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Palo Corona Park Rules

Stay on designated trails-walk softly, take only memories and leave only footprints. AND, be sure to pack out what you pack in.

ACCESS:  Rancho Cañada main entrance - Take Highway 1 to Carmel Valley Road and turn on Village Park Road (near Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula).  Turn left off Village Park Road to enter the park, where ample parking is available in the lot.  NO ACCESS PERMIT NEEDED TO PARK AT THIS ENTRANCE.

Highway 1 entrance (West gate) – Take Highway 1 south past Village Park Road intersection in Carmel; proceed south of Carmel River Bridge approximately 200 yards. Make the left-hand turn into the park entrance driveway. Do not block driveway. Limited parking is available on the shoulder of Highway 1.  ACCESS PERMIT REQUIRED FOR THIS ENTRANCE.

South Bank Trail entrance (East gate) – Parking is available in the Santa Lucia Conservancy parking lot at 26700 Rancho San Carlos Road, which is about 0.40 miles from Carmel Valley Road, over the Carmel River bridge.  Turn right at the mailbox, into the first small, gravel parking area.  Parking is very limited and first-come-first-served.  Having an access permit does reserve a space in the parking area.  There is no parking along the road shoulders.  NO ACCESS PERMIT NEEDED IF WALKING/BIKING TO THIS ENTRANCE, BUT IS REQUIRED TO PARK.

To enter the park, visitors will need to enter the entrance gate lock combination found on the access permit.

HOURS: Access is limited to daylight hours from dawn to dusk. No overnight use or camping is permitted.

USE: Palo Corona Park use is limited to hiking.

PETS: Domestic animals are not allowed in this park.

FIRE/SMOKING: Fires, incendiary devices, fireworks, cooking stoves, any source of open flame, and smoking are strictly prohibited.

RESOURCES: It is unlawful to injure, damage, collect, harass, remove, or disturb any cultural, historical, biological, or physical object. Metal detectors and other collecting tools are prohibited.

HUNTING/FISHING/WEAPONS: Hunting, fishing and weapons of any type are not allowed.

FOOD: Food and beverages are allowed. However, there are no waste receptacles on the trails. Please pack out all you pack in.

TRESPASS: For the benefit of all, obey and respect all private property, boundary, administrative notices, and closure signs.  Trespassing on private property is subject to citation/prosecution and loss of future access privileges.

CLOSURE: Access may be temporarily closed due to wildlife, fire, public safety, resource protection, or other environmental concerns.

Failure to abide by park rules and appropriate etiquette may result in loss of access privileges.