Monarch Butterfly Grove

While the numbers are low there were still clusters of butterflies to see! It's a neat experience. Be on the lookout for entrance as it's easy to miss. Parking is on the side of the road. There's a shack where you can read info and buy souvenirs. We saw a volunteer who had her spotting scope set up to see the butterflies up close and I was able to take pics.

Arrived in time for the docent tour. There was no fee to enter. The staff was all very knowledgeable and excited to talk about the butterflies. The gift shop trailer had a variety of monarch related souvenirs. There were telescopes set up so visitors could see the butterflies up close. You can walk into Pismo Beach area from here, it's so peaceful. Highly recommend this place!

I visited the Monarch Butterfly Grove at Pismo State Beach on a clear and sunny day in early December 2025. I arrived at the butterfly grove just after high noon. A well maintained trail connects the beach to the grove of trees. Though the grove was not swarmed with butterflies during my visit, an observable amount of butterflies were very active within the grove. A naturalist was onsite. Even though the butterfly counts were low, it was an amazing wildlife phenomena to witness!

What a beautiful place to intertwine with nature! I visited in early November so it was just the beginning of the season. There was a great horned owl napping in the trees. The staff were very nice & knowledgeable. Fun merch for my granddaughter too. A very peaceful place to visit :)

Always fun to visit. I've stopped by in December and February and seen butterflys. They do seem to like the tree branches in the sun. I did see more butterflies in February than December. This is a must when visiting Pismo or Oceano. There are informational plaques as you walk the path and it's free admission. No designated parking, just park on the side of the road and be careful when you cross the street. In my opinion, the area could use a designated sidewalk or two with flashing lights and a children present sign. Still, very doable.

I was there in mid-November. The Monarchs were just starting to arrive. Educational exhibits are set up, along with a place to purchase souvenirs. I found it a wonderful interlude during my Central California trek. It was so peaceful there.

We visited on the first day of the season and listened to a volunteer talk, when passing by the area. There was a thick marine layer and only a few butterflies fluttering around. A photographer pointed out a cluster of Monarchs high in the canopy, which was helpful. Other than that we did not see anything like the numbers of previous years!

Free for visitors. Park along the road and walk in. There are QR codes to scan to get a self guided tour. Lots and lots of butterflies (Nov 25). Be careful with traffic and crossing road.

Parking is outside or across the street. Its a public spot that can lead you to the beach! Already approaching the place you can see butterflies flying around. Its not huge but big enough to just sit and take it in and if you look closely and wait, you will see them. They are just hanging out and chilling and your able to see them usually in a cluster. The have telescope to see them closer and little fun facts about the butterflies. There are certain trails you can take to just view the place and some will take you the beach. You will encounter nature, squirrels, ducks and there was a warning about coyotes but we didn't see any during our trip. It's truly a nice place to visit and enjoy nature. Nice little walks as well.

I have been coming here since I was a child and every time you come it's just as amazing as it was the first time. These beautiful butterflies only come certain times of the year so make sure you stop by when in town or driving through. This was taken this past weekend and there wasn't a lot but just enough to experience them.

I have been coming to this butterfly grove for years. Sadly the population of the butterflies visiting this grove has declined over the years. When there are a lot of butterflies at the grove, it is an amazing site. You can only see butterflies from late October to February. It is a nice little detour for a couple of hours to see these amazing Monarch butterflies.

Small space with a little portable housing the gift shop. The gift shop is a walk up counter. I was there too early for monarch season so I only saw a few, but I'd come back if I could. The whole visit is probably about 30 minutes. Remember that the area is often foggy much of the morning so plan accordingly.

Visited during the first week of November, which is early in the season, so the monarch butterfly population was quite low this past weekend. There were a few small clusters hidden high up in the trees, but otherwise just a few stragglers lower to the ground, pollinating colorful flowers, making it easy to snap a few close-up photos of these beautiful creatures. The place also had a butterfly merchandise truck, and a small seating area with a docent educating the handful of visitors on site. We enjoyed walking along the trail by the lovely creek, appreciating the trees and nature while we were there. Street parking was easy to find on the main road, and a couple porta potties were available too.

We stopped here to see the millions of Butterflies however we were to late! They are only there from November to February! So it was just a nice walk through the grove!

