Monterey District

FULL OVERNIGHT CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 AT ROCKY CREEK SET FOR SUNDAY, MAY 4-5 10PM-6AM

MONTEREY COUNTY – Caltrans is conducting emergency repairs to the seawall below Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge, 12 miles south of Carmel. Reconstruction of the seawall will enhance its ability to protect the south end of the Rocky Creek Bridge and the slope below the recently constructed viaduct from damages from wave action.

Full Overnight Closure of Hwy. 1 at 12 Miles South of Carmel on Sunday, May 4th

A full closure of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek will be in effect starting Sunday, May 4 at 10 pm. Highway 1 will reopen on Monday, May 5 at 6 am.

Crews will take advantage of the Sunday, May 4 full overnight closure to deploy a crane and use it to lower equipment and materials down to the shore below. The crane will span both lanes of travel which makes a full closure of the highway necessary.

The estimate for completion of the Rocky Creek viaduct is summer 2025 and is dependent on conditions encountered during construction. The contractor for this project is Gordon N. Ball, Inc. of Walnut Creek, CA.
 
Travelers are reminded that over 100 miles of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast remain open and accessible. Travelers from northern California will find easy access to historic bridges, waterfalls, restaurants, and lodging amenities.
 
Travelers from southern California will find that the highway brings them directly within reach of the unparalleled views, lodging amenities, and natural wonders of Lucia, the Camaldoli Hermitage, Gorda, Ragged Point, San Simeon, and Cambria.

NOTE: Highway 1 is still closed to the south 5 miles south of Julia Pfeiffer Burns; Highway 1 remains closed at Regent’s Slide, 40 miles south of Carmel.

Please see the Highway 1 closure info and maps on our websites.

Motorists on Highway 1 can now drive to the Limekiln State Park entrance gate from the Cambria/San Simeon area. The park re-opened for day use, November 1, 2024. The campground remains closed.

Highway 1 at Regent’s Slide has been closed since February 9, 2024, due to a slide that originated 450 feet above the roadway. The slide displaced material that engulfed the roadway and continued down to the beach and ocean below. While Caltrans has made progress toward reopening the roadway, repair efforts have been challenged by the height and steepness of the slope, which have required flexibility and frequent adjustments to repair strategies to ensure the safety of workers on site. 

Regent’s Slide is located 45 miles south of Carmel at Post Mile (PM) 27.8. The southern turnaround point on Highway 1 is at PM 25.3, two miles north of Lucia. The northern turnaround point is located at Lime Creek at PM 32.1, just south of the Esalen Institute.

For more information about USFS properties, please visit USFS - Los Padres National Forest - Big Sur Los Padres National Forest - Home (usda.gov)

For current highway closures and conditions please visit CalTrans - Road Conditions Map 

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: X/Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
Always check area weather forecasts and road updates before visiting. NOAA Weather- Big Sur

CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: https://cad.chp.ca.gov

Traveler information at: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

STUDENT ART SHOWCASE AT CASA GUTIERREZ GALLERY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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!

Monterey District Office Hours:
Monday-Friday:
8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Please note: 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
Monterey District Superintendent:    (831) 649-2836

MONTEREY DISTRICT STATE PARKS - WHAT'S OPEN??

PLEASE CHECK individual park unit webpages for Monterey District Parks in the below list for the most current OPEN/CLOSE updates at the top of each park unit page. 

Travelers to the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur are encouraged to visit the CalTrans website to get updates on current road conditions for the region: https://roads.dot.ca.gov 

Thank you for your patience as we prioritize public safety!

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 State Beach and Conference Grounds
Includes Asilomar Dunes Natural Preserve

Carmel River SB
Includes Ohlone Cultural Preserve
Includes Carmel River Lagoon & Wetlands Natural Preserve

Fort Ord Dunes SP (ca.gov)

Garrapata SP (ca.gov)

Ishxenta SP (ca.gov)

Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP (ca.gov)

Limekiln SP (ca.gov)

Marina SB

Monterey SB

Monterey SHP (ca.gov)

Moss Landing SB (ca.gov)

Pfeiffer Big Sur SP (ca.gov)

Point Lobos SNR (ca.gov)

Point Sur SHP (ca.gov)
Includes Point Sur Dunes Natural Preserve

Salinas River SB (ca.gov)
Includes Salinas River Dunes Natural Preserve
Includes Salinas River Mouth Natural Preserve

Zmudowski SB (ca.gov)
Includes Pajaro River Mouth Natural Preserve

2025 California State Parks Pass Sales

2025 Passes are now available for purchase from the Monterey District Office. The pass price list is below. 

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.

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, Senior Golden Bear, and Disabled Discount passes
Monday through Friday during 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 credit card, cash* or check ONLY.
*When paying in cash, exact change is required.

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

2025 California State Parks Pass Price List

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

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 beaches as long 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 at Asilomar State Beach ONLY. 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. 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.

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.

CA State Parks 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.
Monterey State Historic Park joins the list of eligible parks in 2024!!

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.
SCHOOLS desiring to visit any Monterey District State Park are strongly encouraged to contact that Park Unit's office before your arrival for park information and to prevent overlap with previously scheduled school visits.

NEW - California State Parks Virtual Adventurer App Debuts at Point Lobos!!

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/