Natural Bridges State Beach

You can pay for parking to be closer or just park on the street and it’s free. Went during king tides and it was packed! Great tide pools to take kiddos to explore. We saw starfish, birds, anemones, crabs, snails, urchins, and lot of beautiful kelp. I’d be careful walking on the rocks, I saw 3 people slip in the tike I was there. Always respect nature and don’t stand to close to the edge.

I grew up going to Natural Bridges State Beach when i was a kid. Back when there was still a natural bridge over the gap between the cliffs. It fell for good in a storm in 1985. There are fun tide pools you can walk out to. Its a great beach for kids because they cant get out of your sight. The waves never get out of hand. There is a Monarch butterfly grove right next to the beach so dogs are NOT allowed on the trails or beach to protect the butterfly habitat. There are picnic tables and a clean bathroom. It costs a nominal fee to get in. But there is plenty of street parking to avoid the fee. I try to visit every time im back in Santa Cruz. I built a sandcastle there on Thanksgiving Day. Great memories there. Still making them!! I think its the best beach in Santa Cruz.

Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz is nothing short of breathtaking. Even without its most famous visitors, the dramatic sea arch and rugged coastline offer stunning views that make for a perfect afternoon of exploration and tide-pooling. The air is fresh, the paths are well-maintained, and the atmosphere is deeply restorative. But the true, unforgettable magic happens every fall and winter when the Monarch Grove becomes home to thousands of migrating monarch butterflies. Stepping into the eucalyptus grove is like entering a scene from a fairy tale. The trees hang heavy with dense, shimmering clusters of monarchs, looking at first glance like dried leaves. As the sun warms them, the grove comes alive. Hundreds sometimes thousands take flight simultaneously, creating a vibrant, swirling orange cloud that completely envelops you. It is a humbling and spectacular natural phenomenon that everyone should experience at least once. The staff and volunteers are excellent and clearly passionate about protecting this essential habitat. Natural Bridges State Beach is a vital treasure for both nature lovers and casual visitors alike. Five stars!

One of our favorite beaches in Santa Cruz. It’s an easy drive over the hill, and parking is usually not too hard to find. There aren’t any amenities here, but that’s part of its charm — just sand, sea, and sky. If you feel like stretching your legs, a short hike up into the park gives you a lovely view of the coastline. You can walk for ages along the shore, watching surfers catch waves, sailboats drift by, and sunlight glint off the beautiful homes above. It’s the kind of place where time slows down — whether you stay for the day or just an hour or two, you always leave feeling a little lighter. P.S. The new Marianne’s Ice Cream location is now right on the way — the perfect stop before heading home.

Pretty beach with cool natural bridge rock formation! There was no more parking when we visited on a summer Saturday so we had to park in a neighborhood and walk a short distance over to the beach. Beach definitely gets busy on the weekends here. There is also a gift shop tucked away from the main entrance and a little bit difficult to find, but worth visiting if you can get to it!

Beautiful beach with beautiful views! Absolutely a must for a family day or even alone time watching the sunset. We went on a weekday so we were able to find close street parking, but they do have a large parking lot.

Gorgeous state beach to explore. The water is stunning as you watch is crash and dance on the rocks, the fresh air fills your lungs as you hear seagulls flying by, you can find small crabs and other sea life in the pools, and you can take a lovely stroll along the sand. This beach is so nice and relaxing, perfect for a solo adventure or if you have kids! I came here with my family and while we were here there were families and the kids were enjoying their time exploring the beach. I’d recommend bringing a light jacket especially if it’s overcast since the wind can be a bit chilly. Will absolutely be back the time time I come to Santa Cruz!

Went during low tide and had a great time finding starfish, anemone, crab, jellyfish or man-o-war (not sure which is was). The arches were gorgeous and the rocks were a beautiful design.

I came here to start my drive down West Cliff Drive. I was interested in just covering it and not going too deep so it worked out perfectly that there is a free 20 minute parking lot. From there, the view is good of the water, but you need to walk down to the beach into the sand to get a good view of the natural bridge. I was able to do that and get back to the car in 20 minutes (wink wink). But seriously, it can be done and it is not monitored that closely. Or you can just pay to park inside, but for me just wanted to snap a pic, it wasn't worth it to pay. The beach is large and there were families hanging out and there is also a bathroom inside the park just back from the sand.

