Logo: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Stewarding the State
Parks in Santa Cruz
County Since 1976

 Header: That's My Park - Stewarding the State Parks in Santa Cruz County since 1976
 
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Natural Bridges State Beach

Natural Bridges Art Print ENJOY
  • Explore the tide pools
  • Take only pictures and leave only footprints
  • Help our wildlife by leaving your four legged family members at home
LEARN
  • Tour the Visitor Center for cultural and natural history exhibits and talk to our knowledgeable docents and interpreters
  • Join us for free, docent-led, guided tours of the Monarch Grove and the tide pools
GIVE BACK
  • Contribute to the Natural Bridges, Monarch Grove Education and Stewardship Fund
  • Contribute to the Monarch Grove Education and Stewardship Fund and directly enhance this park by purchasing the beautiful new fine art silk-screen print of Natural Bridges State Beach, created by world-renowned artist Michael Schwab.
  • Sign up for Monarch University in September, become a docent and lead tours of the park for school groups, locals, and visitors. To secure your place, please contact Martha at 831-423-4609.
  • Greet people from around the corner and around the globe as a visitor center host.
  • Purchase unique apparel, educational gifts, maps and books at our park stores or online. All proceeds help support our local State Parks.

Interesting Facts

* Fascinating diversity of life and habitats within 65 acres

* .3 miles coastline, including tide pools

* More than 925,000 visitors each year
Background
Named Natural Bridges because of its recognizable, ocean carved natural bridge just off the coast, the park is an excellent site for viewing shore and ocean birds, migrating whales and seals and sea otters playing offshore. Tide pools offer a glimpse of life beneath the sea, with low tides revealing sea stars, crabs, sea anemones and other colorful ocean .

Natural Bridges State Beach is world-renowned for its yearly migration of Monarch butterflies. Visitors can see many thousands of Monarchs during the butterflies' peak season, which typically runs mid-October to late January. These migrating butterflies come to the Natural Bridges Monarch grove for protection from rain and wind, for they prefer the warm, moist air within .5 mile of the ocean.

Natural Bridges State Beach encompasses a variety of habitats: Coastal Scrub, which is adorned with native wildflowers in the spring; Salt / Brackish and freshwater wetlands created by Moore creek; Ocean dunes; tide pools; Monarch preserve; and freshwater pond all add to a tremendous diversity of wildlife here throughout the seasons.

For more information about Natural Bridges State Beach, please contact