What is the most beautiful county in California? (Los Angeles, San Diego: vacation, parks)

[TarHeelTerritory]

In your opinion, what county do you think has, all-around, the most beautiful natural scenery in all of California and why? Or top 3-5, since it's so hard to just pick one lol. Marin? Monterey? Mendocino? Somewhere away from the coast, in the eastern part of the state near the Sierras? Somewhere in Southern California?

Asking just out of curiosity. Have primarily been to the more urban destinations but would love to explore more of the nature of your beautiful state in the near future.

Bonus: what about least scenic?

[dmlandissf]

That's a tough question but I think as there is so much beauty in California but in terms of variety - I would say Monterey - Bi Big Sur, Redwood Forests, Pinnacles National Park, Monterey Peninsula - a lot is packed into a small area and it's not very crowded as Bay Area or LA/San Diego/Orange counties.

[NORTY FLATZ]

OP~
What's the "most scenic" County in the following States~

Florida
Georgia
NC
SC
West Virginia
Virginia
Tennessee
Maryland
Delaware
Penn
New Jersey

Out of those States, which County is the "most scenic?"

Now, you understand how large Calif is...

[2011KTM530]

Los Angeles County. Right at 3rd and Alvarado St. the 101 overpass.

[18Montclair]

So many beautiful counties to choose from. This state is blessed in this department.

Marin comes to mind first, followed by Monterey, but really there is no shortage of natural beauty anywhere in the state.

[Milo Wolf]

I would say Inyo County.

It's beauty ranges from the High Sierra to dramatic desert landscapes. And - this is just my opinion - a wild canyon (like Surprise, in the Panamints) where the desert and mountain ecosystems meld together, is about as beautiful as it gets.

Also, I'm not as smitten with shores as are many. That said, a good case could be made for Los Angeles County. The lovely twists and turns of the Santa Monicas, the rugged peaks of the San Gabriels, the simple expanses of places such as the California Poppy Reserve, the gorgeous western end of Santa Catalina. And all that in a county that accommodates ten million people.

There's no shortage of candidates.

[roadwarrior101]

I really like the beauty of the far north coast, around Humboldt and Del Norte counties. The redwoods are at their most lush up there, given the higher rainfall. The Redwood National and State Parks areas are just spectacular and the rugged coastline is really impressive.

I do agree with others that there are some different counties with more varied landscape, but for a consistently beautiful area, this takes the cake for me.

[evening sun]

I love the Northeast. Mount Shasta is incredible. It's part of the Cascades, so you can see the Cascades & the Sierra Nevada in the same trip. Mount Lassen & the park there is awesome, it has a mudpot that boils hotter than the one in Yellowstone. It also has the advantage of not being overcrowded, less visitors.
The (walk through) lava tube is worth a visit also.

[Hemlock140]

I would go with Placer County, which includes part of the Tahoe National Forest, and some Tahoe lake shore. When it comes to the natural beauty of California, it's a matter of what you prefer - ocean, conifer forest, redwood forest, rivers, lakes, or mountains. With so many choices there, I would go with the part we find the most beautiful and where we go for vacation most years, the Sierras and Lake Tahoe.

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by Milo Wolf

I would say Inyo County.

It's beauty ranges from the High Sierra to dramatic desert landscapes. And - this is just my opinion - a wild canyon (like Surprise, in the Panamints) where the desert and mountain ecosystems meld together, is about as beautiful as it gets.

Also, I'm not as smitten with shores as are many. That said, a good case could be made for Los Angeles County. The lovely twists and turns of the Santa Monicas, the rugged peaks of the San Gabriels, the simple expanses of places such as the California Poppy Reserve, the gorgeous western end of Santa Catalina. And all that in a county that accommodates ten million people.

There's no shortage of candidates.

Personally, inyo or mono.