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Natural Bridges State Beach
Category: Active Life Beaches Beaches [Edit]
Swanton Blvd & W Cliff DrSanta Cruz, CA 95067
(831) 423-4609
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
151 reviews for Natural Bridges State Beach
151 reviews in English
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Review from Anu M.
4/2/2012
There is free car parking on Swanton Blvd (closer to the perpendicular West Cliff Drive). The nearby scenic viewpoint on the West Cliff Drive did not quite reveal the bridge formation, so we walked down to the beach to see the natural bridge.
There are two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours and the visitor center displays the time of high tides and low tides for the day. When the tides are low, one can go inside the natural bridge to see the the beautiful and rich ocean life - star fish, mussels, sea anemone, sea urchins and camouflaged crabs. Also, during low tides the ocean forms tide pools in the nearby rocks, exposing the mussels and sea anemone, but I found the natural bridge to be more abundant with the ocean life
Next to the visitor center is the ~0.5mile Monarch Trail that lead us to the eucalyptus grove, which is the resting area for the butterflies. The trail to the grove is made interesting by fun facts that were posted about the monarch. There is also a fresh water pond full of green algae, with ducks and drakes thriving there.
A small trail near the fresh pond took us around the park and the surrounding area that is home to gopher snake and gray fox. As we approached the end of the trail that formed a loop and connected to the beach, we saw the Moore Creek to the left forming a lagoon. Don't miss out the snowy egrets on the creek waiting to catch their prey.
If you are lucky, you might be able to spot dolphins swimming just off the shore.
Sunset at Natural Bridges is not to be missed; never seen a better sunset in California so far. I would certainly draw parallels between sunset in Natural Bridges and sunset in Hawaii. -
Review from Jay F.
Saratoga, CA
4/29/2012 8 photos
A great place with good tide pooling, a scenic beach, and monarch butterflies depending on the time of year.
If it weren't so crowded at times and parking wasn't a pain, this place could get full marks.
Remember to love it, but not to love it to death by damaging tidal pools or collecting animals. -
Review from Brandon Y.
San Jose, CA
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ah, Natural Bridges. I used to come here on school field trips back in elementary school and always remembered the gazillion butterflies flying around as well as the tidepools. Decided to take the gf here for Valentine's Day weekend, even though this was towards the end of the butterfly season. Even though we only saw about a dozen monarchs, it was still a fantastic day of outdoorsiness.
That weekend, they were having their migration festival to "send-off" the butterflies, and there were many booths with crafts, some food, music, and a lot of information about migratory species as well as information on conservation organizations, which I really appreciated. We enjoyed talking at the tables about animals and surprisingly enjoyed their chili that they had for lunch (just a dollar for one food ticket!) - so good, we had two bowls each :P
The surrounding area and park itself is quite lovely. We were able to walk along the monarch trail, hike along two trails, and end up on the beach with the "natural bridge" and some ledges that would lead to tidepools. The weather itself was sunny but pretty windy, so like any NorCal beach, we were chillin on the beach with pants and jackets on...but it was quite the lovely day and a great date and picture-taking spot.
As a heads up, parking is $10/day, but the parking lot is huge, so all good. Also, bathrooms are a bit gross, especially near the visitor center, but I'm sure those going to a state park aren't expecting something grand for bathrooms anyways - just a warning - bring hand sanitizer :P -
Review from Albert H.
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very nice facility with a good beach and interesting decaying rock features ( for which it is named ). The Monarch Butterfly grove is a nice place- and well improved with wooden boardwalks - though I remember seeing many more butterflies in years past.
I heard that several years of freezes and some movement to another grove has impacted the population here. It used to be that one could either see vast colonies hanging in the trees when it was cold, or masses of butterflies flitting around when it was warmer - we were lucky in our late January visit this year to see just a few fliers and a single lonely chrysalis in the milkweed garden. -
Review from Adrienne G.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2012 5 photos
Beeeee-utiful surroundings for the Monarch Butterflies who make this an annual stop while migrating
Little tidbits about these butterflies, their migratory patterns, lifespan, how to tell the males from the females etc... SO much to learn about these little guys! Like did you know they can fly up to 60 MILES in ONE day?! And they really can't move around all that great in temps below 45F?
