State Beach Natural Bridges State Beach is home to a fascinating diversity of life within its 65 acres on the west side of Santa Cruz. The park's Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve provides a temporary home for up to 1500,000 Monarchs each winter. The 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 anenomes, 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 hrough these meadows, forming a wetlands in the sand. Picnic tables with barbecues and water faucets are located beneath the eucalyptus trees around the main parking lot. There are three restroom facilities. There is a day-use fee per car to park within the state beach area.