These landmarks are not just breathtakingly beautiful—they also carry spiritual significance for Native Americans
While travelers from all over the world marvel at the grandeur of California’s landscapes, for indigenous people the state’s mountain peaks, waterfalls, and other natural landmarks have a deeper cultural and spiritual significance. Beyond their beauty, these features hold symbolic and mythical meanings and, to this day, serve as sites for ceremonies and rituals that help California’s native peoples maintain an enduring connection with their ancestors.
Numerous locations throughout California hold spiritual significance. Many, however, are understandably kept secret or don’t have established public access. So the places listed below were chosen both for their cultural prominence and because they’re primarily on state, local, or national park land. As you visit these destinations for hikes or mountain bike rides, please treat them with respect. And if you do come upon a Native American ceremony, act as respectfully as you would behave in any other house of worship.