When stopping at the Pismo State Monarch Butterfly Grove, the first thing you'll notice is the scent. The beautiful eucalyptus trees, growing everywhere, fill the air with a vibrant aroma that is simply amazing. Although we didn't see a large number of butterflies at first, the sun came out, and we were delighted to see a lovely group flying!

If you want a comprehensive explanation of monarch butterflies and their migration pattern, I highly recommend engaging with some of the people who are part of this organization. We thought we would see swarms of butterflies, however because of the cool weather, they were dormant in small pods higher up in the tree branches. Fortunately they have telescopes set up to see these interesting creatures. We learned about their life span, and the dna of their ancestors which eventually brings their offspring back to this magical forest. This is where the 4th or 5th generation will lay new eggs and complete their cycle of life.

Free entrance to the monarch butterfly groove that is dog friendly (dog must be on leash). The trail also leads you to the beach which is beautiful.

Unique stew off of Hwy 2/Dollovrr offers an international nightly experience but year round pretty much.oyd open the public with free parking all around

Always amazing to see clusters of hundreds and hundreds of butterflies. We stopped by on November 30, and most of the butterflies had arrived by then. According to the Pismo Beach website, there are about 15,000 this year, which is down from the previous two years. There weren't very many flying around when we were there, but there are scopes and binoculars set up so you can zoom in to see the butterfly clusters in the Eucalyptus trees, and docents and park rangers available if you have questions. There are also displays about the butterflies life cycle. Note: Monarch season is late October through February.

If you have been to Goleta this is also a great place to see butterflies. There is parking either in a lot or on the side of the road very close to downtown. You can see butterflies as soon as you enter the grove. There is also a trail to the beach and ocean with some great views.

We stopped in to see the Monarch Butterflies and it was so incredible! They were a bit clustered because it was a little cold for them, but there were some flying around. Always a stop worthy event! So happy our granddaughter got to see them! Bought a Dr. Seuss Butterfly book to get more of an explanation on butterflies! stop by and see for yourself!

We went in May. Zero butterflies...... and everything looked dead. They do have suggested time periods to visit.

Absolutely beautiful experience! Seeing all the clusters of butterflies and them take flight in gorgeous colors as the sun warms them. The docents really know their stuff and care about not only the butterflies but the visitors.

This is right by one of the camp/RV campgrounds in pismo beach. Not much parking at all , just on the side of the road kind of parking. We had fun even though we went during the off season of when the butterflies are there. It's not a big area, just something fun to check out when you need a break from the beach . We already have plans to come back when it's butterfly season.

Great place to stop by if you're visiting. There were a few butterflies that I saw but my phone couldn't capture. This place is a "you had to be there, to experience it" type of place :) The merchandise truck has adorable things and the cashier had excellent customer service. She was very patient and gentle with the items you buy. I would definitely recommend buying things since the proceeds go to a cause!

It's too early for the monarchs to start roosting, but I know they have a cute little outdoor gift shop and just wanted to buy a couple monarch goodies for a friend of mine who is obsessed with monarchs. There was a young lady in a more mature woman behind the counter, chatting and talking about merchandise. I stood there for 5 to 7 minutes and was never even acknowledged! They are 3 feet away from me as I was the only person there! Last time I came a few years ago I was acknowledged immediately, and the person behind the counter was actually fairly outgoing and loved to talk about the monarchs, and it was educational and engaging! This time I'm invisible. You would think they would really welcome visitors and customers this time of year because money from the merchandise goes to help the monarchs. Finally I said "I guess you guys don't acknowledge customers here." The mature woman lets out this apologetic sounding moan "ohhhh" then says "I'm sorry" by then I was done, I still have a drive back to Long Beach and it was nice of her to apologize, but I told her that "that's OK I don't want anything" the "anymore" was silent. How about some customer service 101 for your people? Ignoring is so disrespectful. A smile, quick "hi do u need any help" would have gone a long way.

