Address: 2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
Phone: +18314234609
Sunday: 8AM–8PM
Monday: 8AM–8PM
Tuesday: 8AM–8PM
Wednesday: 8AM–8PM
Thursday: 8AM–8PM
Friday: 8AM–8PM
Saturday: 8AM–8PM
Vishwas Manral
Nice, not too crowded and picturesque beach. Good overlook and free 20 minute parking. There is free parking on the road and additional paid parking generally available. Nice tide pools have colorful and interesting sea anemones. Overall a nice place to visit with lids.
Galina Karpinska
This park is famous for Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve where you can see migrating butterflies. You may see thousands of them during the butterflies’ peak season, but it is usually from mid-October to late January (check the state park website before you go). The beach is nice and big enough. It's a short walk to the beach from the parking lot. Parking is $10 and supports the park. You can also park at West Cliff Drive.
Kim Wiley
This is A great place to explore the tide pools and natural science.It's an amazing place with so much to explore. This is where the fresh water of the San Lorenzo river meets the ocean so lots of plants,birds and marine animals. Absolutely gorgeous views. A bit rocky so be careful with young kids. Also gets kinda of chilly but so much fun.
MJ Stearns - Your Local Real Estate Expert
Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve What an amazing place! One of my childhood favorites. I remember coming here for field trips and thinking how amazing it is to have this so close at our finger tips. Being a local Realtor in the area, I wanted to start posting some helpful insights and photos of the local places to explore. The best of all is that they are free, unless you want to pay to use the park for the day. However, as a local I park outside and walk in to enjoy all the goodies this place has to offer. If you love the beach and the outdoors, you’ll most likely end up in Santa Cruz. Natural bridges is located on the west side of Santa Cruz, at the end of the beautiful west cliff drive and Swanton Blvd. They are a park and a beach with public access to tide pools. It is best to go during low tide to really see what this place has to offer: star fish, shore crabs, sea anemones, and other colorful ocean life. Moore Creek flows through the park. This lovely place is also the home to the Monarch Butterflies. They have a store and a museum in the park with some history on the animals and these butterflies. It is a great place to take your kids and family to get some fresh air and beautiful views. Have a great weekend!
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Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash at all times. Dogs are only permitted in the picnic area and paved roads. They are not permitted on the beach, in the tidepools, or on any trails.
No thankfully, the entire park is not allowed for dog. So it is quiet, clean, and nice. Perfect for all other animals!
Yes, I was able to view a lot of clusters when I visited during Thanksgiving 2021.
It is open, but you are asked by signs around to wear a mask as others will probably be there as well.
Acoording to the website, leached dogs are allowed, but only in parking lots and picnic areas, not on beaches or trails
Collecting is not allowed at the park, so you would need a boat. People go crabbing at the pier,so I suppose there are crabs off the coast of the park
For parking? You could also just park on the street and walk down
Propane is fine. Charcoal is only ok if it is in our provided cooking areas next to picnic tables. No charcoal on the beach.
You cannot fly drones at any California State Parks in Santa Cruz county and San Mateo county, including Natural Bridges State Beach. You can fined severely for flying within the parks. Thank you for asking and respecting the rules!
Parking is $10 per vehicle and supports California State Parks. Your parking pass is good all day at ANY California State Park. If you visit parks more than once a month, consider investing in an annual Poppy pass for $125 and save money while supporting conservation, education and great recreation.
I was there last Monday (2/12/18)and the butterflies where still there.
I recommend that you contact the Santa Cruz County clerk office, and then the parks department for specific info on permits to do the wedding at the beach.
No waves and no sharks. Try closer to the light house on w. Cliff
No reservations required. There is limited seating but enough for big groups. It's first come first serve though.
When I got there the parking lot was full and closed but the roads were fine to drive on, then later the parking lot opened up
It's a state park , but there are picnic areas
Your mask is useless, much like your President
No drinking at all in the park, including the beach. For a special event like a wedding a Ranger is hired.
The park hours are 8:00 am to Sunset.
Dogs are allowed only in the parking lots and picnic areas, but NOT on the beach and trails (except for service animals). All dogs must be on a six-foot maximum leash and under human control at all times. Please do not leave your dog unattended in a vehicle. For a list of locations you can take your dog in Santa Cruz County, please visit: http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/546/files/Where%20Can%20I%20Take%20My%20Dog.pdf
What subset of monarch pupae? How sticky is the cocoon?
Fires are not allowed on the beach.
Might be a butterfly walk with a ranger. I know they have butterflies there that huddle together :)
Open every day
They already started arriving. We visited 3 weeks back when the count was in hundreds. They did recommend to come back around Thanksgiving when the park wil be filled up with thousands of them!
From San Jose about 45 mins light traffic
I would call the city of Santa Cruz.
No camping there, but New Brighton and Seacliff and Sunset Beach state parks allow camping.
Like David alluded to, because the North Pacific currents come down from the north (Artic) the water will always be relatively cold on the West coast. June through late August will be the warmest times based on a small increase in water temp and increased air temps to warm you up quicker once you are out.
No but there are stone bbq pitsthere are no bonfires allowed at any beaches in sc except twin lakes and sunny cove
It is a state beach it has a gate that is locked from sundown to sunrise with ranger patrol whom live on site. But yoy can walk in from Delaware. I have never been asked to leave when not in a vehicle
No matter the what season it is very popular spot.
No camping at Natural Bridges State Park....
Would check with Park Rangers, but should be able to, issue would be time of year and guests. Do not get to reserve parking spaces nor picnic areas.
Yes. I don't recall there being any stairs, just ramp (butterfly area ). The beach is like any other beach. But I think there is easy access from the visitor center
There are a lot but they were hard to spot when I visited last Sunday. They are usually far more numerous in November & December. I would recommend waiting at least a month before visting!
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