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 © Tom Newman
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State Park Link:
Natural Bridges Beach State Park
Nearby Parks:
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Zmudowski Beach State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Ano Nuevo State Reserve
Ano Nuevo Island State Park
Salinas National Wildlife Refuge
Cascade Ranch State Park
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| State Park Contact Information: |
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Natural Bridges Beach State Park
Phone: 831-423-4609
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| Adopt-A-Park Contacts: |
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Photography: add your photos
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| State Park Overview: |
| This 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 anemones, 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 through these meadows, forming a wetlands in the sand. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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One of our favorite parks
We love Natural Bridges State Park;we come every fall around Thanksgiving to see the monarchs and to enjoy the tide pools. There is so much serenity in the park, we really enjoy coming back year after year. See you there!!!
Written by butterflymama
30-Sep-2008
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| Area Activities |
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| Picnicking: |
| A picnic area is located off the main parking lot in a eucalyptus and pine trees grove. Tables, barbecues, water faucets and restroom facilities are available. There is a day-use fee per car to park in the state beach area. |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| SF Bay Area - ... are dinner. The Soquel Point Light House Further north from Soquel Point toward Natural Bridges Beach State Park. Still near Santa Cruz. The Pigeon Point Light Station It's about half way between ... | | Coastal Kelp Resources: Table 3 - ... Muir Beach Bolinas C-27 Mussel Rock Montara C-29 Mussel Rock Pigeon Pt. C-31 Natural Bridges Beach State Park Davenport C-33 Needle Rock Pt. Davenport C-33 New Brighton State Beach Santa Cruz C-34 ... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve:
The park's Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for over 100,000 Monarchs each winter. From mid-October through the end of February, the Monarchs form a "city in the trees." The areas 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 Monarch Grove has been declared a Natural Preserve, thus protecting the Monarchs and their winter habitat from human encroachment or harm. This is the only State Monarch Preserve in California. Access to the preserve area is limited to a handicap accessible boardwalk and observation area.
Monarchs begin arriving in October and most are gone by the first week of March. The grove contains eucalyptus trees which are located in a canyon, providing the Monarch needed shelter from the wind. These winter flowering trees are also a convenient food source for the butterfly. On chilly days when the temperature drops below 60 degrees, the butterflies cluster together in the eucalyptus trees for warmth.
The park maintains a demonstration milkweed patch where visitors may view Monarch eggs, caterpillars and chrysalides. For about half a year, milkweed is the Monarch's home, super market and maternity ward. The Monarch larva eats only the milkweed plant.
Tours:
Docent-led butterfly, tidepool and nature trail tours are available. Large groups should reserve beach use and tours by phone at least 2 weeks in advance. Special event reservations should be made at least 1 month in advance.
Visitors can view the over-wintering Monarchs by walking down the park's wheelchair and stroller-accessible boardwalk to an observation deck in the eucalyptus grove. |
| Area Campgrounds | | |
| 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. |
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