Do I need a reservation for Redwood National and State Parks?

No. Nothing is required to enter Redwood National and State Parks itself in 2026, but parts of the park are booked separately: Fern Canyon vehicle day permit from May 15, 2026 to Sep 15, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It applies to Gold Bluffs Beach area via Davison Road, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - covers parking at the Gold Bluffs Beach picnic area and the Fern Canyon trailhead. Fern Canyon can also be reached without a reservation by hiking about 10.4 miles round-trip from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center via the James Irvine Trail. Redwood National and State Parks charges no entrance fee.

Is there an entrance fee at Redwood National and State Parks?

No. Redwood National and State Parks does not charge an entrance fee. Other requirements on this page may still apply.

Redwood National and State Parks reservations & entry requirements, 2026

The 2026 season at Redwood National and State Parks

This is what applies across the published season. Use the date checker below for a specific day.

Fern Canyon vehicle day permit applies during part of 2026. Some activities need their own permit.

This park does not charge an entrance fee.

Park entrance
Not required
Redwood National and State Parks does not charge an entrance fee.
- Redwood is a joint NPS / California State Parks unit. The NPS side charges NO entrance fee, has no entrance stations, and sells no Senior or Annual passes. The three state parks in the unit (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, Prairie Creek Redwoods) DO charge day-use fees - $12 at Gold Bluffs Beach / Fern Canyon - waived for America the Beautiful pass holders. Other day-use amounts are unpublished.
Timed entry
Not applicable
Redwood National and State Parks has no timed-entry system.
Vehicle, road, or corridor
Required on some dates
Fern Canyon vehicle day permit applies during part of 2026.
- Fern Canyon vehicle day permit
  Dates
  May 15, 2026 – Sep 15, 2026
  Hours
  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Fee
  NPS does not publish a reservation fee for this permit.
  Opens
  Rolling window · 9 a.m. Pacific Time
  Applies to Gold Bluffs Beach area via Davison Road, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - covers parking at the Gold Bluffs Beach picnic area and the Fern Canyon trailhead
  - NPS does not publish a reservation fee for this permit. The separate $12 Gold Bluffs Beach day-use fee is collected at the entrance kiosk and is waived by an America the Beautiful or California State Parks pass.
  - Only drivers need it - there are no restrictions on visitors walking to Fern Canyon from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center or along Davison Road.
  - Fern Canyon can also be reached without a reservation by hiking about 10.4 miles round-trip from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center via the James Irvine Trail.
  - Campers with a current Gold Bluffs Beach or Elk Prairie Campground reservation do not need a day-use reservation.
  - Same-day reservations are not available - day-before or in-advance only.
  - RVs over 24 feet and trailers are not permitted on Davison Road.
  - A current Gold Bluffs Beach or Elk Prairie Campground reservation replaces the day-use reservation; campers must show a current campsite/campground tag.
Book on redwoodparksconservancy.org(opens in a new tab)
Shuttle
Not applicable
Redwood National and State Parks has no shuttle system.
Your campground or lodging
Not applicable
Redwood National and State Parks has no in-park stay that changes what you need to enter.
Selected activity
Required all year
2 separate requirements apply all through 2026.
- Tall Trees Grove trailhead reservation
  Dates
  Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  Hours
  from 8 a.m. onward
  Fee
  None
  Opens
  Rolling window · 8 a.m. Pacific Time
  Applies to Tall Trees Trailhead and its access road off Bald Hills Road; a locked gate controls the road and the gate code arrives with the reservation
  - Free for both the in-advance and day-before reservation types.
  - Reservations can only be made online - they are not issued at park visitor centers.
  - The small parking lot does not accommodate RVs over 21 feet or vehicles towing trailers.
  - Many other redwood groves nearby require no reservation.
  - No campground booking substitutes for the Tall Trees reservation.
- Free backcountry camping permit
  Dates
  Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
  Hours
  All day
  Fee
  None
  Opens
  On sale now
  Applies to Designated backcountry camps: Little Bald Hills, DeMartin, Flint Ridge, Gold Bluffs, Elam Camp, 44 Camp, and Redwood Creek dispersed camping
  - Free, except Gold Bluffs Beach backcountry at $5 per person per night.
  - Gold Bluffs backcountry camping is not free - it is $5 per person per night.
  - Permits are issued online only and are not available at any park visitor center.
  - Redwood Creek dispersed camping is closed October 15 through April 1 due to high water levels.
  - Developed campground reservations through ReserveCalifornia are separate from backcountry permits.
Book on redwoodparksconservancy.org(opens in a new tab)

Fees and passes

Redwood National and State Parks does not charge an entrance fee.

