To enter from the Rancho Canada unit - NO PERMIT REQUIRED
From Highway 1, take Carmel Valley Road to Rio Road (next to Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula).  Turn left off Rio Road to enter the park, where ample parking is available.

For Highway 1 entrance (west gate) - ACCESS PERMIT REQUIRED
Take Highway 1 south past Rio 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.

To enter the park via the Big Sur Land Trust’s South Bank Trail (east gate) - ACCESS PERMIT REQUIRED, IF PARKING
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.  There is no parking along the road shoulders.  Turn right at the mailbox, into the first small, gravel parking area.  Parking is very limited and first-come-first-served.  No permit is required if walking or biking to park.