Look up, look down, look all around - they're everywhere! All nestled in the trees, huddled together & adorable. Hanging out on the boardwalk, on railings, on random stones.....be careful where you walk!!!
Nice boardwalk-like walkway down to the grove to see the butterflies & nicely laid out path to take you around the woods, to the beach where you'll come upon the glorious Natural Bridge.....nice sandy beach, beautiful houses, surfers, families playing on the beach & in the water, picnic tables everywhere....this place is totally setup for a grand day at the beach
Enjoy the weather & nature & see some butterflies.....perfect day!!Listed in: Nature, Baby!
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Review from Michael H.
Portland, OR
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
My trip out to Natural Bridges today was two fold: to enjoy the oddly warm January weather and to see the Monarch butterflies. We paid our ten dollar entry fee and proceeded to the interpretive center in order to get our education on. The park ranger was giving a tour to a group of small kids so we bypassed the group and checked out the educational exhibits.
Shortly after we learned that Monarch butterflies were poisonous, we also learned that the park ranger giving the tour was extremely rude and yelled at us for being too loud. Not only were we not being that loud, we were simply engaged in the exhibit....sorry for letting our excitement get the best of us.
We continued on our merry way and ventured down the boardwalk to experience the Eucalyptus grove where the Monarch's live. We enjoyed some butterflies here and there, but not in the masses I was hoping for. It turns out, when it warms up (above 55 degrees), the butterflies take off and do there thing out in the wild.
Tip: if you want to see the butterflies huddled on the limbs of the Eucalyptus trees, go when it's cold. -
Review from Jen H.
2/13/2012 1 photo
Still 4 stars even though we missed the Monarch Butterflies, who supposedly make their annual stop, "a Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary," here while migrating from Western Canada!
However, we were fortunate to capture a few butterflies and two who were mating ;). I was able to walk really close to it and take a picture (see pic!)
We came late Jan, but supposedly they are here from roughly mid-October through mid-February. The Monarchs form a "city in the trees" as seen in the Yelp Pictures.
I gotta try to come back Mid November next time!!! -
Review from angela n.
We came for the monarchs, but I've seen way more butterflies, at close range, at the California Academy of Sciences Tropical Rainforest. Here the butterfly clusters were way up high in the trees, and looked more like dead leaves than anything else. When the sun hits them, they do flutter around, looking pretty, but still tend to stay high up (That is, they are too far for inspection). The butterflies we did see close up tended to be on the ground, sick or dying. Watch your step or you may injure them further.
On the plus side, my nephews loved this place. There's a butterfly garden near the visitors center where you can see caterpillars and chrysalises. My nephews like geocaching and found a cool treasure. But most importantly, there's easy access to a beautiful sandy beach, where kids can play and scream, get really wet, and watch the huge pelicans.
The visitor center sells seeds for milkweed and flowers to attract butterflies to your yard. The park ranger was also very nice. I said to my brother-in-law, "Do we need a map?" Then all of a sudden there was a park ranger behind me, handing me a trail map! Helpful! -
Review from Flor D.
11/22/2011 3 Check-ins Here
It's natural for me to live, nap, breath, snack, think, and dream at the beach.
However, I still haven't mastered what most normal people do there, and that is read. I am easily distracted by the sounds, the smells, and the beauty of waves crashing onto shore. Waves seduce me, and the thought of burying my nose in a book just seems disrespectful. With that being said, Natural Bridges is my pick when I want something quiet, not crowded, and no pot smoke. Yeah, I said it. NO pot smoke. Kids usually plague the sand and tide pools, but it works here.
