Monterey District

NOW HIRING!! MONTEREY OCEAN LIFEGUARDS (Seasonal)

WELCOME TO MONTEREY DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS

Welcome to the California State Parks - Monterey District website!
We hope to provide information on this site to welcome and prepare our visitors to the beautiful Monterey District State Parks!

For your safety, appointments for State Parks Pass purchases, or other business, are recommended. Please call (831) 649-2836. If you reach our voicemail, please leave a message and we will return your call. Thank you for your patience!

HOW TO REACH US:

Monterey District Front Office Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Please note: our office is closed on all recognized California State holidays.

NO Public Restrooms Available.

TELEPHONE: (831) 649-2836
FAX: (831) 647-6239
MAILING ADDRESS: 2211 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940

Brent Marshall - Monterey District Superintendent: (831) 649-2836
Maria Perez - Monterey District Administrative Officer III: (831) 649-2826

California State Parks Pass Price List

Please Note:
Appointments are recommended for State Parks Pass sales. To schedule an appointment please call: (831)649-2836

Full Price Annual Passes

California Explorer $195.00

Golden Poppy Pass $125.00

Discount Annual Passes
Please Note: The Golden Bear Pass from 2021 will automatically extend through 2022, with no action required by pass holders. There is no cost for Golden Bear Passes acquired for 2022. This extension does NOT apply to Limited Use Golden Bear Passes.

Golden Bear $0.00
(2022 only)

Limited Use Golden Bear $20.00

Disabled Discount Pass $3.50

Link for More Information

CA Explorer Pass Information

Golden Poppy Pass Information

Link for More Information

Golden Bear Pass

Limited Use Golden Bear Pass

Disabled Discount Pass

California State Parks Pass Sales

2022 Passes are now available for purchase from the Monterey District Office.
Note: for your safety, appointments are recommended for State Parks Pass purchases.
The pass price list is above.

The California State Parks Monterey District Front Office conducts CA State Parks Pass sales and renewals
at our customer service window located adjacent to the District Office front entrance.

We are selling the California Explorer, Golden Poppy, Golden Bear, Limited Use Golden Bear, and Disabled Discount passes
Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

At this time the Monterey District Office is accepting payment for pass sales and renewals by cash*, credit card, or check.
*When paying in cash exact change is required.

For more information, please contact the Monterey District Front Office at (831) 649-2836,

BIG SUR AREA TRAVEL ADVISORY

"Know before you go!"

COLORADO FIRE UPDATE (January 27, 2022) Highway 1 (South) is now open. Please refer to current road conditions at https://roads.dot.ca.gov before making travel plans.

Travelers to Big Sur are encouraged to visit the CalTrans website to get updates on current road conditions for the Big Sur region.

Storms can create hazardous driving conditions and road closures very quickly on this remote stretch of Highway 1.

BIG SUR AREA - WHAT'S OPEN??

PLEASE CHECK individual park unit webpages for the most current updates at the top of each park unit page regarding access, camping, weather-related closures, etc. Camping Information is located on the Right Side of this Page.

Andrew Molera State Park: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=582

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=578

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=570

Point Sur State Historic Park: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=565

Big Sur Station/Multi-Agency Facility: Telephone: (831) 667-2315; Fax: (831) 667-2886

MONTEREY DISTRICT STATE PARKS

Please visit the individual webpage for the State Park you are interested in learning about:

ANDREW MOLERA SP
ASILOMAR SB AND CONFERENCE GROUNDS
ASILOMAR DUNES NATURAL PRESERVE
CARMEL RIVER SB
CARMEL RIVER LAGOON & WETLANDS NATURAL PRESERVE
GARRAPATA SP
HATTON CANYON
JOHN LITTLE SR
FORT ORD DUNES SP
JULIA PFEIFFER BURNS SP
MARINA DUNES NATURAL PRESERVE
MARINA SB
MONTEREY SB
MONTEREY SHP
MOSS LANDING SB
OHLONE COASTAL CULTURAL PRESERVE
PAJARO RIVER MOUTH NATURAL PRESERVE
PFEIFFER BIG SUR SP
POINT LOBOS SR
POINT LOBOS RANCH
POINT SUR SHP
POINT SUR DUNES NATURAL PRESERVE
SALINAS RIVER DUNES NATURAL PRESERVE
SALINAS RIVER MOUTH NATURAL PRESERVE
SALINAS RIVER SB
ZMUDOWSKI SB

Be "In The Know": Alcohol, Bonfires and Pets at Monterey State Beaches

NOTE: DUE TO COVID-19 PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCING AT BEACHES IS REQUESTED.

IS ALCOHOL ALLOWED AT STATE BEACHES?
Alcohol consumption is not allowed at Monterey District State Beaches. Please check with local municipalities regarding alcohol consumption at other Monterey Peninsula beaches.