Do not hesitate to bring the whole family! Wheel chair friendly too! The trail to the Monarch viewing is easy... and there are trails going right down to the beach where you can see an arch in the water still standing. The gift shop is full of interesting fair trade items. And the museum display is well done and informative. Parking is on the street free or in the lot for $10.00. Facilities are available.

Went here to explore Tide pools because there were 2 days of King tides in Santa Cruz last week. Got to enjoy the beach without flies and also it did not reek of Dead Sea creatures this time. Got to enjoy a beautiful day here. Also, the monarch butterflies are winterizing here and they were lovely see across from the light house.

Super cool! $10 to park inside the gate and closer walking access but also think of it as supporting the local wildlife :) there is a overlook parking lot that has a 20 minute max, it's just before the paid date so you don't have to pay to go there but obviously when you're done move along so other people can enjoy. Amazing views of the ocean and rock formation and beach. When you do enter the park, there are several walking trails. A lot of of them are either sand or dirt and uneven. But there are some right off of the paid parking lot from the visitor center that are a built walkway so you can go look at the trees and try to find a monarch cluster when they are here seasonally.

This beach had a nice visitor center with information on the wild life native to the area as well as a small gift shop. It had restrooms near the beach entrance ans the visitor center. The hike down was not to bad, a bit slippery where there is alot of sand on the walk way. There are some picnic tables with BBQ that are available. There was quite a bit of people on the beach but it wasn't too crowded. There's a small inlet of water as well as tide pools to explore during low tide. These tide pools are up on a rock face making it interesting to see. This was a great beach to spend some time and see the amazing natural bridge

Gorgeous state beach to explore. The water is stunning as you watch is crash and dance on the rocks, the fresh air fills your lungs as you hear seagulls flying by, you can find small crabs and other sea life in the pools, and you can take a lovely stroll along the sand. This beach is so nice and relaxing, perfect for a solo adventure or if you have kids! I came here with my family and while we were here there were families and the kids were enjoying their time exploring the beach. I'd recommend bringing a light jacket especially if it's overcast since the wind can be a bit chilly. Will absolutely be back the time time I come to Santa Cruz!

What an amazing beach!!! There's bathrooms & plenty of parking. I recommend parking in the back where there is a cement path 2 walk down 2 the beach instead of a huge hill of sand!!! There's a tide pool that we love 2 explore!!! If u ever get the opportunity 2 come 2 this beach, take it!!!

I love this beach! They have a huge parking area for 20 minutes, free. You can also use your state park pass to get closer to the beach. We did both. Used our park pass to go back and use there bathrooms. I was impressed how clean and hue they are in comparison to other State beaches in the area. We watched the sunset from inside my boyfriend's cozy van. We parked the van so we could sit in back, open doors and enjoy the sunset from the coziness inside the van. We did notice quite a few people climbing the rocks where birds nest. There are signs posted that you are not allowed to do that in order to protect birds' home nesting area. Please mind the rules.

We prefer to park in the lot just outside the ranger station since there is no parking at the water inside the paid area. It's a nice park though for a little hike, beach acces, picnics, and shaded parking.

We've been here multiple times over the years and it's always a fun experience clambering on the rocks and looking for tidepools. We went again on Memorial Day and were able to find free parking along the street before the main entrance. The weather was pretty windy and at high tide that day so no actual water play and very few tidepools to see but we still had fun and enjoyed the views. Would recommend if you're in the area.

What can I say? It's a beautiful spot for anyone to come visit. I feel like this is a place where it makes you forget about all life matters and make you feel amazing from inside. Me and my wife had a great experience enjoying its natural view. Loved it!

It's a small beach in Santa Cruz, and its beauty lies within the arched rock formation. It reminds me of the rock formations seen in Cabo/Cancun. The sight was breathtaking, as I stood and listened to the sound of the water underneath my feet and the sun's glare in the background. I needed this moment of serenity this weekend with the busy hustle and bustle in my life. I enjoyed an entire day at the beach, where areas are segmented for BBQ. It was windy and cold, but warmed up in the mid-late afternoon. The washed-up seaweed carries a stench and attracts flies, found on the beach. The bathrooms are decent, and parking on the ground is a fee of $10. It's a great place to spend time in/by the water and BBQ.

