Los Angeles Trailhead Parking Passes

Most of the time parking fees are not required to park at trailheads. You are fortunate to live in close proximity to many National and State Parks that are wonderful places to hike. Sometimes it is more convenient to park in the day-use parking areas near the trailheads. Day-use fees are usually approximately $5/day, but if you are a frequent hiker it is beneficial to invest in an annual pass. Purchasing annual passes also helps financially support the preservation and conservation of the wilderness you enjoy.

US Forest Service

“Adventure Pass”

Valid for one year

$30

The “Adventure Pass” allows one car to park at various permit-only trailheads throughout Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests. If you plan to visit one or more of the four National Forests in Southern California, you may want to consider an Adventure Pass.

For greater value, purchase the National Parks “America The Beautiful” pass instead. US Forest Service sites are covered with that National Park Service/Interagency pass.

Purchase at this link.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5181410&width=full

California State Parks Pass

Valid for one year.

The best value pass is $195

The State Park pass is a must have item for California outdoor lovers. This pass provides access to most California beaches and State Park facilities. (Note: Parking at a few Southern California State Beaches is not covered by this pass because they are managed by the “city” instead of the State Park service.)

Surf Explorer Annual Pass $195

(The most comprehensive access permit.)

List of parks covered by this pass is here.

Purchase at this link.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049

National Park Service / Interagency Pass

“America The Beautiful”

Valid for one year

$80

The “America The Beautiful” pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. A pass covers entrance and standard amenity fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person).

If you buy this pass you DO NOT need to purchase an “Adventure Pass”. US Forest Service sites are covered with this Interagency Pass

Purchase at this link.

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

MRCA Annual Parking Pass

(Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority)

Valid for one year.

5-Day Permit $300

7-Day Permit $450

The MRCA parking pass covers parking at the following properties:

Temescal Gateway Park, Red Rock Canyon Park, Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park, Wilacre Park, Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon, East Canyon, Mentryville, Summit Valley Edmund D. Edelman Park, Whitney Canyon Park, Wilson Canyon Park, Rocky Peak Park, Bosque del Rio Hondo, Sage Ranch Park, Corral Canyon Park, Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, Michael D. Antonovich Regional Park at Joughin Ranch.

The day use fee for parking at these trailheads can range from $3 to $5. Free off-site parking is usually inconveniently located. Unless you plan to park at one of these properties daily it may be more economical to pay the day-use fee as needed, but purchasing the annual pass is a wonderful way to support the conservation of the spaces you love while also receiving the benefit of prepaid on-demand permit only parking.

Purchase at this link.

http://mrca.ca.gov/permits.html

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