Families welcome and keep in mind parking will run you some dollars. If you are cheap and/or or don't mind the walk, you can park along the street and go for a stroll.
Fog sometimes covers the view, but on a good day, you are likely to experience a wicked day at the beach. If you aren't going up the 1, this is a good bet. -
Review from Z D.
San Pedro, CA
3/30/2012
No butterflies today, but we saw a dead cormorant watched over by a comrade. Good place for a stroll; next time we hope to come November - February to see the monarchs.
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Review from Loli L.
San Francisco, CA
11/10/2011
Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Since we didn't know if we were going to be staying long, we parked in the 20-minute overlook and power-walked to get our fill of whatever we could in that time span.
What we enjoyed:
View of the beach - gorgeous!
View of the natural bridge- My dude renamed it, "Pelican Island"
View of some nice picnic spots
Visitors center- they had a trail map that came in handy for this short time
Monarch Grove- so pretty!!
Lovely hike back to the overlook - thanks to that handy map
We concluded that it's entirely possible to enjoy a lot within the 20-minute time span- but only if you move fast. Otherwise, pay the entry fee ($10) or park across the street.Listed in: Santa Cruz in less than a day
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Review from Shiva S.
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The monarch butterflies left about a week ago apparently. Went there on 2/18 and only saw 2-3 butterflies at a time, but it was still pretty cool. Plan on coming back here mid October or November when there's more of them.
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Review from cynthia s.
Carnelian Bay, CA
10/4/2011
This beach is beautiful, especially at sunset, and the area is very family friendly too.
And the Monarch butterflies are back in Santa Cruz until March! From the beach, walk uphill to the visitors center and meandering boardwalk through the eucalyptus grove. Look for butterflies fluttering through the air, and spot scores more clumped high up in the trees.
Finally, while you're in the neighborhood, don't miss the Seymour Center at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory just around the corner. From the butterfly grove, walk up to Delaware Avenue and follow the path to the bluffs just past the De Anza development, or follow the driveway and park at the center. The world's largest giant blue whale skeleton is on display outside, and it's well worth a stop even if you don't have time to go inside and view the impressive and informative exhibits. -
Review from Paul N.
San Jose, CA
3/18/2012
Another of Santa Cruz's greatest beaches ever. I love the rock formation and the way the facilities are set up. Haven't seen their Monarch butterflies during the peak season, but one of these days I'll go back around the winter months to check them out.
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Review from Carol L.
12/5/2011
Brought bf here for his birthday, for two reasons:
1. Monarch butterflies
2. Tide pools
It was a cold blustery day, so the butterflies were tightly bundled together - only showing minimal orange and mostly black. Still, it was pretty cool to see so many clumped together. Bring a good zoom camera or binoculars if you want to see them - they are really high up!
The tide pools were awesome. Maybe I had more fun because bf had never touched a sea anemone...but climbing through the rocky crevasses to reach the tide pools were fun. Saw tons of colorful starfish and sea anemones of all sizes. Awesome!
And like some other reviewers said - def drive up further to the lab. The whale skeleton on display is pretty cool. -
Review from Brenda L.
9/20/2011 4 photos
Despite losing my phone in the fine soft sand and searching for it for nearly 20 minutes, this place was breathtaking.
I came on a warm day and there was a slight breeze and the skies were bright handicap blue (that's as best as I can describe the color). There was a woman photographer taking photos for almost an hour and she courteously took a picture for me in front of the beautiful arched rock! I was surprised that the parking lot was relatively empty and that there weren't that many people there that day so I had a serene picnic at the beach.
Not far from the natural bridge is a picnic area under a shaded area.
Tip: don't place your phone down on the sand even if you think you're keeping a close eye on it. -
Review from David K.
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not sure why this is a state park ... I suppose to preserve the less-than rock formation and to preserve the small beach front for preservation. My thought, though is aren't there other areas, more pristine and more beautiful in the state that deserve limited tax payer dollars to preserve for public?
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Review from Kressler N.
