Natural Bridges State Beach - Santa Cruz National And State Park

Full Amenity List

• Picnic tables
• Wifi access
• Guided Tours
• Wheelchair Accessible
• Parking
• Visitor Center
• Restrooms
• Wi-Fi Access

Descriptions from Across the Web

• This beach, with its famous natural bridge, is an excellent vantage point for viewing shore birds, migrating ... more on California State Parks
• Natural Bridges State Beach is home to a fascinating diversity of life within its 65 acres on the west side of Santa Cruz. The park's Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve provides a temporary home for up to 1500,000 Monarchs each winter. From mid-October through the end of February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." The park'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. - 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, tidepools offer a glimpse of life beneath the sea. Low tides reveal sea stars, crabs, sea anenomes, 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 hrough these meadows, forming a wetlands in the sand. Waves crash endlessly on the jagged north coast-seals and sea lions seek refuge in the sandycoves and rocky shores throughout the island-springtime wildflowers explode below occasionalsnow-covered peaks-the endemic island jay screeches loudly as it flutters from oak to oak-thetiny island fox seeks fruits and berries along central valley streams, gurgling their way homeward.These are the sights and sounds of giant Santa Cruz Island. DescriptionSanta Cruz is the largest island off the coast of California. Located between Anacapa and SantaRosa Islands, it lies from 19-25 miles off the adjacent mainland coast between Ventura and SantaBarbara. The scenic beauty of Santa Cruz is reflected in its many landforms-two rugged mountain ranges,the highest peaks on the Channel Islands, deep canyons, a central valley, year-round springs andstreams, plus 77 miles of craggy coastline cliffs, giant sea caves, pristine tidepools and expansivebeaches. Lying directly on the boundary between cold northern and warm southern waters, thisisland hosts unique plant, animal, and marine communities representing nearly ... more on GoingToTheBeach.com, Inc.

Directions

Take Swift Avenue west from Highway 1, or follow West Cliff Drive north along the in-town bluffs until it ends at Natural Bridges.

Santa Cruz

Hours

8:00am to Sunset

Miscellaneous

• Admission: $6.00 day use parking fee

Other Web Resources

• www.parks.ca.gov
• http://www.visitcalifornia.com