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!

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#thatsmypark

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Dec 4

Open
November at the Castro Adobe was a month of the Matanza when the vaqueros slaughtered cattle and prepared hides and tallows for Yankee traders. As Christmas approached, life on the rancho relaxed. Folks put on their best finery, came to town on horses, in oxcarts and participated in religious rites. The Castro family and friends might have gathered for days-long celebrations, barbequing a steer, dancing in the Fandango room, and even having a traditional bear and bullfight. Christmas decorations would’ve been made from natural materials available from the fields or gardens and may have even included colorful paper decorations. To find out more, come visit us at our Open House on Saturday, December 9th and explore the restored interior of this 170-year-old two-story adobe hacienda. There will be live music and docent-led tours. The park will be open 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! 📸Description: picture of the of the Castro Adobe 📍 Aptos Tribal Land #CastroAdobe #CastroAdobeStateHistoricPark #ThatsMyPark #CAStateParks FriendsofSantaCruzStateParks

November at the Castro Adobe was a month of the Matanza when the vaqueros slaughtered cattle and prepared hides and tallows for Yankee traders. As Christmas approached, life on the rancho relaxed. Folks put on their best finery, came to town on horses, in oxcarts and participated in religious rites. The Castro family and friends might have gathered for days-long celebrations, barbequing a steer, dancing in the Fandango room, and even having a traditional bear and bullfight. Christmas decorations would’ve been made from natural materials available from the fields or gardens and may have even included colorful paper decorations.

To find out more, come visit us at our Open House on Saturday, December 9th and explore the restored interior of this 170-year-old two-story adobe hacienda. There will be live music and docent-led tours. The park will be open 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!

📸Description: picture of the of the Castro Adobe

📍 Aptos Tribal Land

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

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Dec 4

Open
The California State Park Adventure Pass program is expanding park access! The program gives California fourth graders a free pass that enables them and their families access to the select state parks. The pass is now good at 54 state parks, including Seacliff State Beach and Big Basin Redwoods State Park. To learn more about the program and get a pass for your fourth grader, visit the link in our bio. #Thatsmypark #Thatsmybeach #Adventure #AdventurePass #StateParks #California #Nature #Kids

The California State Park Adventure Pass program is expanding park access! The program gives California fourth graders a free pass that enables them and their families access to the select state parks. The pass is now good at 54 state parks, including Seacliff State Beach and Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

To learn more about the program and get a pass for your fourth grader, visit the link in our bio.

#Thatsmypark #Thatsmybeach #Adventure #AdventurePass #StateParks #California #Nature #Kids ...

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Dec 4

Open
Here’s your Monday Morning Otter Shot. I've heard of sleepwalking, but sleepswimming?..💤 #seaottersofinstagram #seaotters #otters #marinemammals #babyanimals #wildlife_photography #wildlife #wildlifetour #wildlife_shots #wildlifephotographers #experienceoverthings #traveladventures #amazinganimals #NatGeo #sunsetmag #elkhornslough #sanjoselove #mosslanding #montereycalifornia #californiawildlife #santacruznow #thatsmypark #santacruzcounty #montereybayaquarium #VisitCalifornia #santacruzlife #seemonterey #earthlovers #happyanimals

Here’s your Monday Morning Otter Shot. I've heard of sleepwalking, but sleepswimming?..💤
#seaottersofinstagram #seaotters #otters #marinemammals #babyanimals #wildlife_photography #wildlife #wildlifetour #wildlife_shots #wildlifephotographers #experienceoverthings #traveladventures #amazinganimals #NatGeo #sunsetmag #elkhornslough #sanjoselove #mosslanding #montereycalifornia #californiawildlife #santacruznow #thatsmypark #santacruzcounty #montereybayaquarium #VisitCalifornia #santacruzlife #seemonterey #earthlovers #happyanimals ...

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Dec 4

Open
Experience Holidays on the Ranch during this free event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wilder Ranch State Park on Saturday, Dec. 9. Enjoy samples of Victorian-era holiday goodies, watch live demonstrations of blacksmiths in action, and participate in wreath and candle making. The historical houses will also be open for exploring! Parking is $10 and supports the park. Learn more at the link in our bio. @santacruzmountainsstateparks #thatsmypark #Holidays #Event #Kids #Holidays2023 #Ranch #HolidaysOnTheRanch

Experience Holidays on the Ranch during this free event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wilder Ranch State Park on Saturday, Dec. 9. Enjoy samples of Victorian-era holiday goodies, watch live demonstrations of blacksmiths in action, and participate in wreath and candle making. The historical houses will also be open for exploring!

