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Natural Bridges State Beach is a magnificent oasis of natural beauty located between the edge of the ocean and the outer limits of Santa Cruz. The beach, with its famous natural bridge, is an excellent vantage point for viewing shore birds, migrating whales, and seals and otters playing offshore. Further along the beach, tide pools offer a glimpse of life beneath the sea. Low tides reveal sea stars, crabs, sea anemones, and other colorful ocean life. The park also includes a large area of coastal scrub meadows, with bright native wildflowers in the spring. Moore Creek flows down to the ocean through these meadows, forming wetlands in the sand.
During fall and winter, Natural Bridges is home to one of the largest monarch butterfly over-wintering sites in the Western United States. Each year, from the boardwalk in the Monarch Preserve, you can see thousands of monarch butterflies clustered in the eucalyptus trees. A demonstration milkweed patch next to the visitor center provides food for monarch caterpillars. If you look closely, you can often find the bright green chrysalids (cocoons) hanging under the fence railing. Public monarch tours are offered on the weekends.
Spring brings warmer weather and low tides for viewing anemones, crabs, urchins, sea stars and other sea life. Moore Creek flows down to the ocean through a large area of coastal scrub meadows and along riparian, freshwater marsh and dune habitats on its way to the sea, forming a wildflower-covered wetland in the sand. Summer offers opportunities to sunbathe, swim, surf, sailboard and enjoy the beauty of this special park. The beach is an excellent vantage point for viewing the remaining natural bridge, as well as shore birds, migrating whales, seals and sea otters.
Getting There
Take Swift Avenue west from Highway 1, or follow West Cliff Drive north along the in-town bluffs until it ends at Natural Bridges.
The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
Take Swift Avenue west from Highway 1, or follow West Cliff Drive north along the in-town bluffs until it ends at Natural Bridges.
The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
Climate/Recommended Clothing
Since coastal weather conditions can vary quickly, layered clothing is advisable.
Since coastal weather conditions can vary quickly, layered clothing is advisable.
Operating Hours & Contact
The park is open from 8am until sunset.
Telephone: 831-423-4609
The park is open from 8am until sunset.
Telephone: 831-423-4609
Facilities & Activities
A picnic area is located off the main parking lot in a eucalyptus and pine trees grove. Tables, barbecues, water faucets and restroom facilities are available. There is a day-use fee per car to park in the state beach area.
The visitor center highlights local natural history, and the bookstore has a selection of butterfly shirts, postcards and books for all ages.
Next to the park's Visitor Center is a demonstration milkweed patch where visitors may view Monarch eggs, caterpillars and chrysalides. For about half a year, milkweed is the Monarch's home, super market and maternity ward.
Celebrate the butterflies' arrival with the Welcome Back Monarchs Day in October - and their departure with the Migration Festival in February.
A picnic area is located off the main parking lot in a eucalyptus and pine trees grove. Tables, barbecues, water faucets and restroom facilities are available. There is a day-use fee per car to park in the state beach area.
The visitor center highlights local natural history, and the bookstore has a selection of butterfly shirts, postcards and books for all ages.
Next to the park's Visitor Center is a demonstration milkweed patch where visitors may view Monarch eggs, caterpillars and chrysalides. For about half a year, milkweed is the Monarch's home, super market and maternity ward.
Celebrate the butterflies' arrival with the Welcome Back Monarchs Day in October - and their departure with the Migration Festival in February.
Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve
The park's Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for up to 100,000 Monarchs each winter. From roughly mid-October through mid-February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." The area's mild ocean air and eucalyptus grove provide a safe roost until spring. In the spring and summer, the butterflies live in the valley regions west of the Rocky Mountains where milkweed, the only plant a Monarch caterpillar eats, is plentiful. Monarch migration is variable, and numbers vary each year. Before you visit, you may want to call the park for current information on the population.
The Monarch Grove has been declared a Natural Preserve, thus protecting the Monarchs and their winter habitat from human encroachment or harm. This is the only State Monarch Preserve in California. Access to the preserve area is limited to a handicap accessible boardwalk and observation area.
Monarchs begin arriving in October and most are gone by the first week of March. The grove contains eucalyptus trees which are located in a canyon, providing the Monarch needed shelter from the wind. These winter flowering trees are also a convenient food source for the butterfly. On chilly days when the temperature drops below 60 degrees, the butterflies cluster together in the eucalyptus trees for warmth.
The park maintains a demonstration milkweed patch where visitors may view Monarch eggs, caterpillars and chrysalides. For about half a year, milkweed is the Monarch's home, super market and maternity ward. The Monarch larva eats only the milkweed plant.
Tours
Docent-led butterfly, tidepool and nature trail tours are available. Large groups should reserve beach use and tours by phone at least 2 weeks in advance. Special event reservations should be made at least 1 month in advance.
Visitors can view the over-wintering Monarchs by walking down the park's wheelchair and stroller-accessible boardwalk to an observation deck in the eucalyptus grove.
• Please, do not touch or throw objects at the fragile butterflies.
• For everyone's enjoyment, no smoking, dogs, bicycles, skates, or skateboards on the boardwalk.
• Quiet please. Monarchs and other visitors are relaxing.
The park's Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for up to 100,000 Monarchs each winter. From roughly mid-October through mid-February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." The area's mild ocean air and eucalyptus grove provide a safe roost until spring. In the spring and summer, the butterflies live in the valley regions west of the Rocky Mountains where milkweed, the only plant a Monarch caterpillar eats, is plentiful. Monarch migration is variable, and numbers vary each year. Before you visit, you may want to call the park for current information on the population.
The Monarch Grove has been declared a Natural Preserve, thus protecting the Monarchs and their winter habitat from human encroachment or harm. This is the only State Monarch Preserve in California. Access to the preserve area is limited to a handicap accessible boardwalk and observation area.
