California families with children entering fourth grade can now claim a free state parks pass sooner than before.
California State Parks has revised its Free Fourth Grade Pass for the 2026–27 school year, opening registration in August rather than September to make the most of the summer. The change also gives families more time to use it: passes are valid for as long as 13 months, beginning at the start of fourth grade and lasting through the end of the next summer.
What is the Free Fourth Grade Pass?
Previously known as the California State Park Adventure Pass, the Free Fourth Grade Pass gives fourth graders and their families unlimited free day-use entry to 54 participating California state parks.
In prior years, registration did not open until September, by which point many California school districts were already back in session. The earlier August launch lets families squeeze in a few more summer park days before the school year gets underway. Once issued, the pass remains active through August 31 of the following year, spanning the transition from fourth to fifth grade.
The program focuses on fourth graders because California’s state parks can serve as “living classrooms” for subjects covered in the fourth-grade curriculum, including California and Gold Rush history, Native American heritage, and earth and life sciences.
Parents and guardians can create a free account and download the pass through ReserveCalifornia.com. Registration requires a name, address, phone number, and email address. More information is available at parks.ca.gov/4thGrade.
Expanding access to California parks
The Free Fourth Grade Pass is part of California’s Outdoors for All initiative, an effort to make the state park system more accessible and equitable. Since the program debuted in September 2021, it has distributed more than 100,000 passes throughout the state.
Other free park entry programs include the California State Library Parks Pass, which library cardholders can check out for free day use at over 200 state parks; as well as the Golden Bear Pass, which grants free park access to CalWORKs recipients, Supplemental Security Income recipients, qualifying residents age 62 and older, and Tribal TANF participants.