ARE BONFIRES ALLOWED AT STATE BEACHES?
Bonfires are NOT allowed on State Beaches due to environmental and safety concerns. Portable camp stoves, such as Hibachi or Weber, are permitted for food preparation and consumption on site. Persons using approved devices for cooking must remove all unexpected fuel (coals, briquettes, etc.) from the beach. Dumping hot coals and ash, and burying in the sand not only harms the environment, but can potentially harm other beach goers.

YOUR HELP is needed to keep our beautiful beaches CLEAN and SAFE by packing out trash. Trash receptacles are located at beach entries for your convenience.

CAN I BRING PETS TO STATE BEACHES?
Dogs are allowed ON leash at Asilomar State Beach, Carmel River State Beach, and on paved trails at Fort Ord Dunes State Park.

Please consider families with infants and young children who frequent the beach when walking dogs. You are required to keep your dog under control and we ask that you pick up after your pet.

THANK YOU for keeping out beautiful beaches CLEAN and SAFE for ALL!! To learn more about CA State Parks' policy regarding dogs at State Parks visit or Dog at Parks page.

NOTE: Dogs are NOT allowed on the beaches at Zmudowski, Moss Landing, Salinas River, Marina, Fort Ord Dunes, Seaside, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and Garrapata park units. Many of these beaches are home to nesting sites for the Western Snowy Plover. Point Lobos is a State Reserve with highly protected habitat areas that do not allow for visitation with pets.

Marine Protected Area Coloring Book - Area Marina Protegida - Libro Para Colorear

Embark on a journey of discovery about Marine protection in a fun and easy way!!

The Marine Protected Areas Coloring Book - Area Marina Protegida - Libro Para Colorear - helps students of all ages learn about the rich diversity of plant and animal life found in California's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The book includes three new 3D augmented reality coloring pages that will allow students to interact with their colorings using a smartphone or tablet while learning about marine life and California's marine protected areas.

Download the new marine protected area (MPA) coloring book along with the California Coastal Explorer Guide at:

https://www.mpacollaborative.org/kids/

TELEPHONE NUMBER

TELEPHONE (831) 649-2836
FAX (831) 647-6239
MAILING ADDRESS 2211 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940

MONTEREY DISTRICT STATE PARKS FRONT OFFICE

Monterey District Front Office Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Please note: our office is closed on all recognized California State holidays.

TELEPHONE (831) 649-2836
FAX (831) 647-6239
MAILING ADDRESS 2211 Garden Road, Monterey, CA 93940

CAMPING - ALL BIG SUR CAMPGROUNDS ARE OPEN

Reservations for ALL Big Sur State Parks campgrounds are required:
www.reservecalifornia.com
or call 1-800-444-7275.

Please check individual park unit webpages for the most up-to-date information on which campgrounds are open, as weather events sometimes prohibits visitation.

One of the best places to camp in the Monterey District is Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Campground, located in the Big Sur Sector, approximately 1 hour south of Carmel on Highway 1.

The Andrew Molera State Park campground has "walk in" campground sites via a trail accessed from the main parking lot. Re-opened on August 1, 2021.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has two environmental campgrounds available to campers.

Reservations for ALL these campgrounds are required:
www.reservecalifornia.com
or call 1-800-444-7275.

FILM PERMITS NEEDED FOR COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AT MONTEREY DISTRICT STATE PARKS

From Adeline Yee, Information Officer, Communications Office, California State Parks

"California State Parks thanks you for choosing our beautiful parks for your photographic activities and sharing the wonders of our park units with the world. However, to maintain the beauty of our parks and their natural and cultural rexources, we request that all commercial, still and motion picture photographers obtain a giom permit from the California Film Commission (CFC). Film permits generally require 4 business days (Monday-Friday) for approval through the CFC online permit process.
California State Parks requires an approved film permit for:

All commercial still photography and videography. Drone footage is currently not allowed at most California State Park
Professional photographers offering services (weddings, graduations, etc.).
Student photo/film projects
Professional Development Projects

To learn more about why a film permit is rquired and what the fees pay for, please visit our blog:
https://castateparks.wordpress.com/2018/12/13/

lights-camera-action-love-our-parks-responsibly/

California Film Commission
7080 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 900
Hollywood, CA 90028
Tel: 323-860-2960,
OR 1-800-858-4749
FAX: 323-860-2972
Email: filmca@film.ca.gov
Website: www.film.ca.gov

CARMEL AREA STATE PARKS GENERAL PLAN

The Carmel Area State Parks General Plan was approved by the California State Park and Recreation Commission on May 21, 2021.

See the Planning Documents for the newly released General Plan Revision and Final EIR (2020), the Carmel Area State Parks Planning History, as well as the Carmel Area State Parks Virtual Tour (April 2021) and Transcript at https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26868