2025's 8 Best Small Towns To Visit In California

California is a state of extremes, where golden beaches meet snowcapped peaks and ancient redwood forests stand just miles from arid desert dunes. Beyond its world-famous cities, the Golden State hides a collection of small towns that pack in just as much wonder, often with fewer crowds and a stronger sense of place. From NorCal’s rugged Lost Coast to the sunny stretches of Malibu, each offers its blend of natural beauty, history, and local character.

In 2025, whether you want to wander bluffside trails to lighthouses, watch monarch butterflies settle in for the winter, or explore hidden beaches where the King Range tumbles into the Pacific, these eight California towns promise unforgettable moments. Here’s where to slow down, look around, and experience the Golden State at its most intimate.

Crescent City

Just 20 miles from Oregon's border, this coastal town is home to the state's northernmost lighthouses. St. George Reef Lighthouse sits six miles offshore and is visible on clear days from the bluff‑top trails. Erected after the "Brother Jonathan" shipwreck, its original first-order Fresnel lens has an honorable spot at the Del Norte County Main Museum. The ship went down in 1865 with passengers and some gold coins and bullion—most never recovered.

Visitors enjoy hiking, kayaking, wildlife, and camping at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park along the picturesque Smith River. It is part of the network comprising nearly half of the world's ancient redwoods. The unique 1856 Battery Point Lighthouse, built with 22-inch-thick granite slabs, tops a tiny island accessible at low tide to climb the narrow spiral staircase to the lamp room and up the ladder through a trapdoor for a panoramic ocean view and the town’s harbor.

Dunsmuir

Surrounded by waterfalls and craggy peaks, Dunsmuir shines year-round along the Sacramento River. Surrounded by peaks, including a "fourteener," Mt. Shasta Ski Park offers a network of lifts that delivers top views from the mountain resort for skiers and bikers. In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, local ski hills draw families to share in the snow fun. You won't even miss the coast in the summer, not with the river for swimming and fishing or the lovely dolphin-shaped Lake Siskiyou, with two beaches.

With so many adventures accessible by foot or bike, it is easy to imagine how this historic NorCal railroad town gained touristic high ground once the tracks were laid. Just south along the highway, Castle Crags State Park is one of a kind, with jagged domes in its name, hiking along which reveals Mount Shasta views in the palm of your hand.

Fortuna

First settled in the early 1800s and renamed from Springville in 1888, the town thrived early, thanks to the completion of a rail line from San Francisco to Eureka soon after. Minutes from the open ocean and the sheltered Humboldt Bay, Fortuna treasures its peace at the edge of the sprawling Headwaters Forest Reserve. Travelers can soak in the beauty of the redwood forest along the manageable trails through this old-growth forest, with few trespassers, just wildlife. After bonding on nature's terms, gather at Eel River Brewing Company, which unites old friends yearly for organic craft beer, hearty bar fare, and a large patio with horseshoes at this eco-conscious brewpub. No visit is complete without dropping by Chapman's Gem & Mineral Shop for keepsakes down the highway past the spanning Van Duzen River Bridge.

Malibu

This little slice of sunshine along the Pacific Coast Highway boasts an almost mythological status. It seems to strike the perfect balance between the rugged beauty of its surrounding state parks and the glamour of over 20 miles of pristine beaches lined with multi-million-dollar oceanfront homes. Framed by craggy peaks and winding canyons, Malibu offers trails for every skill level, many leading to panoramic ocean and bay views. Point Dume is a favorite for spotting migrating gray whales in winter, while Escondido Falls draws visitors to relax beside its picturesque multi-tiered cascade.

Despite its air of exclusivity—home to celebrities and star athletes—Malibu’s magic remains accessible. Visitors can enjoy magnetic sunsets, excellent surf breaks, and vibrant public art. The Surfboard Room at Pepperdine University’s Payson Library displays historic surfboards dating back to the 1900s, while the nearby Getty Villa showcases Ancient Greek and Roman art; reservations are free but required.

Pacific Grove

Often overlooked at the northern tip of the Monterey Peninsula, Pacific Grove, “Butterfly Town, U.S.A.,” enjoys summertime tranquility and cooling breezes. Between Asilomar State Beach and the next scenic overlook, the mile-long trail to Lovers Point Beach offers a charming public space where surfers, swimmers, and boaters gather, and couples often pause on the rocky point.

A fun fact: thousands of monarch butterflies migrate hundreds of miles to roost here along the California coast every winter. These striking orange-and-black insects cluster among the pines, cypress, and eucalyptus of the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary, a serene preserve that feels worlds away from busy tourist spots. Afterward, visitors can enjoy the view from a café patio with the Point Pinos Lighthouse in sight—the oldest continually operating light station on the Pacific—before touring the historic beacon itself.

Shasta Lake

If you prefer peaceful waters to crowded beaches, Shasta Lake offers a memorable escape on the south shore of California’s largest reservoir. Spanning 30,000 acres with roughly 370 miles of shoreline, its clear blue waters invite boating, fishing, and swimming with the snowcapped 14,180-foot peak of Mt. Shasta as the backdrop. The surrounding coves are havens for bass, crappie, and catfish, while bald eagles and osprey soar overhead. Lake Shasta Caverns offers guided boat tours to the fascinating, millennia-old underground world, while the 602-foot Shasta Dam offers a free tour of the eighth-tallest dam in the country that covers areas like the 428-foot elevator ride and the visitor center.

Shelter Cove

This Humboldt County town often hides beneath a thick blanket of fog along Northern California’s remote Lost Coast. Many arrive ready for the multi-day Lost Coast Hiking Trail, but there is just as much reward in lingering around town. Here, the King Range meets the Pacific in dramatic cliffs and secluded shores, with Black Sands Beach offering a striking foreground for photos and quiet reflection. Its unusual dark pebbled sand and smooth stones make it unlike most California beaches, and nearby campgrounds allow for a peaceful overnight stay accompanied by the ocean’s steady roar.

The pace is unhurried, with only a few shops, restaurants, and a scattering of accommodations that range from cozy B&Bs to RV-friendly spots. Golfers can tee off at the nine-hole Shelter Cove Golf Links, which shares space with a small public airstrip—one of the rare places in California where you might watch a plane touch down just yards from the ocean.

Trinidad

Eighty miles south of the Oregon border, Trinidad perches on a headland with panoramic views of the Pacific. First visited by Spanish explorers in 1775, it occupies the former site of the Yurok village of Tsurai. Today, the reconstructed Yurok Village in Sue-meg State Park offers insight into the area’s heritage, alongside trails for whale watching and birding. The Trinidad Memorial Lighthouse stands as a photogenic landmark overlooking the bay.

The town’s oceanfront pier stretches toward a massive, greenery-topped rock that dominates the harbor view. The coastline invites exploration, from the bluff-top paths to the sheltered sands of College Cove Falls. Nearby Trinidad State Beach is a favorite for surfers, adding an adventurous edge to this quiet coastal community.

Finishing Thoughts

Have you been California dreamin'? After the summertime crowds depart, fall brushes the Golden State in a lovely blush along the mountains, including the perennially snowcapped Mt. Shasta, soon to receive skiers for its iconic ski park. Whether you settle in Lake Shasta or Dunsmuir, you'll get spoiled by views of this fourteen-thousand-footer. California's Lost Coast is another remarkable way to cap off the year on a stroll along the remote coastline at Black Sands Beach or the extensive Lost Coast Hiking Trail.