We saw so many butterflies in the trees and some fluttering around. Look for the brown triangles clustered in the eucalyptus trees. We also saw a owl sitting in a tree and saw a hawk swoop down and then perch and eat a snake! Parking is tricky on the street and you may have to walk a little. The road just got re-paved so there is quite an edge, watch for that. Definitely worth a 30 minute stop good for the whole family. Signs and QR codes available all around to learn about the monarch butterflies

What a beautiful sight to see! Came by in January, during a patch of very bad weather which produced a lot of rain, cold and wind and only saw 1 or 2 monarchs. THIS month many "flutter bys" were enjoying the warmer weather and doing their annual ritual here in the grove. Watch out for ground activity- males pin down females to mate, so be careful where you step! Lots of information on plaques around the area, benches for sitting and enjoying "the show", and even porta potties. Parking is free and along the highway. Lots of people of all ages come here to observe the monarchs. If planning a road-trip specifically to enjoy this roadside attraction, allow yourself an overnight in the area and aim for temps in mid 60s - low 70s, with sunshine. The monarchs warm their lovely orange wings in the bright sunlight and clusters are observed when they open for warmth. Just gorgeous! Enjoy! Cheers! CC

Hot Grove No-frills grove of Eucalyptus trees adjacent to gorgeous Pismo Beach that serves as an overwintering site for the precious Monarch Butterflies. The Good: *Numbers are up from previous years, as the current count (Nov '22) is over 24k butterflies. *Free parking *Access to some beach trails and easy access to Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and some Natural Preserves. *Port-o-potties on site *Informational signage The Meh: *The Grove itself is fairly small and can be seen in less than ten minutes. The Ugly: *No more daily talks by State Park volunteers/docents. I'm not sure if this is a permanent thing or temporary. TLDR: Must-stop spot if you're a nature lover and happen to be in the area between the months of October and February.

Monarch Butterfly Grove State Park, Pismo Beach, CA - November 30, 2023 We arrived at about 11:45 on a Thursday morning. The beginning of December is usually the peak time of year for the monarchs west of the continental divide to migrate from the northern states southwest to the central and southern coasts of California, including the Pismo Beach monarch butterfly grove. There are lots of eucalyptus trees in this particular site that provide cover for the butterflies from the occasional intense onshore winds coming off the ocean. In past years, the number of butterflies laying over for the winter at this site has been over 200,000. The numbers have steadily dwindled over the last 25 years. Last year there were 25,000 butterflies counted at this Grove, and this year they're only 16,000. This latest year's numbers are not terrible; however, in 2020, only 200 butterflies were counted. There are number of factors can affect their numbers, including loss of habitat and odd freaks of nature, like unusual weather and the like. The end of November through February is the best sine to see the butterflies. They have viewing telescopes and lots of informational displays that describe the migratory pattern and life cycle of the monarch butterflies. They also have a trail or onsite with gifts and educational materials. There is also a pathway you can take to walk down to the ocean. Worth a visit.

It was magical. It was sprinkling in the morning so the trees were still wet from the rain. The eucalyptus trees made the air smell divine. In multiple areas the trees were full of butterfly clusters and butterflies in flight. As we walked the trail, we were surrounded by beautiful butterflies. We went in January- it was the perfect time of the season to go. There was no parking lot; but there was plenty of free parking on the street. Such a pleasant experience...from the little gift shop, the photographers and the lovely butterflies all about! And, it's pet friendly so we were able to have our fur baby. She loved walking the trails, she was entranced by the butterflies and loved the visit to the beach afterwards. If you're in the area during the season, I recommend you stop by and enjoy some of the magic.

If I could give six stars, I would! This was my second time visiting the monarch Grove at Pismo State Beach. It's free to visit, open to the public daily from sunrise to Sunset and there is free street parking. The Grove is located on HWY 1 and the GPS location is 445 S. Dolliver in Pismo Beach. - The best time to go is between November and February. If you go in January or February, you may see them mating. Be very careful with your trash and while walking! - At the overwintering sites, the monarch feed on flower nectar. If you go during the November and December months, you will see them cluster. They cling to the leaves and branches in large groups. Sometimes there are docents with pre-set up telescopes to see up close. You can bring your own binoculars or purchase a pair there. If the temperature is below 55°, they cannot fly, so make sure to be very careful not to step on them. - If you sign up with the Central Coast State Park Association ahead of time, you can receive 10% off at the gift shop. I got a sweatshirt, t-shirt and post cards. All very rustic, vintage and artistic! 100% of proceeds from each purchase supports educational and interpretive programs at the California state parks. - February 3rd is the western monarch butterfly day celebration at the Pismo Beach Pier Plaza. From 11 AM to 1 PM, there will be family friendly activities as well as an outreach booth, all available free of charge at the pier. - This amazing monarch migration is unique. However, the current population of monarchs is threatened. Recent counts show a 90% drop from counts done 25 years ago. Make sure to respect the butterflies and show your support through the western monarch Trail organization.

