California State Park Adventure Pass Terms & Conditions
California State Parks has rules and regulations to protect park areas for the enjoyment of future generations as well as for the convenience and safety of the park visitors. To ensure a pleasant visit, please observe the following terms and conditions that apply to the Adventure Pass and its use. By using this pass, you are certifying that you are aware of and agree to observe and abide by the terms and conditions of the Adventure Pass. Violation of the terms and conditions could result in pass revocation.
- Per section 5010.2.5 of the Public Resources Code, the California State Park Adventure Pass is available to any child in the fourth grade or fourth grade equivalent, who is a California resident and attends a public school. Pass recipients must meet those eligibility criteria.
- To receive a pass, the fourth grade student’s parent or guardian must have a valid account with ReserveCalifornia.com, California State Parks’ online reservations platform, and request the pass on behalf of their fourth grade child. Account creation requires at minimum a name, physical address and phone number, and a certification that the parent or guardian is over 18 years of age.
- This pass is valid for the one-year period during which the child is a fourth grader or fourth grade equivalent, from September 1 to August 31 of that year. The pass is valid any day of the week, including holidays, if space is available. No priority will be given to pass holders. State park admittance and use are subject to available space.
- In case of pass loss, pass holder may reprint the pass from the original email received or by logging in to their account on ReserveCalifornia.com. Alternatively, they may request that the pass be re-sent to the email associated with their ReserveCalifornia account by contacting the ReserveCalifornia.com Contact Center (phone: (800) 444-7275, or webchat: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Pacific time), or by contacting State Parks staff in a Pass Sales office (locations available here).
- This pass is valid at certain California State Park units only, as listed below. This pass will not be honored at state park units not on the list below, nor by federal or local government or private agencies or concessionaires.
- Upon presentation of the pass, either physically or digitally, the passholder is entitled to a fee waiver for day-use entry, as described here:
- A waiver of a per-vehicle entrance fee, for all passengers in the vehicle, as long as the vehicle is a single, private, noncommercial vehicle that is used to transport the fourth grade child to the unit of the State Park System;
- A waiver of a per-person entrance fee, including up to three adults, 16 years of age and above, and all children, 15 years of age and younger, accompanying the fourth grade child.
- This pass is nontransferable and can only be used by the fourth grader and their party as described above. The fourth grader must be present in the park to use the pass.
- No refunds are given for previously purchased passes or if the pass is forgotten at the time of visit.
- The pass is not valid for per-person entry or tour fees at parks not honoring this pass. For a list of parks that accept the California State Park Adventure Pass, please click here. The pass does not apply to camping, boat-use fees, group use or sites, special events, oversized vehicle fees, additional or extra vehicle fees, swimming pool fees, sanitation disposal use, or for any other supplemental fees associated with visiting California state parks.
- The fourth grader and their party must abide by any rules and regulations applicable to California State Parks or to the use of this pass, as amended from time to time.
- This pass must be either a) scanned by a State Parks staffer into the California State Parks “ReserveCalifornia” point-of-sale system, where available, b) printed out and displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle for validation by State Parks staff, or c) otherwise verified by California State Parks. Highway-licensed motorcycle passholders should present the pass at the entrance station in exchange for a day-use ticket or attach the printout of the pass to a motorcycle where no attendant is available.
- Pass holders should be prepared to present this pass upon request. California State Parks reserves the right to request validation of California residency.
- This pass is not valid for resale or commercial use, industrial or business operations, including, but not limited to, fleet use or pooling. Pass shall not be assigned for profit and is void if misused.
- Pass is valid during its term unless revoked. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other pass and/or discount, nor can it be altered in any way.
Parks Accepting the California State Park Adventure Pass*:
* Parks accepting the California State Park Adventure Pass are subject to change without notice. Check www.parks.ca.gov/AdventurePass for the current list of parks where the pass is accepted.
Our Mission
The mission of the California Department of Parks and Recreation is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.