Leffingwell Ranch Park

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Parks

California

Nearby: Parnell Park Murphy Ranch Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Leffingwell Ranch Park is a beautiful park located in Cambria, California.

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Summary

The park covers an impressive 20 acres and offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, picnicking, and wildlife watching.

One of the main reasons to visit Leffingwell Ranch Park is its stunning natural beauty. The park is home to a variety of native plants and animals, including oak trees, wildflowers, and birds of prey. Visitors can also enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean from several vantage points within the park.

Some of the specific points of interest to see at Leffingwell Ranch Park include the historic barn and farmhouse, which date back to the 1860s and have been beautifully restored. The park also features several hiking trails, including a scenic coastal trail that leads to the nearby Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.

Interesting facts about Leffingwell Ranch Park include its history as a working ranch, which dates back to the mid-19th century. The park was acquired by the California State Parks system in the 1990s and has since been transformed into a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

The best time of year to visit Leffingwell Ranch Park is typically in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the natural scenery is at its most beautiful. However, the park is open year-round and offers something to see and do no matter the season.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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