This news story about the new Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon permit program is based on a March 9, 2022, National Park Service press release. You can read the original release here.
Following the example set by several other national parks like Yosemite, Glacier, Arches and Shenandoah, the Redwood National and State Parks will also implement a permit program in 2022.
In a statement, the National Park Service announced a pilot permit program for the Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use Area, which includes the extremely popular Fern Canyon.
Redwood National and State Parks Implement Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon Permit Program in 2022
The National Park Service said that “the Gold Bluffs Beach Day Use-area and Fern Canyon is one of the most visited areas within Redwood National and State Parks. Unrestricted access to this location during peak summer months has caused public safety concerns and an increase in resource damage.”
So, in order to mitigate the effects of overuse and overcrowding, visitors will need a permit to enter all locations within the Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use Area.
The implementation of a permit system will allow Redwood National and State Parks to provide a high-quality visitor experience by reducing overcrowding in parking lots and trail systems.
In addition, a permit system during peak summer months will allow for the protection of natural resources while providing adequate access for Law Enforcement and Emergency Services to provide responses during emergencies.
“Fern Canyon, with its cascading walls of several species of ferns in all shades of green, captures the hearts and imaginations of thousands of visitors every year,” said Erin Gates, Deputy Superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks and North Coast Redwoods District, California State Parks. “Redwood National and State Parks is responsible for ensuring that the experience that visitors have today is consistent with the experience that visitors have been able to experience in the past.”
She added that “with the exponential growth in visitation at Fern Canyon, park managers are charged with developing solutions that will allow us to protect both the quality of our visitors’ experience while also ensuring the protection of the natural, cultural and historical resources that they have come to see.”
“We feel that this pilot permit program will accomplish this, allowing for the legacy of our park lands to be enjoyed in perpetuity for current and future generations.”
Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use Area and Fern Canyon Permit Details
This new Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use area and Fern Canyon permit program will go into effect on May 1. Permits will be required through September 30, 2022.
Visitors will not need a permit to visit Fern Canyon and the rest of the Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use area from October 1 through April 30.
Additionally, people hiking to the popular Fern Canyon area via the James Irvine Trail from the Prairie Creek Visitor Center will not need a permit. Visitors with a reservation for the Gold Bluffs Beach Campground, incidentally one of our favorite national park campgrounds, will not need a permit either.
Gold Bluffs Beach and Fern Canyon permits will be free of charge. They’ll be available online only on the website of Redwood Parks Conservancy.
It is important to note, however, that there is also a separate day-use fee of $12 (cash or check only), which is charged upon entry to the Gold Bluffs Beach area—or visitors can use their California State Parks or National Park Service passes to enter.
Redwood National and State Parks will host a virtual information session about this new Fern Canyon permit program on Wednesday, March 16.
You can register for and attend this information session via this link: https://bit.ly/PilotPermitProgram.
The National Park Service specified that “information covered during this information session will include a discussion of why this permit pilot program is being launched, and how it will help create a more safe and enjoyable visitor experience while also better protecting the natural resources in this area.”
For more information and to reserve a permit for Gold Bluffs Beach Day-use are and Fern Canyon this summer, visit https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/ferncanyonpermits.htm.