One of California’s scenic parks that could be closed next year but is definitely open now and worth a look is Limekiln State Park, complete with a beach and waterfalls. Some of the camping sites are located right near the beach and most are within close reach. There’s no snow in the region, thanks to its sea level elevation, so you can camp comfortably throughout the winter. During the rainy season Big Sur coastal Highway 1 is subject to closure due to landslides.

Limekiln State Park on the Central Coast 55 miles south of Monterey on Highway One, has Limekiln Creek Falls that flows year round in Limeklin Creek. The water cascades 100 feet over the face of a cliff encrusted with moss and limestone. It is a half-mile walk on a marked trail from the day use parking area up through the redwood canyon to the falls. The park has seasonal bridges, so visitors may have to ford the stream off-season.

Note: The California State Parks have listed this beach & park as one that may close in July 2012. Today Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill AB42 providing a new tool for California to invite and engage qualified nonprofit organizations to help operate state parks on the closure list. If you’re interested in helping volunteer to operate this or another park, go to parks.ca.gov for more information. To visit Limekiln and reserve a camping spot, you can book online or study the camping maps at reserveamerica.com, and then call toll free: 1-800-444-7275.