Orange County, CA
8/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
My favorite destination in Santa Cruz - simply beautiful. =)
We did not do an extensive walk through but it has to be one of the loveliest views I have seen in quite a while. We visited on a week day and seeing the natural arches & bridges was wonderful. The beach was not too crowded - it was very clean as well. People seemed to just really enjoy themselves & the view here. It's definitely a place you should see. =) -
Review from Monica F.
7/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is beautiful...relaxing and even on a busy 4th of July weekend, this place kept it's serene atmosphere that was perfect for a super chill time with my girlfriends....
I like how the bathroom is kept clean...and there are a lot of stalls. No need to wait in line.... Soap is not available... so bring some hand sanitizer if you're a germaphobe.
I see this place as being my new getaway... whether with friends, or by myself... it's that pretty! Perfect place to lay around on your beach towel and skimpy bikini, get your tan on, listen to music, nap, chit chat, have a little picnic (only if you're prepared..coz all we had was water)...and chill.....
There's this part wherein you can go down the rocks and have your own little mini beach space.
There's a lot of street parking available...if you're up for a walk. The view is definitely enjoyable..but you gotta watch out for people riding their bikes. Keep Right. Walk a single line. -
Review from Kailey O.
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
TONS of bbq pits and picnic benches. Most are covered by trees, if that's what you're looking for to escape the heat.
I would not park inside, but the attendant is usually forgiving and will let you drop off a heavy load to the picnic area and park elsewhere. We parked on Delaware, which is a short easy walk to the picnic benches.
The cliffs are awesome to look at as well as the natural bridge, duh...
no alcohol allowed. there's a martini glass on the sign, we do it classy in SC ;)Listed in: Travel bug, Green living
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Review from Roselina R.
Milpitas, CA
5/31/2011 1 photo
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large bag of chips quickly snatched up and the culprit making a run for it! Kids playing "I dare you"? Maybe just a hungry residentially challenged individual? No, a crafty seagull!
The seagulls here alone were entertaining! We saw three different beach goers become victims of these tenaciously hungry birds. Pack up your snacks well, the birds will literally rummage through your open bags looking for food! Silly birds, chips are for peeps!
Definitely a lovely beach! The main **parking** lot is directly adjacent to the BBQ and picnic table area. There is another parking area right past the ranger booth, and it seemed like the walk to the beach wasn't too far, but carrying coolers, etc., down to the beach might be a pain.
The shaded **picnic area** overlooks the beach, and it's not far away from the water, so you feel more secure leaving your beach belongings unattended, and vice versa; less likely to have unwanted picnic moochers taking advantage of unattended food.
There are two **restrooms** that sandwich the picnic area. One right next to the parking lot and another on the other side of the picnic area. Both restrooms were clean, but no soap, so bring along your fav sanitizer.
Right next to the beach is a rock plateau that you can easily walk up to. This is where you can find the cool **tide pools**!
This doesn't seem to be a sun bathing type of beach, because it was really windy! I guess from other yelp reviews, the wind is a frequent visitor here. Good thing we packed warm clothes. It finally became intolerable for us around 2ish, because the wind was whipping sand into our faces.
Definitely a nice spot. Make sure you secure your belongings and trash against the seagulls and wind! -
Review from Mitchell B.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Natural Bridges is a wonderful beach. I've heard talk of some sort of $10 entry or parking fee, but if you park on Delaware and walk over it's free. The view is stellar and the tide pools stretch for like a solid mile up the coast.
If you walk up the coast a ways you can also wander through a weird, reminiscent of the 1950s trailer park. Always worth a laugh.
However! 50% of the time it's either super duper windy or absolutely full of tourists. Beware. -
Review from Nicholas B.
Santa Cruz, CA
The Good:
The View (One of the best and quietest beaches in SC)
Perfect place to watch the Sunset
Lots of Parking
The Bad:
To many people know about this spot ;)
Tips:
Avoid on the weekends
Recommendation:
Come out on a weeknight and catch the Sunset. Remember to dress warm.Listed in: Run Forrest Run
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Review from Tom L.