Lovely grove - wonderful experience- have made this an annual excursion - butterfly clusters are amazing. Guides are available to answer questions at specific times- there's learning opportunities as well. Venture down the path for a walk along the coast line. Free parking but can get tricky. Wide enough for wheelchair access.

Great place to let the kids run and poop out and it's free!!!!!!! This is a beautiful place to walk around and it is right on the beach. The monarchs are stunning You can picnic here. There is even a gift shop.

A remarkable experience seeing these grand creatures. This preserve is a treasure for anyone intrigued by or who cares about the plight of the endangered monarch butterfly.

Very easy to miss as it's such a small place. Parking is on the side of the road. Entrance is free. We were able to see some monarchs but was expecting to see swarms flying everywhere. They have a trailer with monarch merch for sale (stickers, books, etc). Quick stop if you're looking for something to do in the area.

The trail leading to the Monarch butterfly grove is absolutely gorgeous. Hitting this trail first thing in the morning is quite special. The fresh smells and blooming flowers are such a wonderful treat for the eyes. The golf field to the right is a wide stretch of beautiful green. To the left is an endless ocean view. A great place to recenter and give gratitude.

From late October to February, the monarch butterflies cluster in the limbs of towering, majestic Eucalyptus trees flanking an estuary that flows to the Pacific Ocean. The Monarch Grove is easily accessible from CA State Highway 1 at the south boundary of the city limits of Pismo Beach.

I learned so much by dropping by this butterfly park. It is so funny how things were explained to me. If you see two butterflies flapping their wings on the ground, that means the two butterflies are dating and if you suddenly see the two butterflies fly up with one of them drooping down, that means the butterflies are finally married and humping away. We got there around 1pm on a Saturday on Feb 5 and there were butterflies but not as many as what people described. I believed we missed the season but overall it was nice to see the butterflies. What I loved the most was in the back, there was trail that led to the sand dunes or beach area. It was beautiful. Next time when I got I will be more prepared and wear my sandals or my water shoes to avoid getting the sand in my shoes. It was annoying getting sand inside my flats. I knocked off 1 star simply for the parking situation and how it can get dangerous if you are not careful, especially with young kids who are dart and just hyper active.

The Monarchs have made a huge comeback this year - and now's the time to see them - by the thousands!! I visited last week (Nov 29-30, 2021) and there were huge, heavy clusters of Monarchs everywhere!! I highly recommend you bring some decent binoculars to get a closeup look at them bc it's just magnificent!! They used to number in the millions here during their migration many years ago - but the past 2-3 years they've only numbered in the mere hundreds - a 99% decline!! But this year so far the count hit 50,000 migrating butterflies in all the coastal California sites combined!! And this eucalyptus grove is one of their fave spots to cuddle up for winter! My understanding is their numbers peak around the end of November and they will hang around until January - maybe even February. This grove is small with very well maintained dirt paths with wooden fencing to protect the habitat - but the trails let you get great views of the Monarchs! I wouldn't called these hiking trails - very short and very flat - mostly just pathways through the grove. And there are often docents available to answer questions and sometimes even have a small telescope set up to give you a closer look. The afternoon I went it was very crowded and the butterflies were pretty lazy and sleepy so not too much activity going on in the treetops - but I went back the next morning and they were extremely active and fluttering all around!! They seemed to be most active between 9-10 am. There are benches available in the area just outside the grove, as well as some port-a-potties and even a little trailer serving as a souvenir store lol. Parking is on the side of the street and it's dirt spots and they tend to fill up. And the street is very busy so be careful. Parking and entrance are free. And I would consider this mostly handicap accessible.

