Good places to smoke weed? Ten California views and the rules

What makes good places to smoke weed a permission question?

DCC’s legal-use guidance separates public places, private-owner restrictions and federal land. A legal retail purchase does not authorize use on a trail, beach, scenic pullout or public waterfront. A discreet format does not change that public-use question.

Resolve any separate private-property use before traveling and arrange unimpaired transport. At the scenic destination, follow current visitor rules, stay in permitted areas and keep attention on traffic, terrain and other visitors. The views below are reasons to visit the places themselves.

1. Montgomery Woods: a sheltered redwood grove

Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve offers a redwood setting west of Ukiah along Orr Springs Road. Its grove walk combines a forested loop with steeper approach sections, rather than a uniformly level path. Choose this for time among trees and check current parking, trail and access information before the drive.

Keep the route suited to your group and allow for the return. A quiet grove can be a worthwhile destination without assuming solitude or leaving the marked path for a photograph.

2. Hendy Woods: redwoods in Anderson Valley

Hendy Woods State Park near Philo provides another redwood landscape, with Big Hendy and Little Hendy groves. Check the actual walk you want rather than treating every grove route as the same distance or surface. The park distinguishes day-use and campground pet access from trail restrictions.

In November 2026 its notice separates winter-closed Azalea camping from Wildcat. A daytime grove visit and an overnight reservation are different plans.

3. Navarro River Redwoods: the road corridor toward the coast

Navarro River Redwoods State Park follows a second-growth redwood corridor along Highway 128 toward the coast. This gives a river-and-forest setting distinct from assuming every redwood destination is an old-growth grove. Check the particular access point and stop only where parking is permitted.

Do not infer a campsite from the surrounding landscape. The park’s November notice lists Paul M. Dimmick camping as seasonally closed until summer 2027.

4. Lake Mendocino: Overlook and the reservoir landscape

The Overlook Day-Use Area information offers a starting point for Lake Mendocino scenery near Ukiah. The lake sits among Coyote Valley’s rolling hills, with walking and day-use options that need their own current access check.

Its Chekaka listing explicitly separates the available day-use picnic site from a permanently closed campground. Plan a visit around the actual entrance and hours; this is federally managed recreation land, with cannabis kept off the land and water.

5. Battery Spencer: the Golden Gate Bridge from the headlands

NPS identifies Battery Spencer Overlook as a high vantage over the Golden Gate Bridge, nearly 500 feet above the bay. The remains of the coastal battery add a historical setting to the bridge view.

Parking along Conzelman Road is limited and often full. Read current access information, expect that you may need to walk from lawful parking and stay attentive around the road and cliff-top terrain.

6. Tunnel View: Yosemite Valley’s granite frame

NPS describes Tunnel View beside Wawona Road as an overlook of Yosemite Valley with El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome. A roadside overlook offers a different kind of visit from a strenuous mountain hike; do not substitute one plan for the other.

Check park entry, roads and weather before departure. Use the designated viewing area and pay attention to vehicles and pedestrians. Yosemite is federal land, so leave cannabis outside the park.

7. Emerald Bay: Lake Tahoe’s inlet and wooded shore

Emerald Bay State Park combines rugged shoreline, blue-green water and Vikingsholm’s Scandinavian-inspired architecture. The park describes the trail from the Highway 89 parking area to Vikingsholm as one mile with a 500-foot descent. The return requires climbing back.

Choose between a view-focused stop and that longer walking commitment. Check weather, road access and current park information instead of treating a lakeside destination as automatically easy to reach.

8. Point Lobos: headlands and coves near Carmel

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve lies three miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. Its headlands, coves and meadows make a coastal alternative to the inland groves. Use the official map to choose an appropriate walk and follow wildlife-viewing rules.

The November 2026 page lists day use from 8 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4:30 pm. Recheck the date’s hours and access before arrival, and keep photography within the permitted visitor areas.

9. Griffith Observatory: Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign

The city’s Griffith Observatory visitor page describes views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign alongside exhibits, telescopes and planetarium programs. This is a city-and-sky destination rather than a wilderness outing.

The building and grounds have different schedules, and the observatory is closed Mondays. Check the actual program, transport and accessibility information; free building admission does not mean every program or parking option is free.

10. Anza-Borrego: an open desert landscape

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park provides desert vistas, palm groves and a broad network of routes. Select the actual visitor area and travel within its current rules rather than assuming every dirt road suits every vehicle.

The November 2026 page reports Coyote Canyon closed to vehicles at Third Crossing and provides seasonal visitor-center and trail hours. Check heat, water needs and daylight, and leave room to change plans when conditions do not suit the outing.

Keep a store stop separate from the scenic visit

Use Vibe’s locations page for a separate lawful retail visit and the chosen store’s current information. Confirm the destination rules before deciding what can travel with you. A store’s proximity cannot establish permission at a park, overlook or public attraction.