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A month after President Donald Trump scrapped free nationwide parks entry on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Gov. Gavin Newsom is responding – opening greater than 200 California state parks without cost to honor Dr. King whereas calling out Trump’s transfer.
Final month, the Trump administration reshaped when People can enter nationwide parks without cost, scrapping Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth and Nationwide Public Lands Day from the 2026 calendar.
Of their place, the administration added a slate of traditionally themed or presidentially themed dates. Flag day – which additionally occurs to be Trump’s birthday – turns into a fee-free day for the primary time, together with Structure Day, the one hundred and tenth anniversary of the Nationwide Park Service and the birthday of Theodore Roosevelt.
Newsom introduced Friday that, forward of the a hundredth anniversary of Black Historical past Month, he’s directing California State Parks to supply free admission at greater than 200 collaborating parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced that greater than 200 California state parks will probably be open without cost on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day). (Amy Sussman/Getty Pictures)
“Whereas Trump works to erase Dr. King’s legacy, California will honor it,” Newsom stated in a press launch. “Dr. King taught us that ‘darkness can not drive out darkness; solely gentle can do this.’ Whereas the Trump administration tries to erase his legacy and switch nationwide parks and monuments into locations of exclusion and worry, California solutions with gentle.”
“That’s why I’m saying free entry at California State Parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026 – as a result of Dr. King’s legacy deserves to be honored, not erased,” Newsom continued. “I’m encouraging all Californians to get outdoors on MLK Day, spend time in nature, replicate on Dr. King’s legacy, and reaffirm our dedication to advancing civil rights for all.”
Free entry applies to car day-use charges solely and is accessible at greater than 200 collaborating California state parks statewide, based on the governor’s workplace.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom broadcasts free entry at greater than 200 state parks, together with Lake Oroville, on MLK Day 2026, pushing again after the Trump administration eliminated the vacation from nationwide park fee-free days. (Aude Guerrucci/Reuters)
Free car entry is being made attainable by the California State Parks Basis quite than taxpayer {dollars}. The muse’s funding is meant to maintain the state parks operating whereas additionally planting seeds for a lifetime of connection to the state’s “pure and cultural treasures,” Newsom’s workplace stated.
Democratic leaders framed the transfer as a direct rebuke of the Trump administration’s actions.
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In response to the Trump administration eradicating MLK Day from the nationwide park free days, California Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced free entry at greater than 200 state parks on MLK Day 2026. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photograph)
“Because the federal authorities eliminates fee-free park days for holidays that remember Black historical past, California continues to revel within the glory of our civil rights pioneers,” state Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson stated. “Opening our parks for everybody to get pleasure from encourages family members to return collectively, give again, and honor Dr. King’s legacy whereas having fun with the pure great thing about the Golden State.”
A few of the parks providing free entry embody Huge Basin Redwoods, Half Moon Bay, Sugarloaf Ridge, Doheny, Wildwood Canyon Park Property, Folsom Lake, Bidwell Mansion and Lake Oroville.
Some parks will nonetheless require a price, together with off-highway car recreation areas, parks with per-person or tour charges equivalent to Hearst Fort and places operated by accomplice organizations.
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A full listing of collaborating parks is accessible at parks.ca.gov/MLKDay2026.
