Natural Bridges State Park

Natural Bridges State Park is one of the most famous Santa Cruz, California locations because the bridge along the beach is completely natural. From the bridge visitors can see the shore, birds, migrating whales, otters, seals, and other native California animals. At low tides sea stars, sea anemones, crabs, and other intertidal organisms can be spotted. The park has several areas of coastal scrub meadows, native wildflowers, and Moore Creek. The creek flows into the ocean through the meadows, starting wetlands before the sand.

Visitors can reach Natural Bridges State Park from Highway 1 off Swift Avenue or West Cliff Drive. Facilities at the park include a picnic area, main parking lot, tables, barbecues, restrooms, and water faucets. There is a day use fee for cars parked at the state beach.

Also on the grounds is a visitor center with natural history displays, a bookstore, butterfly shirts, postcards, and books. A demonstration section offers visitors a view of Monarch eggs, chrysalides, and caterpillars. The milkweed patch these organisms live in is home for six months till they mature and move on. Natural Bridges State Park is also near the Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve at Monarch Grove.