Great local attraction to stop by if you're in the Pismo Beach area! As a bonus, there are NO entrance fees or parking fees! The Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach is one of five sites in California that has over 10,000 butterflies annually. Each year, butterflies will come to Pismo Beach as part of their migration to seek shelter from freezing northern winters. You can see the monarchs here from late October to February. The current monarch count as of December 1, 2021 was 22,445 butterflies!! There was plenty of parking along the entrance to the grove, as well as across the street (all unmarked spots on the dirt on either side of the road). It was already busy at 10am on a Sunday, but there were plenty of parking spots still available. As soon as you walk into the entrance, you'll see butterflies in the air, and so many just hanging out on the limbs of the tall Eucalyptus trees in the grove (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=3wZLvtXJUB_EH9T5VyzCMg&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Etld-0FJno1SZfZ-drE0nQ&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=XJjMmD00H--tQlH_Riip9w&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg). I saw a lot of people with binoculars, but you could see them without. You can also walk along the different paths towards the beach (less than a 10 minute walk), and stroll along the beach (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=0Jer78REgg96cNny1tunoQ&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg). The views were beautiful, and it was relaxing to walk around. I'd highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

This was a wonderful stop during our visit to Pismo Beach. Plenty of roadside parking to this unassuming little stop where you can take a brief stroll and look up to see hundreds, thousands of butterflies (if the season is right and climate change hasn't killed them all). Dog friendly and very flat and accessible. The docents / volunteers are all super helpful and knowledgeable. It's also connected via a lovely stroll to the beach and an RV campground so you can definitely spend a few hours here.

A beautiful sanctuary for the monarch butterfly. It is free to visit and truly a great learning experience. It is outdoors and there is plenty of parking on the side street. You can also connect to the beach after visiting the Grove. I truly hope this place is here for a long time. The monarch butterfly population was greatly affected last year and many were thinking that maybe it would be the same this year. Thankfully 2021 was a better year for them and they are back. I do recommend a good camera and binoculars. Planting native milkweed for the monarchs is crucial.

Right off of busy CA State Hwy 1, Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach is one of the great resting places for Monarch Butterflies west of the Rocky Mountains. It is one of 5 California locations where over 10,000 of them usually winter. MONARCH GROVE COUNTS JANUARY 22, 2020 - 1,995 DECEMBER 30, 2019 - 3,000 DECEMBER 12, 2019 - 3,926 NOVEMBER 27, 2019 - 6,735 NOVEMBER 20, 2019 - 5,380 NOVEMBER 8, 2019 - 3,370 Last Count from 2018 season: January 2019 = 3,077. Last Count from 2017 season: December 2017 = 12,075. Last count from 2016 season on February 5, 2016 = 28,000+ As can be seen, the Monarchs are dwindling. Reasons may be climate change brought on by pollution. Other more immediate dangers are overdevelopment of housing, factories, buildings that destroy the Monarch habitat where their milkweed plants, that their caterpillar young eat, can no longer grow. Agricultural farms use tons of poisonous insecticides, that also poison us & the environment around us, to kill pests that with collateral damage also decimates Monarchs and Honey Bees, the essential great pollinators of flowers that help create most fruits. I went around 3pm in February 2021 just before the Monarchs are getting ready to fly up north. There were only a handful fluttering among the sunlit portions of the eucalyptus trees. They looked faded & washed out. Not the typical healthy appearance of vibrant oranges. Talked with the young volunteer about the declining state of these miraculous insects that can migrate thousands of miles to their summer grounds in British Columbia and back. One way of ensuring enough food is for us to plant milkweeds in our yards. The Monarchs may be the canaries in a coal mine. If they go extinct, the honey bees, that pollenate most of our food crops, may be the next to disappear. Please read what we can do for the Monarchs below: "Monarch Butterflies Are Nearing Extinction: 5 Ways to Help" https://www.gardenista.com/posts/how-help-monarch-butterflies-what-plant/amp/ "Monarch Butterfly population declining | cbs8.com" https://www.cbs8.com/amp/article/news/local/outreach/earth8/monarch-butterfly-population-declining/509-5223eaa9-c166-4b7e-9b2c-19ae2cf2ebea 4 stars for preserving a place for Monarchs to shelter and winter over on their cyclical migrations.

