Natural Bridges State Beach

Located near the Westside area of the city of Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges State Beach is actually the name of a 65-acre state park managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The state park contains a beach area in its southern part. The area is known as ‘Natural Bridges State Beach’ as it used to have natural bridge-like arches in the water near the beach, which were formed out of mudstone cliffs being naturally eroded away into arches by the water. Earlier there used to be three such arches, however, only one remains which is a popular perching spot for birds now. The beach has light brown sand. The Moore Creek flows into the ocean through the beach area, often forming a lagoon on the southern end of the beach. The state park area also has a monarch butterfly sanctuary, coastal scrub, grasslands, and wetlands, which are present around the beach area. Although the beach has a lifeguard tower, an on-duty lifeguard is often not available. 

The beach offers a number of other amenities including showers, restrooms, barbecues, picnic spots, and walking trails. Although the beach does not allow dogs, it does offer access to people with disabilities.

Natural Bridges State Beach has a number of exciting activities including hiking, biking, swimming, surfing,surf-skimming, kiteboarding, canoeing, kayaking, boogie boarding, boating,kite-surfing, tide pooling, wildlife watching, sunbathing, beach-walking, and picnicking. The beach can get quite windy during afternoons, which is a great time to fly kites and go kitesurfing. During winters, the waves in the waters here have large swells, which are favored by surfers. The western coastline along the beach area has some excellent tidepools which can be explored. A variety of interesting species including sea stars, hermit crabs, sea anemones, sea urchins, and kelp live in these tidepools. However, be careful while tide pooling as the water around the beach is part of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and carelessness while interacting with these legally protected animals can be fatal for them. Moreover, we recommend reviewing a tide chart of the area before tide pooling to make your experience safer and convenient.

The beach is easy to access - it's located on 2531 West Cliff Drive. We recommend parking at the bluff-top free parking lot situated along West Cliff Drive and overlooking the ocean, which is a short walk away from the beach. There is also paid parking lot at Natural Bridges State Beach.

The nearby Moore Creek often forms a lagoon on the beach area and the wetlands surrounding this lagoon can be often explored via a hiking trail. The lagoon area is also a great spot for bird watching as exotic avian species often gather here. The ‘natural bridge’ archway situated near the shoreline also has a variety of birds perched atop it including brown pelicans and cormorants. The water near the beach is home to otters, seals, sea lions, and dolphins, and during the whale migration season from December to April, you can see farther out in the ocean a variety of whales including grey whales, humpback whales, and blue whales. The state park’s main road also offers an exciting biking trail. The central portion of the state park also has numerous picnic spots set among eucalyptus groves and laden with amenities including tables and barbecue spots.

You can access the Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve via a hiking trail that leads to the northern part of the state park. At the preserve, usually between mid-October to mid-February, thousands of Monarch butterflies gather to take shelter from the cold winter winds. Every year on the second Sunday of October, the park holds a festival from 11 am to 4 pm celebrating the return of Monarch butterflies to their winter home. The festival has games, guided tours, and other exciting activities, and offers food and music in the state park premises – all of which make for a memorable experience especially if you’re with children.

If you're looking for a restaurant, head to Your Place, which provides an amazing fine dining experience complete with live music, dishes prepared with farm-fresh ingredients, and excellent cocktails. Another family-friendly option is Sabeing Thai Cuisine which offers delicious Thai dishes and is known for its pad see ew, tom yum, and chicken panang curry. The modestly-priced Taqueria Los Pericos is a great friendly dining option and serves delicious food in generous portions.

If you are looking for a hotel near Natural Bridges State Beach, there are many great options. The 4-Star Inn at Depot Hill is 15 minutes away and offers elegant suites along with offering various amenities including complimentary gourmet breakfasts and afternoon wine sessions. A more affordable accommodation option is the 3-Star Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Santa Cruz, which offers well-furnished rooms along with various amenities including a gym, onsite pool, and a hot tub. The economically priced 2-Star Torch Lite Inn also offers a budget-friendly accommodation option.