California Made 30+ Historic State Parks Free To Visit This Summer.
California is opening its historic parks to everyone this summer, and all it takes to get in is a free download before July 6, 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California State Parks is offering a special edition Historian Passport at absolutely no cost, giving Californians free admission to more than 30 state historic parks for the rest of the year. The pass, which normally costs fifty dollars and admits up to four people per visit, is valid for unlimited visits to all participating parks from now through the end of 2026, and the only requirement is a free account at ReserveCalifornia.com to complete the download. The timing celebrates both Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, making it one of the most meaningful free offers California has put forward in recent memory.
The parks included in the pass tell some of the most powerful and important stories in the history of the state and the nation, and the lineup spans the full length of California from the mountains to the coast. Among the highlights is Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in the San Joaquin Valley, the most significant state park representing Black history in California and a remarkable community founded, financed, and governed entirely by African Americans beginning in 1908. Other participating parks include Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in the Sierra Nevada foothills where the California Gold Rush began, the Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park featuring one of the largest collections of bedrock mortars in North America, and the Weaverville Joss House, the oldest continuously used Chinese temple anywhere in the state. For California families looking for a free and genuinely unforgettable way to spend a summer day, this pass is one of the best deals the Golden State has offered in years.
