Gold Bluffs Beach Day-Use Area PermitsIncludes parking for the Fern Canyon Trailhead and Gold Bluffs Beach Day-Use Parking AreaPlan Ahead & Prepare
Basic permit information
Apply for a permit. Permits are being issued by our non-profit partner, Redwood Parks Conservancy. Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use Area & Fern Canyon Pilot Program FAQs The implementation of a permit system will allow Redwood National and State Parks to
May 1 – September 30th. From October 1 – April 31, day use at Gold Bluffs Beach will be unrestricted.
Any park visitor driving to Gold Bluffs Beach for Day-use access who wants to park at either the Gold Bluffs Beach picnic area or Fern Canyon. There will be no restrictions to visitors walking to Fern Canyon from the Elk Prairie Visitor Center or along Davison Rd during that time. Campers at the Gold Bluffs Beach campground will not be required to apply for a day use permit for access.
Find an available date and time and reserve your spot. A confirmation email will be sent to you immediately after booking your permit, and will also be re-sent to you 24hrs before the date/time of the permit. Visitors will be required to either print out this confirmation email, or take a screen shot, and present this at the time of arrival at the Gold Bluffs Beach Entrance Station. The person whose name is designated on the permit must be present in the vehicle at the time of arrival, and show a valid proof of identification.
There will be several options of permits available to visitors.
Visitors can reserve permits for May 1st – Sept. 30th now!
After booking your permit on https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm you be given the option to save this event on your calendar (from the booking website) and will also immediately receive and email confirmation. Please check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see this email in your primary inbox. This email will be sent from scheduling@squarespacescheduling.com.
Please read this confirmation email thoroughly as it will pertain important information to help you plan your visit. After reading your confirmation email, and visiting the permits page on https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm, if you still have questions, you are welcome to visit any of the Visitor Center locations within Redwood National and State Parks. You are also welcome to call (707) 464-6101 (general park information line) but please be advised that this phone number is not always staffed and your best place for information regarding your permit will be either the email confirmation or website. Proof of permit will be required upon entry to the Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use area. The permit applicant must be in the vehicle and will be required to provide their name, a valid photo ID, and proof of permit (either a screen shot of permit on their phone, or a printed permit confirmation email in order to gain entry to Gold Bluffs Beach & Fern Canyon. Yes, you can cancel or change your existing permit using the email confirmation you receive immediately after booking your permit. Please save this email.
If you are unable to visit on the day of your permit, please take the time (less than 2 mins) to cancel your permit. Limited permits are available this summer, and we appreciate your assistance with ensuring that as many visitors as possible are able to get a permit. Yes. You will still be able to access Fern Canyon via trails within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The hike is approx. 10.4 miles round trip from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center on the Newton B Drury Parkway via the James Irvine trail. If you plan to hike to Fern Canyon, please start your hike early and be prepared by planning ahead.
No. Once a permit is reserved with a name, that person will need to be present in the vehicle upon your arrival to Gold Bluffs Beach to gain entry. You are required to show the government-issued photo ID coorelated with your permit in order to gain entry. No ID, no permit.
The Gold Bluffs Beach permit will allow a vehicle to enter Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use Area via Davison Rd. Parking is permitted only at the designated parking area listed on the permit reservation along Gold Bluffs Beach and the Fern Canyon parking lot.
Visitors with a Gold Bluffs Beach Campground reservation will not need to apply for a day-use permit.
|
Last updated: August 31, 2022