Proposition 21 on California's November ballot proposes an $18 annual vehicle license surcharge to help fund state parks and wildlife programs in exchange for allowing those vehicles free admission to all state parks. So, geocachers might want to know what the current state park policies are on geocaching. California State Parks has decided to allow each District Superintendent to use discretion in managing the activity in each of the 278 units of the park system.
Physical geocaches are not allowed to be placed in Cultural Preserves, Natural Preserves, or State Wilderness areas. Virtual caches (either earthcaches or waymarks) may be permitted in these areas. Caching is generally not permitted in State Cultural Reserves, State Natural Reserves, State Historic Parks, or State Historic Monuments. All other park units, such as State Beaches, State Seashores, State Parks, State Recreation Areas, and State Vehicular Recreation Areas may permit geocaching, if approved by the District Superintendent. A list of state parks that allow geocaching is available at the California State Parks website.
Geocaches placed in state parks must also also adhere to the following rules
- Caches may not be buried, nor may vegetation, rocks, or other features be marked or damaged in the process of placing, accessing, or maintaining the cache.
- Physical caches are not permitted inside or upon any State Park facility or structure.
- Caches may not be permanently attached to any historic structure, monument, archaelogical, natural, or geologic feature.
- Caches are not allowed within 300 feet of streams, marshes, or sensitive water features.
- Caches may not be placed more than 3 feet from a designated trail.
When following these rules, state parks can be a vast resource for geocachers to find and to place caches. California's largest state park, Henry Coe is home to some of the most remote geocaches in the South Bay, requiring multi-day hikes to reach them. Castle Rock, Henry Cowell Redwoods, Mount Diablo, Big Basin Redwoods, and Angel Island are just a few of the other state parks in the Bay Area which are home to many geocaches, which could make an $18 vehicle fee a bargain.
