Monterey District

38th Annual Christmas in the Adobes this Weekend! December 9 and 10, 2022

This Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10 2022, from 5pm-9pm, experience the magic of historic downtown Monterey during the holidays at the 38^th Annual Christmas in the Adobes event.

Presented by California State Parks and the Monterey State Historic Park Association, this year’s celebratory event will showcase 18 of Monterey’s historic buildings. New this year is participant Pacific Valley Bank, providing a look inside the former home of Juan Alvarado, Governor of Alta California. All participating buildings will be decorated for the holidays, and many will feature live music, dancing, or actors portraying notable figures from Monterey’s past. This annual fundraising event raises money for Monterey State Historic Park’s educational programs along with funding for the ongoing restoration of the park’s historic buildings such as California’s First Theater.

Tickets are $25 per adult per evening or $40 per adult for both Friday and Saturday nights. Children under 18 are free! Tickets are available online at www.mshpa.org or in person at the Custom House Store (1 Custom House Plaza, Thursday-Sunday 11am-3pm) or the Pacific House Store (20 Custom House Plaza, Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm). Please contact Richard Fletcher (richard.fletcher@parks.ca.gov) for more information.

Monterey District Office Closures December, 2022 and January, 2023

Please note our office closures in December, 2022:
Closed on Monday, December 26, 2022, in observance of Christmas Day.
State Park Passes are available this week, starting Tuesday, December 27th, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Please note our office closures in January, 2023:
Closed on Monday, January, 2, 2023, in observance of New Year's Day.
State Park Passes are available this week, starting Tuesday, January 3, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Closed on Monday, January, 16, 2023, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
State Park Passes are available this week, starting Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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

CA State Park 4th Grade Adventurer Pass

The CA State Parks Adventurer Pass is available for the free, one-year period during which your child is a 4th grader/4th grade equivalent, from September 1 through August 31 of that grade school year.

For more information please visit: Adventure Pass (ca.gov)

NOTE: Passes are acquired via online registration and are not available at the Monterey District Office. Point Lobos and the Big Sur State Parks are not included in this 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 below. 

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.
NOTE: Day Use Passes are available at the entrance kiosks of the park you want to visit. Day Use Passes are NOT sold at the District Office.

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,

California State Parks Pass Price List

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.

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.

Andrew Molera State Park: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=582
UPDATE (November 1, 2022) - Andrew Molera Trail Camp closed for the season on November 1, 2022.  Andrew Molera Trail Camp is scheduled to re-open on May 1, 2023.

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

Reservations are strongly encouraged for all campsites.  There are no first-come, first-served campsites.  

MONTEREY DISTRICT STATE PARKS

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

Andrew Molera SP (ca.gov)

Asilomar SB (ca.gov)
Incluldes Asilomar Dunes Natural Preserve

Carmel River SB
Includes Carmel River Lagoon & Wetlands Natural Preserve

Garrapata SP (ca.gov)

John Little SNR (ca.gov)

Fort Ord Dunes SP (ca.gov)

Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP (ca.gov)

Marina SB (ca.gov)
Adjacent to Marina Dunes Natural Preserve

Monterey SB (ca.gov)

Monterey SHP (ca.gov)

Moss Landing SB (ca.gov)
Adjacent to:
Ohlone coastal Cultural Preserve
Pajaro River Mouth Coastal Preserve

Pfeiffer Big Sur SP (ca.gov)

Point Lobos SNR (ca.gov)

Point Sur SHP (ca.gov)
Adjacent to:
Point Sur Dunes Natural Preserve

Salinas River SB (ca.gov)
Adjacent to:
Salinas River Dunes Natural Preserve
Salinas River Mouth Natural Preserve

Zmudowski SB (ca.gov)

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 these Monterey District State Beaches/State Parks: Asilomar State Beach; Fort Ord Dunes State Beach; Monterey State Historic Park. Alcohol consumption is allowed at other state beache as log as alcohol is not within 25 feet of the parking lot, or in the parking lot. Please check with local municipalities regarding alcohol consumption at non-State Park 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/