Parking is $10 and supports the park.

Learn more at the link in our bio.

@santacruzmountainsstateparks
#thatsmypark #Holidays #Event #Kids #Holidays2023 #Ranch #HolidaysOnTheRanch ...

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Dec 3

Open
Seacliff State Beach may be cold and cloudy this time of year. But we do get some killer sunsets around this time. Did you manage to catch this sunset yesterday? If you didn't, there is always today. What is the best sunset that you’ve seen at Seacliff State Beach? And what time of the year was it? Please share it with us in the comments. Image Description: The sun is setting on Seacliff State Beach and the Palo Alto. The sky is a combination of purple, orange, pink, blue and green, like Sherbert ice cream. The ocean is a combination of purple and pink. 📍Aptos Tribal Land #SeacliffStateBeach #Seacliff #ThatsMyPark #ThatsMyBeach #OceanLife #Sunset #SunsetSunday #PaloAlto #SSPaloAlto #TheConcreteShip #MPA #ILoveMyMPA #VisitSantaCruz #CaliforniaCoast #CaliforniaCoastline #Wildlife #GetOutside #GoExplore #ExploreTheCoast #Adventure #StayAndWander #ExploreYourWorld FriendsOfSCStateParks FriendsOfSantaCruzStateParks

Seacliff State Beach may be cold and cloudy this time of year. But we do get some killer sunsets around this time. Did you manage to catch this sunset yesterday? If you didn't, there is always today.

What is the best sunset that you’ve seen at Seacliff State Beach? And what time of the year was it? Please share it with us in the comments.

Image Description: The sun is setting on Seacliff State Beach and the Palo Alto. The sky is a combination of purple, orange, pink, blue and green, like Sherbert ice cream. The ocean is a combination of purple and pink.

📍Aptos Tribal Land

#SeacliffStateBeach #Seacliff #ThatsMyPark #ThatsMyBeach #OceanLife #Sunset #SunsetSunday #PaloAlto #SSPaloAlto #TheConcreteShip #MPA #ILoveMyMPA #VisitSantaCruz #CaliforniaCoast #CaliforniaCoastline #Wildlife #GetOutside #GoExplore #ExploreTheCoast #Adventure #StayAndWander #ExploreYourWorld FriendsOfSCStateParks FriendsOfSantaCruzStateParks ...

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Dec 3

Open
Seacliff State Beach may be cold and cloudy this time of year. But we do get some killer sunsets around this time. Did you manage to catch this sunset yesterday? If you didn't, there is always today. What is the best sunset that you’ve seen at Seacliff State Beach? And what time of the year was it? Please share it with us in the comments. Image Description: The sun is setting on Seacliff State Beach and the Palo Alto. The sky is a combination of purple, orange, pink, blue and green, like Sherbert ice cream. The ocean is a combination of purple and pink. 📍Aptos Tribal Land #SeacliffStateBeach #Seacliff #ThatsMyPark #ThatsMyBeach #OceanLife #Sunset #SunsetSunday #PaloAlto #SSPaloAlto #TheConcreteShip #MPA #ILoveMyMPA #VisitSantaCruz #CaliforniaCoast #CaliforniaCoastline #Wildlife #GetOutside #GoExplore #ExploreTheCoast #Adventure #StayAndWander #ExploreYourWorld FriendsOfSCStateParks FriendsOfSantaCruzStateParks

Seacliff State Beach may be cold and cloudy this time of year. But we do get some killer sunsets around this time. Did you manage to catch this sunset yesterday? If you didn't, there is always today.

What is the best sunset that you’ve seen at Seacliff State Beach? And what time of the year was it? Please share it with us in the comments.

Image Description: The sun is setting on Seacliff State Beach and the Palo Alto. The sky is a combination of purple, orange, pink, blue and green, like Sherbert ice cream. The ocean is a combination of purple and pink.

📍Aptos Tribal Land

#SeacliffStateBeach #Seacliff #ThatsMyPark #ThatsMyBeach #OceanLife #Sunset #SunsetSunday #PaloAlto #SSPaloAlto #TheConcreteShip #MPA #ILoveMyMPA #VisitSantaCruz #CaliforniaCoast #CaliforniaCoastline #Wildlife #GetOutside #GoExplore #ExploreTheCoast #Adventure #StayAndWander #ExploreYourWorld FriendsOfSCStateParks FriendsOfSantaCruzStateParks ...

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