Monarchs begin arriving in October and most are gone by the first week of March. The grove contains eucalyptus trees which are located in a canyon, providing the Monarch needed shelter from the wind. These winter flowering trees are also a convenient food source for the butterfly. On chilly days when the temperature drops below 60 degrees, the butterflies cluster together in the eucalyptus trees for warmth.
The park maintains a demonstration milkweed patch where visitors may view Monarch eggs, caterpillars and chrysalides. For about half a year, milkweed is the Monarch's home, super market and maternity ward. The Monarch larva eats only the milkweed plant.
Tours
Docent-led butterfly, tidepool and nature trail tours are available. Large groups should reserve beach use and tours by phone at least 2 weeks in advance. Special event reservations should be made at least 1 month in advance.
Visitors can view the over-wintering Monarchs by walking down the park's wheelchair and stroller-accessible boardwalk to an observation deck in the eucalyptus grove.
• Please, do not touch or throw objects at the fragile butterflies.
• For everyone's enjoyment, no smoking, dogs, bicycles, skates, or skateboards on the boardwalk.
• Quiet please. Monarchs and other visitors are relaxing.
Park History
The Natural Bridges State Beach land area has changed ownership many times. The first people to inhabit this 65-acre area were small groups of central coast natives – later called Costanoan and eventually Ohlone - semi-nomadic people who hunted marine mammals and inland game, supplemented with fish, shellfish, edible roots, shoots, acorns, nuts and seeds. The coastal Ohlone also cultivated medicinal plants and herbs. Skilled craftspeople, they fashioned tools from native stones and shells, crafted prized shellfish jewelry and wove intricate baskets.
Spanish colonists later took over the natives’ traditional lands. When the Spanish missionaries and soldiers brought the Costanoans into the mission system, the native population was nearly decimated by European diseases to which they had no resistance. By 1834 this area was governed by newly independent Mexican authority, and Mexican citizens used the land for cattle grazing. After the Mexican-American War, California became one of the United States. In subsequent years the land supported a dairy farm, a hotel, a brussel sprouts farm, housing for workers at the nearby Antonelli Mill Pond, a South Seas movie set and an unfinished housing development. The State of California purchased the area in 1933 and facility construction began in 1954. Until the 1970s, open space surrounded the park. Over the years, development has increased ten-fold, making the park a diamond in the rough among its urban neighbors.
The Natural Bridges State Beach land area has changed ownership many times. The first people to inhabit this 65-acre area were small groups of central coast natives – later called Costanoan and eventually Ohlone - semi-nomadic people who hunted marine mammals and inland game, supplemented with fish, shellfish, edible roots, shoots, acorns, nuts and seeds. The coastal Ohlone also cultivated medicinal plants and herbs. Skilled craftspeople, they fashioned tools from native stones and shells, crafted prized shellfish jewelry and wove intricate baskets.
Spanish colonists later took over the natives’ traditional lands. When the Spanish missionaries and soldiers brought the Costanoans into the mission system, the native population was nearly decimated by European diseases to which they had no resistance. By 1834 this area was governed by newly independent Mexican authority, and Mexican citizens used the land for cattle grazing. After the Mexican-American War, California became one of the United States. In subsequent years the land supported a dairy farm, a hotel, a brussel sprouts farm, housing for workers at the nearby Antonelli Mill Pond, a South Seas movie set and an unfinished housing development. The State of California purchased the area in 1933 and facility construction began in 1954. Until the 1970s, open space surrounded the park. Over the years, development has increased ten-fold, making the park a diamond in the rough among its urban neighbors.
Accessible Features
Picnic Area
Two accessible sites and several usable tables are available. Restroom: Accessible restrooms are available at the visitor center. Parking: Accessible parking is available. Routes of travel are generally accessible or usable.
Trails
The Monarch Trail is an accessible interpretive boardwalk of about 0.13 mile. It has shaded areas and many rest or conversation areas, some with built-in benches. Trailhead is near visitor center. Van accessible parking, accessible restroom, picnic table and potable water are in main lot below Visitor Center.
Beach/Shore Access
Adjacent to the entrance station is a generally accessible viewing platform with benches that overlook the beach and the natural bridges. A beach wheelchair is available. Call (831) 423-4609 for information.
Exhibits/Programs
The visitor center is generally accessible and includes interactive displays, videos and a bookstore. Restrooms in the visitor center are accessible. Parking: Accessible parking is available at the visitor center.
Picnic Area
Two accessible sites and several usable tables are available. Restroom: Accessible restrooms are available at the visitor center. Parking: Accessible parking is available. Routes of travel are generally accessible or usable.
Trails
The Monarch Trail is an accessible interpretive boardwalk of about 0.13 mile. It has shaded areas and many rest or conversation areas, some with built-in benches. Trailhead is near visitor center. Van accessible parking, accessible restroom, picnic table and potable water are in main lot below Visitor Center.
Beach/Shore Access
Adjacent to the entrance station is a generally accessible viewing platform with benches that overlook the beach and the natural bridges. A beach wheelchair is available. Call (831) 423-4609 for information.
Exhibits/Programs
The visitor center is generally accessible and includes interactive displays, videos and a bookstore. Restrooms in the visitor center are accessible. Parking: Accessible parking is available at the visitor center.
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Natural Bridges State Beach
Between the ocean and the edge of Santa Cruz lies one of the largest monarch butterfly overwintering sites in the west.
Between the ocean and the edge of Santa Cruz lies one of the largest monarch butterfly overwintering sites in the west.
1.1 mi
1.8 km
1.8 km
Guides
Between the ocean and the edge of Santa Cruz lies one of the largest monarch butterfly overwintering sites in the west.
Community Trips