3/18/2011
Natural Bridges is one of the places that makes me love spending time in Santa Cruz.
The beach is at the end of Westcliff Drive, one of the most picturesque drives in the Santa Cruz area. After driving past about 100 homes that you would sell a kidney to own, you will arrive at Natural Bridges State Beach. Park on the street for free and avoid paying the $10 the parking lot charges.
The main attraction here are the tide pools. They are some of the most accessible and lively tide pools in the area. There are three main rock areas. The first rock is by far the worst so don't be discouraged if you don't see much life there. The further you go the more you will see. I've seen everything from fish to eels in the various pools scattered throughout the rocks. It's always best to come during low tide, so plan ahead and your experience will be that much better.
The beach itself isn't my favorite in the area, but it is still really nice. The nicest thing about coming here is the beach gets more sun than most of the other beaches to the South. The whole beach has great views of the natural bridge rock formations. If you are into photography this is a great place to come and take pictures.
Natural Bridges is an excellent place to come and enjoy the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz coast.Listed in: Best of the best, Santa Cruz
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Review from Andrew S.
1/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Where else can you enjoy the warm sand and cool water on one end and on the other end walk out and explore the place where thousands of butterflies call home.
I came here on a rather warm day in January (75 degrees to be exact). The sun was out in full force, the waves were humongous with surfers in the near distance and the kids were out and about frolicking in the water.
This is definitely a kid's playground. What kid doesn't like exploring butterflies? Just one short walk on the wood platform, and you'll enter the butterfly "sanctuary" where often times you'll see butterflies hang form the trees up ahead. You can also take your child to the visitor center where they have more butterfly information and if the time is right, you may be able to see cocoons next to the visitor center with the next batch of butterflies ready to fly away.
Then once you're done exploring the butterflies, you can walk straight to the beach, and even have a picnic. They do have limited picnic areas available complete with picnic tables. The beach itself is nice. On low tide, you can go around the "natural bridge" that now stands as two big rocks (with the top part of natural bridge arch collapsing several years ago). During high tide though, the waters can get a bit high and swimming is considered dangerous.
Word of caution, this beach does get extremely busy, so if you're looking for a more private beach, keep driving north of Highway 1. If not, then this is one of the better beaches in SC. Great for children, great for sun tanning, great for picnicking and yes, even butterfly seeking.Listed in: An Ode to Outdoor Living
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Review from Nik O.
Hadn't been here since I did summer programs at ucsc, and its funny how much bigger it seemed when I was 17. Beach was clean other than natural debris of driftwood and kelp. "Bridge" was as beautiful as I remember and it was nice to see families enjoying the sunset. Guess it was low tide all day because there wasn't much going on in the tide pools when I ventured onto the rock shelf further past the sandy beach. Even most of the anemones were shut.
I had a lot of great times in Santa Cruz so this was a super nostalgic trip for me. Pretty beach, great place to hang out and enjoy the scenery, check out the hot surfers ;) -
Review from Katya J.
Portland, OR
12/24/2010
This is definitely my preferred beach in Santa Cruz, and not only because it was within walking distance of my old place. It's gorgeous and a great spot for photography. It's still a little busier than I'd like most of the time, but it's nice.
You can get pretty far walking and climbing along the rock formations to the northwest, and that's as close as you'll get to being alone. I also love coming here for the monarch migration -- this spot is prime! Just get there early to beat the crowds.
Also, I wouldn't recommend coming here at night. If it's a late-night bonfire you're after, try Seabright Beach. -
Review from Phillip Y.
Des Moines, IA
6/1/2011
BRIDGE OR BRIDGES???
It is pretty much two- one looks like a bridge with cavity underneath washed away and another one broken rock. Unfortunately, nature won over and washed away much of the bridge so you cannot walk across it from the top observation. Really nice and scenic but unfortunately not much in the terms of hiking or other activities besides BBQ and lounging around. The ranger post was empty at the gate entrance so just took a short visit in and out.
