What's New

New bilingual interpretive panels have been installed at Seabright State Beach and the historic Castle Beach gate has been restored. Check them out next time you visit.

LEARN

It's Monarch season on the Central Coast. View migrating butterflies at Natural Bridges State Beach or Lighthouse Field State Beach

VISIT

The stairs at Manresa Uplands State Beach have been repaired, restoring access between the bluffs and the beach. Plan your visit today.

EXPLORE

The Horse Camp at Rancho Del Oso Unit on the coast side of Big Basin is open for interim walk-in and bike-in, non-equestrian camping. Reservations required.

CAMP

Plan Your Visit

Our Mission, Our Passion

Our local parks and beaches: thriving and available to all!

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends) is a vital partner with California State Parks, creatively working to ensure our cherished local parks and beaches are thriving and available to all. Friends’ innovative and collaborative community partnership provides support and investment for education, equity and inclusion, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation and cultural events.

I want to help!

Get News and Stay Connected

#thatsmypark

View

Nov 29

Open
📢 Saturday, December 2: Habitat Restoration Work Day: Lighthouse Field 🧹 Spend a beautiful morning at Lighthouse Field State Beach with friendly people and help with habitat restoration of popular day-use areas and trails. 💖 Volunteer now: https://hilltromper.com/events/habitat-restoration-work-day-lighthouse-field #Hilltromper #ThatsMyPark #LightHouseField friendsofscstateparks santacruzstatebeaches calparks

📢 Saturday, December 2: Habitat Restoration Work Day: Lighthouse Field

🧹 Spend a beautiful morning at Lighthouse Field State Beach with friendly people and help with habitat restoration of popular day-use areas and trails.

💖 Volunteer now: https://hilltromper.com/events/habitat-restoration-work-day-lighthouse-field

#Hilltromper #ThatsMyPark #LightHouseField
friendsofscstateparks santacruzstatebeaches calparks ...

3 0

View

Nov 29

Open
The redwoods are beautiful any time of year. Head out for a stroll and photo scavenger hunt in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. See if you can spy: 🍌 a banana slug 🍄 a mushroom 🍁 fall colors Tag us in your photos so we can see your finds. 👀 Parking is $10 and supports the park. @santacruzmountainsstateparks #Thatsmypark #Forest #Photography #Nature #Redwoods #ScavengerHunt #Wildlife #Outdoors

The redwoods are beautiful any time of year. Head out for a stroll and photo scavenger hunt in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. See if you can spy:
🍌 a banana slug
🍄 a mushroom
🍁 fall colors

Tag us in your photos so we can see your finds. 👀

Parking is $10 and supports the park.

@santacruzmountainsstateparks

#Thatsmypark #Forest #Photography #Nature #Redwoods #ScavengerHunt #Wildlife #Outdoors ...

19 0

View

Nov 28

Open
Stroll back in time to the mid-1800s Mexican Rancho period and visit one of the historic social centers of the central California coast: the Castro Adobe. Come to our Open House on Saturday, December 9th and explore the restored interior of this two-story hacienda, including the fandango room and one of the last remaining indoor cocinas in California. Stroll through the famous Thomas Church designed garden while learning about the Castro family and Vaquero culture. The park will be open for this event from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm and is located at 184 Old Adobe Road, Watsonville. Registration for a free tour is recommended: www.SantaCruzStateParks.as.me/CastroAdobeOpenHouse. For more information, call (831) 226-9669. This event was made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks. We hope to see you out here! 📸Description: picture of the of the Castro Adobe 📍 Aptos Tribal Land #CastroAdobe #CastroAdobeStateHistoricPark #ThatsMyPark #CAStateParks FriendsofSantaCruzStateParks

Stroll back in time to the mid-1800s Mexican Rancho period and visit one of the historic social centers of the central California coast: the Castro Adobe. Come to our Open House on Saturday, December 9th and explore the restored interior of this two-story hacienda, including the fandango room and one of the last remaining indoor cocinas in California. Stroll through the famous Thomas Church designed garden while learning about the Castro family and Vaquero culture. The park will be open for this event from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm and is located at 184 Old Adobe Road, Watsonville. Registration for a free tour is recommended: www.SantaCruzStateParks.as.me/CastroAdobeOpenHouse.
For more information, call (831) 226-9669. This event was made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks. We hope to see you out here!

📸Description: picture of the of the Castro Adobe

📍 Aptos Tribal Land

#CastroAdobe #CastroAdobeStateHistoricPark #ThatsMyPark #CAStateParks FriendsofSantaCruzStateParks ...

4 0

View

Nov 28

Open
Volunteer opportunity! 🙋 🙋‍♀️Join @calparks to remove nonnative vegetation and support habitat restoration at Lighthouse Field State Beach. This restoration work will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 2. Sign up now using the link in bio! @santacruzstatebeaches #thatsmypark #statepark #volunteering

Volunteer opportunity! 🙋 🙋‍♀️Join @calparks to remove nonnative vegetation and support habitat restoration at Lighthouse Field State Beach.

This restoration work will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 2. Sign up now using the link in bio!

@santacruzstatebeaches

#thatsmypark #statepark #volunteering ...

9 0

View

Nov 28

Open
Missed our Online Holiday Sale? Worry not. We're hosting an in-store sale at our ParkStores this weekend — Friday to Sunday, Dec. 1-3. Here's a list of your nearest ParkStores for the sale: 🎁 Natural Bridges State Beach 🎁 Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park 🎁 Seacliff State Beach 🎁 Wilder Ranch State Park Stop by this weekend to explore a state park and shop for a holiday gift. #thatsmypark #thatsmybeach #ParkStore #Shopping #Sale #HolidaySale #HolidaySale2023

Missed our Online Holiday Sale? Worry not. We're hosting an in-store sale at our ParkStores this weekend — Friday to Sunday, Dec. 1-3. Here's a list of your nearest ParkStores for the sale:

🎁 Natural Bridges State Beach
🎁 Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
🎁 Seacliff State Beach
🎁 Wilder Ranch State Park

Stop by this weekend to explore a state park and shop for a holiday gift.

#thatsmypark #thatsmybeach #ParkStore #Shopping #Sale #HolidaySale #HolidaySale2023 ...

15 0