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The 2015 California State Parks has brought back the popular “Golden Poppy.” For $125, the Golden Poppy grants vehicle entrance to 112 state parks.

The Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass is not valid at the high-demand Southern California beach parks.

The annual park pass program consists of many different passes with a variety of admissions to parks statewide and price points designed to meet visitors’ individual needs.

Another favorite is the California Explorer Annual Pass for $195, which offers the most value. This pass allows vehicle entrance to 134 state parks, including the Southern California beaches along the Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego coasts.

However, neither of these two passes provide access to Off Highway Motor Vehicular Recreation Areas nor are they valid for camping, oversized vehicle fees, extra vehicle fees or other supplemental fees.

For visitors interested in off-highway recreation, the State Parks offers a $50 OHV vehicle day use annual pass. It is valid for passenger vehicles with a capacity of nine persons or less at all state-operated Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Areas designated as OHV units where vehicle day use fees are collected. The OHV Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass will only be honored at OHMVR Areas designated as OHV units and not accepted at other units operated by California State Parks.

There is also a separate entrance fee in addition to the park’s vehicle day use fee for vehicles 25 feet or more in length or 9 feet or wider in width. So State Parks also offers a 12-month oversized vehicle pass for $75. A vehicle pulling a trailer also is considered an oversized vehicle. The oversized vehicle pass will not be required at OHMVR Areas designated as OHV units.

For history buffs, the Historian Passport costs $50 and provides admission for up to four people to State Historic Parks. These areas generally charge a per-person admission fee. Pass holders are able to tour California missions, see where the gold rush happened and experience Native American culture.

A new pass in 2015 is the Tahoe Regional Annual Pass for $75. This regional pass was created this year specifically for one of the jewels of the state, the Lake Tahoe region. The pass includes admission to D.L. Bliss State Park, Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, Emerald Bay State Park, Kings Beach State Recreation Area and Donner Memorial State Park.

Many other passes also are available, such as a Distinguished Veteran Pass, a Disabled Discount Pass and a Golden Bear Pass. For more information about these passes visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049 or call 1-800-777-0369. ext. 3. or 916-653-8280.

The annual passes are available at many locations including the California State Parks Online Store.

Since January 5, 2014, passes have been available at state park units where fees are collected. All passes are valid for a 12-month period from the date of purchase.

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