Redwood is a joint NPS / California State Parks unit. The NPS side charges NO entrance fee, has no entrance stations, and sells no Senior or Annual passes. The three state parks in the unit (Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, Prairie Creek Redwoods) DO charge day-use fees - $12 at Gold Bluffs Beach / Fern Canyon - waived for America the Beautiful pass holders. Other day-use amounts are unpublished.

An America the Beautiful pass is accepted here. It covers the entrance fee only. It does not cover a timed-entry permit, a vehicle reservation, a parking tag, a shuttle ticket, or an activity permit.

There is no NPS entrance fee to cover. An America the Beautiful pass waives the state day-use fee at Gold Bluffs Beach / Fern Canyon and is honored at the three state parks; California State Parks annual and Poppy passes are also honored. A pass does NOT substitute for the Fern Canyon or Tall Trees reservation. CAUTION: the fees page carries two conflicting fee-free lists - use the 2026 list.

Fee-free days

Feb 16, 2026
May 25, 2026
Jun 14, 2026
Jul 3, 2026
Jul 4, 2026
Jul 5, 2026
Aug 25, 2026
Sep 17, 2026
Oct 27, 2026
Nov 11, 2026

From 2026 a fee-free day waives the entrance fee for U.S. residents. Other visitors still pay it. A fee-free day never waives a reservation, a permit, or a booking fee unless the park says so.

Rules that apply to one area only

These do not apply to the whole park. Where you go changes the answer.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, and Prairie Creek Redwoods state parks - collected at developed campground entrance stations; plus the Gold Bluffs Beach / Fern Canyon entrance on Davison RoadCalifornia State Parks day-use fees inside Redwood National and State Parks · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
Tall Trees Trailhead and its access road off Bald Hills Road; a locked gate controls the road and the gate code arrives with the reservationTall Trees Grove trailhead reservation - free, required year-round · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
Gold Bluffs Beach area via Davison Road, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - covers parking at the Gold Bluffs Beach picnic area and the Fern Canyon trailheadFern Canyon / Gold Bluffs Beach vehicle reservation - required May 15 to September 15 · May 15, 2026 – Sep 15, 2026
Designated backcountry camps: Little Bald Hills, DeMartin, Flint Ridge, Gold Bluffs, Elam Camp, 44 Camp, and Redwood Creek dispersed campingFree backcountry camping permit - required for all designated backcountry camps · Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

What a campground or lodging booking does and does not cover

California State Parks day-use fees inside Redwood National and State ParksCovered by an in-park campground or lodging booking. A current Gold Bluffs Beach or Elk Prairie Campground reservation satisfies the $12 Gold Bluffs Beach day-use fee.
Tall Trees Grove trailhead reservation - free, required year-roundNot covered by an in-park booking. No campground booking substitutes for the Tall Trees reservation.
Fern Canyon / Gold Bluffs Beach vehicle reservation - required May 15 to September 15Covered by an in-park campground or lodging booking. A current Gold Bluffs Beach or Elk Prairie Campground reservation replaces the day-use reservation; campers must show a current campsite/campground tag.
Free backcountry camping permit - required for all designated backcountry campsNot covered by an in-park booking. Developed campground reservations through ReserveCalifornia are separate from backcountry permits.

