of this park are"tufa towers," calcium-carbonate spires and knobs emerging when freshwater spring water hits alkaline lake water. What to do? How about swimming, boating, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

Complete list of southern Sierra and Tahoe parks:

Bodie State Historic Park Burton Creek Calaveras Big Trees D.L. Bliss Donner Memorial Emerald Bay Kings Beach State Recreation Area		Lake Valley State Recreation Area Mono Lake Tufa State Recreation Area Sugar Pine Point Tahoe State Recreation Area Washoe Meadows Wassama Round House State Historic Park

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