A natural wonder? Yes Highly odored? Yes Cannot see the arch from the parking lot above...a quick walk down to the sandy beach cove below will provide amazing views. However, the sand flies and the pungent kelp / bird odor was a lot to take. The locals didn't seem to mind as many were sunbathing. Definitely worth seeing the last remaining natural bridge along the Cali coast and taking in the Pacific aka the real ocean ;)

Simply a beautiful beach to visit. The view of the collapsed natural "bridge" is quite breathtaking. A nice photo spot or just a place for a chill beach day. Not too crowded, even on the weekends. Plenty of free parking. The sand is very plush and soft! Very satisfying. Lots of washed up seaweed that attracts flies, but easy to avoid.

This beach is tucked away and it was so nice to soak up the sun out here. Great place to take your family and have a little picnic. Parking is crazy so be prepared to take a leisurely walk!!

Natural Bridges State Beach is a wonderful little beach in Santa Cruz. There are coffee shops nearby like Companion Bakery, Cat & Cloud, and 11th Hour where you can buy coffee and pastries to bring over to the beach. We came to the beach at 11am on a Friday and there were a good amount of young families enjoying the beach. Perfect for kids and families. They have a private parking lot, but there are tones of parking on Swanton Blvd. There is a public bathroom, but not the cleanest. Nearby there is a Natural Bridges Visitor Center and Monarch Trail, but we didn't get a chance to check it. Will come back again to explore.

I love natural bridges. Soo many memories of early morning trips to the tide pools! Such a beautiful spot. We parked outside of the park, walked around the beach and then went on a walk down the coast. The whole area is lovely, so please treat it with love and respect, especially in the tide pool area.

Small state beach, the main attraction being the natural bridge. However, the bridge part connected to land collapsed a long time ago and now it's more like just an arch sticking out of the water. We came at opening for the low tides and we were the only ones there, the foggy weather and light rain probably turning off a lot of people. The beach is gray and melancholy at this time but I like it, very peaceful and relaxing. We couldn't find the tide pools and then realized it's the couple puddles on the rock ledge to the right. They are small and you'll see a lot of anemones and mussels, not worth it to come just for the tidepools. The arch has a lot of seabirds on it so it will smell and I would be cautious about going into the water with all that bird waste and dead birds so close to the shore.

We paid the ten bucks and parked. You must walk across the beach, scramble up the steps to see the most amazing tide pools. Totally worth our second trip and paying for parking.

The gift shop was very cute!! I bought a handmade magnet of a butterfly, the lady said she makes them her self and was only selling them for $2!!!! They are worth $7-$10 in my opinion. Show her some love and pick up your own

This beach is great for picnic or family bbq. You can park outside on the street or go inside the destination parking with a fee of $10 for a closer walk to the beach. The beach is known for the rock formation on the water that remained me a rock in Los Cabo's Mexico. I came here on Saturday afternoon and it was super busy with people setting tent and having a BBQ. It seem like this is the second busiest beach compared to the one near the Boardwalk.

Leave it to Joe K to do his research and discover that this is one of the best state parks and beaches to explore in Santa Cruz. Even his best friend who lives in this city AND close to the park was unaware! During our vacation and fulfilling his bucket list, we all met at the park entrance to begin our hike into this popular area for locals and tourists alike. Right off the bat, I noticed that there were several groups of children on a school outing. We found ourselves getting involved and listening in on the tour guides who were also park rangers. The guides were extremely pleasant and enjoyed sharing their knowledge (and electronic gadgets), of the wildlife that included birds, mammals, insects and one of the main attractions - the Monarch Butterfly. Apparently, this is one of the few locations that attract the butterflies during breeding and migration seasons. It has all the right stuff for Monarchs to survive from specific trees to temperature consistency. Of course there are the predators too, but everything seems to remain in somewhat of a balance. But the park employees try to help out whenever needed to keep that balance going. Our little group of family and friends really enjoyed our hike throughout the trails and bridges. We didn't get as far as the state beach, but the forest and streams were enough to keep our imaginations going. Joe had to rest often, but his determination to see the butterflies in live action kept his spirit going. This is just one of the many memories that I will cherish always...