Free, bring binoculars and/or a camera with a macro lens. My DSLR was actually able to pick out the colors up the color of their wings better with minimal ISO adjustment. Good thing too, because they tend to be bright orange on the upper side of their wings and browner on the undersides. So when they cluster, they just look like a hanging branch of dead leaves. They're just especially hard to spot on a cloudy day. Daily talks are not available during the season, but there is a QR code on the board for a video you can watch for more information. Just generally less of the educational activities until February in deference to the butterflies overwintering. Grove itself isn't actually all that big. Comfortably flat walk, then it heads down a bath, over a bridge, and into a campground. Further out is the connecting beach. If you're going there are now, most likely they'll be clustering. Parking is limited and pretty much just the dirt strip along the street outside the park fence. Overall, really easy walk, not a hike, and handicap-friendly. A lot of our group liked it, and it was just a nice side trip

Hidden gem on the Central coast. Educational and Beautiful. Great place to stop for a stroll and some Butterfly viewing. The eucalyptus in the air is clean and has a calming affect. Everyone should stop and see the Butterflies.

Driving by you can't really see any of the butterflies but once you walk through the grove, you'll see an abundance of them. Honestly this is one of the most beautiful places I've been too. It's so peaceful and serene. If you walk further into the grove, you'll see many clusters of butterflies. The count was around 22k when we went. I can't imagine what it would be like if there were 100k! My favorite part is just standing still and the butterflies fly by you. Absolutely magical! Parking is along the street and there's plenty of it. They have some guided tours and a gift shop as well.

The Monarch Butterfly Grove is located right on Hwy 1 (parking is along the side of the road) and is a nice stop to walk around and hopefully catch a glimpse of some Monarch butterflies. Not sure if it is the time of the year or the weather (April 10th), but we only saw a 4-5 Monarch butterflies (was hoping to see more). It doesn't take long to walk through the grove. There are some educational signs around the grove for you to learn about the butterflies. There is also a gift shop and info trailer with someone there to answer questions. Behind the butterfly grove is a a campground that is accessible by a path and a wooden bridge. If you like butterflies, come out the Monarch Butterfly Grove.

It's a quaint little grove that is a stopping ground for the monarch butterflies on their migration to Mexico. We were there off season, so no butterflies yet. We plan on coming back in December to see the butterflies. In the meantime, they have very cool trivia information stands that you can learn all about the monarch butterflies & their migration. A very nice spot to stop by on the way to Pismo Beach Pier & the sand dunes.

Nice little Monarch grove that had plenty of butterflies when we went in mid February. There are some interesting informational signs. Plenty of parking along the main road. The grove connects to a nice coastal trail as well.

Always an enjoyable experience. The monarchs have made a comeback thank goodness. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to see the butterflies.

Such a beautiful experience! The butterflies are only there between November and February so if you are in the area then, definitely a must! They are more active in peak sunshine so go mid day when sun in shining. Can't wait to come again!

Loved seeing all the butterflies in the trees! Although it was only October 31st, there were hundreds of butterflies to be seen at this grove. It was easy to park on the side of the road and cross over to the Monarch Butterfly Grove. It's free to enter the area and there were two telescopes set up so you could see all the butterflies very clearly.

Literally one of the best experiences in California. Hopefully you're smart enough to figure out when to come here.... Nature is nature so I'm surprised to see people give one star because nature did its own thing! Entitled dummies complaining about nature not having a set schedule lol

Cool experience if you're passing through Pismo and worth checking out during the migration period which is October - February. Free to enter. Only street parking.

Such a cute little place with a beautiful trail that leads to a campground. Dog friendly and very rich with beautiful plants and butterflies. It's a sight to see when the monarchs are in migration. We had a great time. Spent about an hour looking around and identifying things. They have a virtual download for the trail for little and big kids alike to engage them with the surroundings. Small and quaint. Worth a stop in on your way to the beach or if you're camping on the adjacent side. Lovely experience!

Beautiful nature grove! When visiting Pismo Beach be sure to stop by. There is street parking available and a lovely gift shop. The butterflies are a gorgeous sight and you can smell the eucalyptus when walking around. Be sure to bring your cameras for distance shooting if you'd like close ups.