Quick answers

Do I need a reservation for Redwood National and State Parks?: No. Nothing is required to enter Redwood National and State Parks itself in 2026, but parts of the park are booked separately: Fern Canyon vehicle day permit from May 15, 2026 to Sep 15, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It applies to Gold Bluffs Beach area via Davison Road, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - covers parking at the Gold Bluffs Beach picnic area and the Fern Canyon trailhead. Fern Canyon can also be reached without a reservation by hiking about 10.4 miles round-trip from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center via the James Irvine Trail. Redwood National and State Parks charges no entrance fee.
Is there an entrance fee at Redwood National and State Parks?: No. Redwood National and State Parks does not charge an entrance fee. Other requirements on this page may still apply.

Official links, coverage, and sources

When reservations are released

California State Parks day-use feePaid on arrival at the entrance station; note Gold Bluffs Beach takes cash or check only, no cards.
Tall Trees Grove trailhead reservationReleased on a rolling window. Release time: 8 a.m. Pacific Time. Two types: 45 in-advance all-day reservations, available up to 180 days ahead and closing 24 hours before the hike date; plus 10 day-before morning slots (8 am - 12 pm) opening 8 am the day before and 10 day-before afternoon slots (1 pm - sunset) opening 1 pm the day before. The gate code is emailed 23 hours ahead for in-advance bookings, immediately for day-before. Times are park local Pacific.
Fern Canyon vehicle day permitReleased on a rolling window. Release time: 9 a.m. Pacific Time. 75 in-advance reservations, bookable 6 months ahead and up to 11:59 pm the night before, with the booking window opening December 15; plus 100 day-before reservations released at 9:00 am the day before, which NPS says often fill shortly after 9:00 am. The page does not name a time zone; park local time is Pacific.
Free backcountry camping permitApplied for online; NPS does not publish a release date or quota on the pages checked.

Official booking and park information

What this does not cover

Road, weather, and fire closures that change day to day. Check the park’s alerts page.
Backcountry and wilderness permits beyond the headline permits listed above.
Commercial use authorizations, filming permits, and group-size rules.
Availability. We tell you what is required, not whether anything is left.

Effective dates and sources

Fees and passesNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Park entranceAn entrance pass is not required to access Redwood National and State Parks. ... There are no entrance fees to drive the scenic roads or highways in our three state parks and national park. Some day-use areas have fees; these accept interagency and CA state park passes.
Fees & Passes - Redwood National and State ParksNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to No National Park Service entrance feeFree. No entrance pass required. An entrance pass is not required to access Redwood National and State Parks. ... Redwood National Park is free to visit! We have no entrance stations, and thus we do not sell the 'Senior Pass' or the 'Annual Pass'.
Gold Bluffs Beach & Fern Canyon Day-use Reservations - Redwood National and State ParksNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to California State Parks day-use feeGold Bluffs Beach is a fee area: $12.00 day-use fee can be paid with cash/check (no cards accepted), America the Beautiful Passes, California State Parks Annual or Poppy Pass, or a current Gold Bluffs Beach or Elk Prairie Campground reservation.
Tall Trees Trailhead Day-Use Online Reservations - Redwood National and State ParksNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Tall Trees Grove trailhead reservationTall Trees Trailhead reservations are required year-round to access and park at the Tall Trees Trailhead. Reservations can only be made online. ... There is a locked gate at the top of the road. The gate code will be emailed to you with your reservation.
Gold Bluffs Beach & Fern Canyon Day-use Reservations - Redwood National and State ParksNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Fern Canyon vehicle day permitReservations are required from May 15 through September 15. ... Any park visitor driving to the Gold Bluffs Beach Area for day-use access who wants to park at either the Gold Bluffs Beach picnic area or Fern Canyon.
Fees & Passes - Redwood National and State ParksNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Free backcountry camping permitBackcountry: Free online permits are required for overnight use of all designated backcountry camps (exception: Gold Bluffs Beach/$5 per person, per night).

Something wrong here?

Park rules change, sometimes at short notice. If a line on this page does not match what the park publishes, tell us and we will fix it and re-check the source.

corrections@nationalparkentry.com· Last factual change 2026-08-05 · Sources last reviewed 2026-07-26

Nearest other national parks

Chosen by distance from Redwood National and State Parks, not by editorial preference.

Redwood National and State Parks entry requirements