So gorgeous! It was so incredible to witness the monarch migration and explore tide pools here! I loved the monarch butterfly trail!

There is only 1 bridge left.. Before there were 3... And here is why: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Bridges_State_Beach "The arches formed over a million years ago when a combination of silt, clay and diatoms were solidified into a mixture of stone that formed the three original arches of the beach.[3] Wave erosion carved the arches and then cut away the cliffs leaving only islands. Of the three original arches only the middle one remains. The outermost arch fell sometime in 1905 or 1906, and the inner arch collapsed during a storm on the night of January 10, 1980.[3][4][5] The middle arch is in danger of collapsing as well due to erosion by wind and waves. Visitors were formerly permitted to climb up, walk and even drive on the bridges. Now the arch is closed to public access." Came here after a storm in the winter and it was empty. There were 3 professional photographers present for maternity photos; wedding pictures; and a birthday photo shoot! Popular places for pictures! Aside from the cool arch and bridge made by mother nature here, the surrounding Eucalyptus trees are also the shelter for the migrating monarch butterflies! Very cool!!! Check the season and you might get lucky to see them! This is a state park. You do have to pay to park inside. However, there are plenty of street parking and you can just walk in for FREE! ENJOY this park. My family sure did!

Extremely windy and sand flying everywhere and the wind will keep you cold even though i was in our tent it was still so windy and cold. However, there wasn't too many people even during a long weekend and there are life guards on duty.

Awesome. Wonderful views. We stopped on a cool morning. Did not take our dog down to beach. Walked around upper parking area to take in views. Quite an impressive site.

Great beach area to spend a chill day in Santa Cruz! The views were great (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=vtEOsYjtVhWqZGorCoYKCg&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=vtEOsYjtVhWqZGorCoYKCg&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg) while you walk down to the main beach area, and it wasn't too crowded even on a nice Saturday in June. I didn't bring a beach towel or any gear, so just walked around a bit before heading out; however, I wish I had spent more time looking for their tide pools since apparently you can anemones, crabs, and fish! They have a lifeguard for this beach, which is awesome, as well as picnic tables, bbq pits, and restrooms. Just make sure you bring a jacket- even though it was sunny out, it was really windy and a little chilly. I would definitely come back to this beach if in the area to check out the tide pools. Parking will be the most difficult part about coming here- they have a lot at the beach (I believe it's $10 to park); however, it's a very small lot and they were full during the time I went. Apparently they also have free parking if you're staying 20 minutes or less, so may be worth it to talk to the rangers at the entrance of the lot so they can let you in for those spots? Luckily, I was able to find parking in the residential area nearby.

We came here for a day trip near the end of the summer. Nice location that is not too windy, with some very nice views. The challenge is getting all the gear to the beach because it is downhill to reach the location, and this you'll have to hike up with all your gear as well. If possible try to park close by and bring some burly people to help with carrying (carts do not work well). If smoking bothers you then try to camp your gear away from smokers. Be sure TJ stay and enjoy the sunset. You'll also want to explore the west side cliffs / reefs for some unforgettable views.

Views!! The views from here are beautiful! Me and Wifey pulled up and parked, sat and watched the sunset for a couple hours. Beautiful spot!

This place is amazing!!!!! State Park - nice and clean and easy to navigate. Butterfly sanctuary, beautiful beach, walking paths. Definitely worth a stop on your travels down the coast.

We stopped here since it's the beginning of Monarch Butterfly season. After the Monarch Boardwalk we walked down to the beach from the same parking lot to see the "natural bridge" and the tide pools. The beach is dirtier, probably because of a greater number of visitors, but it's still a nice stop. We have the California Poppy parking pass, so we used it to park without needing to pay the $10 daily parking fee.

Semi secluded and not too busy like the boardwalk, this place was great for taking the kids. The parking lot is a small walk from the beach and has bathrooms and picnic benches. If you park on the street is it's only about 30 more feet, but you save $10 for parking. There's a huge arch that is great to look at but dangerous to swim near. The life guard kept telling people to stay away. There also was a good set of tide pools where we saw anemones, crabs, and fish. Great for the kids!

