Governor Newsom and First Partner Siebel Newsom announce California State Parks’ FREE Fourth Grade Pass Now Available for 2026/27 School Year

Outdoors for All

The free pass is a cornerstone of Outdoors for All, Governor Gavin Newsom and the First Partner’s commitment to equitable park access, ensuring all Californians can enjoy the physical, mental, and social benefits of the outdoors. Since the free pass program was launched in September 2021, more than 100,000 passes have been distributed to fourth graders and their families.

Along with all fourth graders in public school, California residents from all walks of life — including families receiving public assistance and anyone with a library card — can access free parks passes as part of Outdoors for All:

California State Library Parks Pass: Allows library cardholders to check out a pass from any public library for free vehicle day-use entry at 200-plus state parks. It’s just like borrowing a book, with more than 33,000 passes available at over 1,100 public and tribal libraries in the state.
Golden Bear Pass: This free annual pass provides vehicle day-use entry at over 200 state parks for families who receive CalWORKs, individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income, income-eligible Californians over age 62, and participants of California’s Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. To date, Californians have received more than 147,000 Golden Bear Passes.

California’s commitment

This past Earth Day, Governor Newsom and the First Partner announced plans to add three new state parks in the Central Valley — setting forth a bold vision to rapidly expand the nation’s largest and most diverse state park system through State Parks Forward. State Parks Forward is the latest in a series of accomplishments under Governor Newsom to conserve public land, expand access to nature, and foster a thriving State Park System.

Outdoors for All: Governor Newsom and the First Partner have led a historic investment of more than $1 billion to expand parks and nature access, prioritizing underserved communities. With this funding, California has partnered with local governments, community organizations, and tribes to support programs that connect people with nature, fostering a sense of belonging for all Californians outdoors, and much more. This includes the Golden Bear Pass, Free Fourth Grade Pass, and the California State Library Parks Pass.
California’s values: In celebration of Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Governor Newsom and California State Parks offered a special free version of its Historian Passport — normally $50 for the year — for admission of up to four people per pass at more than 30 state historic parks throughout the state for the rest of 2026. More than 454,000 free passes were downloaded during the promotional period.
30×30: The Golden State is leading the nation in protecting its natural resources. Through California’s 30×30 initiative, a now codified commitment to conserve 30% of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, California has added over 2.5 million acres of conserved land and waters over the last three years. That’s roughly the size of the Big Island in Hawaii.
Cutting green tape: An initiative by the Newsom administration to enable important environmental restoration, conservation and stewardship to happen more quickly and cost effectively by streamlining permitting and funding for environmental projects. This has resulted in more than 500 fast-tracked projects, restoring 300,000 acres of habitat, improving 700 miles of streams, and saving $12 million in permitting costs over the last four years. The commitment is to maintain California’s strong environmental standards while increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
Climate bond: Approved by voters in 2024, the $10 billion bond funds projects that protect communities from climate change impacts – from wildfire prevention and safe drinking water to biodiversity protection and expanded access to nature. It includes nearly $700 million to expand access, and directs agencies to make funding programs more accessible to all communities and better coordinated across agencies.
Community investments: It is not just about state parks. California provides grants to local communities to establish their own parks, build trails, acquire and restore sensitive habitat, build natural and cultural interpretive facilities, and foster outdoor experiences for children and families. Over the last eight years, thanks to the Governor and State Legislature’s investments, State Parks and partner state agencies like the Wildlife Conservation Board and the state’s 11 conservancies have invested over $1 billion into local community parks and open space, and public acquisitions that expand outdoor access.

California’s state parks also include historic sites significant to many cultures, including indigenous tribes. While the Trump administration moves to whitewash American history at national parks — watering down or erasing the complex truth — California State Parks is doing the opposite through its Reexamining Our Past Initiative, working to tell the full story of how California came to be.

State Parks protect more than 340 miles of coastline; the tallest, largest, and among the oldest trees in the world; deserts, lakes, rivers, and beaches; more than 5,200 miles of trails; 15,000 campsites; and historic sites from prehistoric archaeology to ghost towns to monuments.

Everyone’s welcome — and we mean everyone. Visit parks.ca.gov/OutdoorsforAll

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