California Golden Bear Pass: Eligibility, Income Limits, Applying

The California Golden Bear Pass gives free vehicle day-use entry to more than 130 state park units, and for 2026 the pass itself costs nothing. You qualify if you receive Supplemental Security Income, CalWORKs, or Tribal TANF, or if you’re 62 or older with income below the state’s limits. The pass covers the holder plus a spouse or registered domestic partner, and it’s valid through December 31 of the year it’s issued.¹

Who Qualifies

California Public Resources Code Section 5011 sets four eligibility categories. Meeting any one is enough.²

You receive Supplemental Security Income from the Social Security Administration, including aid to the aged, blind, or disabled.
You currently receive benefits through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program.
You receive federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits through a tribal administrator (Tribal TANF).
You’re 62 or older and your total monthly income from all sources falls below the state threshold.

The income-based path is only for people 62 and older. If you’re under 62 and don’t receive SSI, CalWORKs, or Tribal TANF, you don’t qualify, regardless of how low your income is.

2026 Income Limits for Seniors

If you’re applying as a low-income senior, your average gross monthly income from all sources cannot exceed:

$1,732 per month for a single applicant
$2,352 per month combined for a married couple or registered domestic partnership

“All sources” is broad: Social Security, pensions, veterans’ benefits, rental income, investment returns, and anything else coming in.¹

Documents You’ll Need

Every applicant submits a copy of a valid California driver license, state-issued photo ID, or current school ID. Interim or temporary IDs won’t be accepted. If you’re adding a spouse or domestic partner, include a copy of their photo ID too.³

Beyond the ID, what you send depends on your category:

SSI recipients: a current SSI benefits statement or benefit verification letter from the Social Security Administration, dated within one year of your application.
CalWORKs participants: documentation showing your case is active in the month you apply. A printout from your online benefits account or a letter from your county social services agency will work.
Low-income seniors: either a current reduced-fee senior limited-income sport fishing license from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or proof-of-income documents such as Social Security benefit statements, pension statements, VA letters, W-2s, 1099s, or rental income statements. Income documentation must be dated within one year of the application.

Make sure the name on your supporting documents matches the name on your ID.

How To Apply

California State Parks begins accepting 2026 applications on December 1, and passes become valid January 1.¹ Your route depends on which category you’re applying under.

SSI Recipients and Low-Income Seniors

You can apply online at ReserveCalifornia.com. Create an account, select “Apply for a Discount Pass,” choose the Golden Bear Pass, upload your documents, and submit. Once the Parks Pass Office reviews and approves the application, you’ll get an email to log back in. The pass benefit becomes available in your account immediately, and the physical card is mailed afterward.⁴

CalWORKs Recipients

Apply through a separate portal run by the California Department of Social Services at cdss.ca.gov/goldenbearpass. CDSS confirms your eligibility directly, then State Parks prints and mails your pass. The application can be completed on a smartphone.⁵

Tribal TANF Recipients

You cannot apply online or by mail through State Parks. Apply through your Tribal TANF administrator, who handles the process for you.⁶

By Mail

Download the Golden Bear Pass Application (Form DPR 578) from the State Parks website, complete it, and mail it with your supporting documents to the Parks Pass Office. The form is free.³

If your application is incomplete or denied, the office sends a notification explaining why.

What the Pass Covers

The pass provides free vehicle day-use entry at more than 130 state park units. It covers one passenger vehicle or highway-licensed motorcycle with a capacity of nine people or fewer, as long as the pass holder is in the vehicle.⁷ It also covers a spouse or registered domestic partner.²

The pass is valid from the date it’s issued through December 31 of that calendar year, no matter when you applied. You need to reapply each year.⁶

At staffed entrance stations, show the pass to the attendant. At self-pay locations, display it on your dashboard so it’s visible through the windshield. Without the pass on hand, expect to pay the full day-use fee; rangers won’t look up your status at the gate.⁸

What the Pass Does Not Cover

The pass is strictly for vehicle day-use fees. It does not waive:

Camping fees
Per-person entry or tour fees at museums and historic sites
Boat use fees
Group use or group site fees
Special event fees
Commercial use fees
Oversized or additional vehicle fees
Supplemental fees

The pass cannot be combined with any other pass or discount, and admission is subject to available space, so a park can reach capacity on a peak weekend.⁹

Where the Pass Is Not Accepted

The pass is not valid at any park unit run by local governments, private agencies, or concessionaires. The statute also specifically excludes three state-operated sites: Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, and the California State Railroad Museum.²

State Parks publishes an acceptance list identifying every unit where the pass works. Check the current version before you plan a trip; a park being in the state system doesn’t automatically mean it accepts the Golden Bear Pass.⁹

Golden Bear Pass vs. Senior Golden Bear Pass

These are two different programs. The Golden Bear Pass requires SSI, CalWORKs, or Tribal TANF benefits, or low-income senior status, and it works year-round. The Senior Golden Bear Pass is open to anyone 62 or older regardless of income, but it only provides free entry during non-peak season.¹⁰

If you’re over 62 and meet the income limits, the Golden Bear Pass is the better option because it works every day of the year. The Senior Golden Bear Pass is aimed at seniors who earn too much to qualify on income but still want reduced access during quieter periods.

Replacing a Lost or Stolen Pass

Notify California State Parks using the “Park Pass Questions” contact form on their website. The old pass is cancelled and can’t be reactivated, so you’ll submit a new application for a replacement. Refunds are not issued for lost or stolen passes.¹¹

1
California State Parks. Golden Bear Pass
2
California Legislative Information. California Public Resources Code PRC 5011
3
California Department of Parks and Recreation. Golden Bear Pass Program Application 2026
4
California State Parks. Online Application Steps
5
California Department of Social Services. Golden Bear Pass
6
California State Parks. Golden Bear Pass
7
California State Parks. Golden Bear Pass Terms and Conditions
8
California State Parks. Golden Bear Pass Terms and Conditions
9
California Department of Parks and Recreation. Golden Bear Park Acceptance List
10
California State Parks. California State Park Passes
11
California State Parks. Senior Golden Bear Pass