Amazing tide pools and monarch butterflies! Natural Bridges brings out the inner child in all of us! Right now is monarch season (late Fall through Winter). As of last week (mid November), there weren't that many. The park ranger said there were about 10% of last year and last year was 10% of the year before. Still a sight to see them fluttering in the sunlight though! I made sure to hit LOW LOW tide this trip. Do some homework beforehand if you really want to experience all that the tide pools have to offer. We saw tons of starfish, sea anemones, crabs, sea urchins, barnacles, and mussels. We even saw a sea anemone eating his dinner! Poor sea bug, whatever it was. During low tide, you can also walk under the bridge which is super cool too.

I usually come here for the vista point during long bike rides. It's located just before the entrance into the paid parking lot. It's a 20 minute maximum parking lot, meant to just snap a couple of photos or enjoy a snack with a pretty view. No time limit on a bike, as you are not actually taking up a parking spot. The views from the vista spot are spectacular. This is a small beach that I've enjoyed in the past, however it can get pretty crowded and tends to be VERY smelly.

Gayle remembers the time that this beach was referred to as Twin Bridges, and when we recently visit, you could see where that was, before nature took its course. We were staying at the nearby Fairfield Inn, which made reaching Natural Bridges State Beach an easy walk. There are also marked trails throughout, which are helpful during butterfly season. The area is drop dead gorgeous, as is the surrounding sea-side trail withing the residential area just outside the State Beach. You can walk or drive in from one residential side, and walk in on the other neighborhood side (through a gate at the end of a street) or go in perpendicular like we did. In any case, it's free (except for car entry) and it's a beautiful sight and linger no matter how you look at this place. Picnic tables are close by, as is plenty of off-beach shade just in case you want to make a day of it.

Lovely beach area, plenty of sandy area to lay out, comfortable clean restrooms but I have to give minus one star because of the notorious plentiful flies. This beach area lays next to stagnant marsh, pelican/birds rock sanctuary so you are basically in their turf. Still very beautiful View and picturesque beach. Respect the waves as it can be powerfully strong here. There is a lifeguard tower but if you're not a strong swimmer, keep off the body surfing for now. Some area of tide pools close to the mobile homes area.

I am visiting the Santa Cruz area and found this beach near by. It was absolutely beautiful! Walking around the trails was so much fun and I really enjoyed staring at the huge cliffs and blue water! The beach was a busy but not impossible to find a spot. The beach was family friendly!

Parking is $10 and there is also a free 20 minute lot. You can pay cash or card but they currently prefer cards. From the lot is a small trail for a light hike where you can sometimes see deer. The state beach was not impressive and quite crowded on a Tuesday morning during the holiday season. Most people were wearing a mask but some were not. We decided not to go down to the beach area because of the amount of people and how small the beach was. We decided to walk the paved trail that starts at Natural Bridges and goes along W Cliff. This trail takes you to the lighthouse and beyond. From Natural Bridges to the lighthouse is about 2.5 miles one way. You see gorgeous ocean views and homes. You can ride bikes and walk your dogs. It can get busy with runners too so I don't recommend it for big groups of walkers. The views are stunning and it is a nice long trail but it gets very busy.

One of the more cleaner beaches in Santa Cruz and super easy to get to. They have paid parking which gets you pretty close to the beach. Also, there are picnic tables scattered along the outskirts for those who don't want to be in the sand but still get a nice view of the ocean. I believe they have a hiking trail but I mostly stayed by the ocean. I went during Labor Day and they had a lifeguard on duty so that was good. Pretty chill beach and would definitely recommend checking it out.

NO DOGS ALLOWED! I submitted an edit for this page as it says otherwise. I got there with my pup and there are a ton of NO DOG ALLOWED signs!

What a beautiful place to enjoy some sun and sea air. Parking cost $10 a day but they do have a 20 min max parking lot before the gate of you want to jump out quickly see the Natural Bridge. This is also a really great place to watch the surfers. You will need to walk up the rocks and away from the beach toward the tide pools. It will be worth it.

Even with bad weather, this place was nice and fun for everyone! No dogs but still fun. The sand is nice the scene is great. Sound of beautiful waves crashing against the cliffs. Water is cold of course. Once you get tired of the waves you can mosey on down the side cliffs and check out the water creatures that are about. You can crabs and anemones in the water and all sorts of things. It will definitely keep the young ones occupied and entertained. People were respect for the most part but you still have those that don't care about social distancing at all.

This was a tiny beach I wanted to go see the natural sea bridges . So many people in a small areas but it is the beach. Parking lot was full so we parked in residential and walked along the cliffs which was also very pretty. Recommend seeing this at least once next time I wanna go during sunset

Sun and sea anemones are just two of the scintillating sights you'll see at Natural Bridges. October to February each year a natural phenomena occurs here above the beach in a a stand of eucalyptus trees. The wintering of monarch butterflies. They used to number just under 10,000, however, their number have dropped dramatically over the years. There is only one natural bridge left. The waves carved two arches of a cliff face jutting into the sea. Over time, one of the bridges was absorbed back into the sea by the same storms and waves that created it. The ocean giveth and the ocean taketh away. I really enjoy coming here as part of my sojourns to Santa Cruz.

I've been coming here almost my whole life. Things have changed but on a quiet winter day you'd never know. This beach used to have a natural arch/bridge on one side. Some of the hard winters have beaten back the cliffs on the West Side in a brutal fashion tearing some areas apart worse than others. The beach hasn't changed much over the years though. Here you can walk into the eucalyptus forest on the built wooden catwalk to the observation deck to watch the monarch butterflies. The migration is an annual event. The best bet is to come early on a cool morning when it's expected to warm up. They hang together in large groups, it warms up they start to move around until they all burst into flight at the same time. Amazing event to witness! Natural bridges falls under the California State Park "Golden Poppy Pass." It's been getting so busy now that they close the parking lot down until enough guests clear out that they can open it again.

I always think of Natural Bridges beach and state park as one deal, but if you are going to pick one or the other - especially if it's not butterfly season - go for the beach! This is a gorgeous beach with, yes, a natural rock bridge, plenty of room to frolic picnic or just relax, and one of the many coastal wonders in the Santa Cruz area. We like to come here for a picnic or to just sit on the beach with a coffee and enjoy the sights whenever we're in town. It's perfect for kids and families. However, you'll see a mix of couples, college students and kids. The natural bridge itself is a beautiful rock outcropping stretching into the ocean. The waves are mild and perfect to stroll through, although the actual beach isn't very long. It's on the smaller side and can see some high traffic, especially on the weekends. I'd recommend coming on a weekday if possible, and a sunny one at that.

Pretty nice beach .. but not cleanest tho, saw a dead bird and some area smell ( from the dry kelp I think ) a little too much mosquitoes too.. life guard on board, bathroom with changing area ( bit wet, so be careful ) there is also a huge tide pole area which is pretty cool. Parking fee is $10 per day use, there is also a 20 min zone which you can park for free is you don't plan to stay long.

Natural Bridges has always been one of my favorite beaches in the Santa Cruz area. So much history as to how it used to look and what it is today. As an elementary student, my school used to take us here to view the monarch butterflies, then we'd explore the tidepools. Once I got my drivers license, this was a place I'd escape to during my college years. Celebrated my dirty 30 with friends and family with a picnic. Yes, I love this beach. During the pandemic, we purchased a State park pass. Best thing we could've bought. Allowed me to park peacefully on one of my days off. No longer hunting in the neighborhood for open spots. Lots of bathrooms at this beach. A major thumbs up for me.

Natural Bridges State Beach is a small beach at the end of West Cliff Drive. If you were looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, I highly recommend taking a walk on W. Cliff Dr. and ending here. The walk from the dream in on one side of W. Cliff Dr. all the way here is about 2 1/2 miles one way. So get some comfy walking shoes on and get ready for a 5 mile round-trip if you want to do the whole thing. If distance walking isn't for you, you can visit the overlook of natural bridges and park for free for 20 minutes in the designated area. Otherwise, full day parking is $10 per day as it is for all other state parks. Natural bridges is one of the best places to take in a sunset during the summer. The rock formations that form the bridge are homes to nesting birds which are protected and should not be disturbed. On warmer days, you'll be in for a putrid sulfur surprise caused by the waste left by the birds. You've been warned! Stay upwind of the arch and you'll be fine.