ADMISSION
Well, if you are here only to see the Natural Bridges- , then I would say save your $10 and walk down from the upper parking lot. If you are here for the beach, then it's worth it to park for the day. For us, we visited during the week so nobody was there. Nice and quiet without the busy vacationers here. There is a visitor's center below at the beach parking but nobody was there again. -
Review from Khanh V.
Westminster, CA
12/30/2011
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES!!!!! I didn't even know about the monarchs here (there were none when we came), but it's still so beautiful. If you climb on the rocks a bit and walk (it's pretty safe), you'll be able to see all the corals, crabs, starfish, and other sea creatures.... sooooo pretty..... i LOVE this place!!!!
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Review from Angie H.
San Jose, CA
4/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the places that I take for granted, this is my go-to beach in SC, nice views, chill people, close to downtown and free, easy to find street parking. I also like West Cliff a lot, both for talking a walk and driving. On one side you see the beautiful pacific ocean, on the other side pretty beach houses line the street.
There's also the butterfly grove, where monarch butterflys come during the winter time and stay for a while. I've only been there once, it's pretty cool, but from far away its kinda hard to see since they are all crowded together on the eucalyptus trees. Not like in the movies with thousands of butterflys flying around you sorta thing.
Another thing that's kinda cool are the tide pools, lots and lots sea anemones. I used to poke them with my finger and watch all their tentacles retreat, but apparently they don't like that too much, so now I try to refrain... -
Review from Bobbie P.
Sterling, VA
7/25/2011
I might be a bit biased because I proposed to my girlfrined here, but the bridge is absolutely amazing during sunset. We didn't "go into" the park per se so we just parked, and walked right onto the beach meaning that we didn't have to pay the $10 people are talking about. However we did go during the week where there were very few people.
Do dress in layers, and go during low-tide if you can.
As others mentioned, try to avoid it during the weekends. -
Review from Seong P.
11/29/2010
We went for the tide pools but got lucky because it was also monarch butterfly migration time. I don't know where they came from but they cluster high up on tree branches so that they don't blow off and become the prey of birds. It was really cool looking although I wished it was warmer so they would fly around to search for food.
The bridge to get down to the butterflies was lovely, curvy and had areas where you could stop and just look out at the ducks who were mating. I guess it's that time of year.
The tide pools were somewhat anticlimactic but that was probably because I wasn't wearing the right shoes and after paddling around and seeing 10 colors of starfish one day in Half Moon Bay, 3 or 4 anenomes and mussels didn't measure up.
The bridges were cool to look at. I'm looking forward to coming back in the summer where I'll expect more action in the tide pools.Listed in: nature-y places i like
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Review from christina t.
San Jose, CA
5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
LOVE that it is windy, always pretty, and just a nice place to look out over the water. Whoever the people who live in the mobile park near by have the view of a lifetime.
The whole beach gets pretty busy but it is well worth the view and scenery. 4 star spot (just don't go in the water, EWWW) -
Review from Stacy G.
1/1/2011
A visit to Natural Bridges made me grateful for State Parks, places where everyone can come and enjoy nature's beauty and wonders. Stop in the visitor's center to learn about butterflies, then take a hike through the nearby eucalyptus tree grove where monarch butterflies overwinter. Hint: the sunniest parts are where you will see the most butterflies.
There are lots of well-marked trails surrounding which you can explore, and lots of wildlife including bluebirds, bunnies, butterflies, quail, etc. The trail we took led us back to the beach and the beautiful "bridge" from which the park takes its name. We rested from our hike on a large log of driftwood and had a very zen moment. -
Review from Megan K.
Moraga, CA
7/4/2011
Go ahead and help the state to keep our natural treasures well kept. The entrance to the park was around 10 bucks- ask for a map. Make a trip through Monarch trail- even though the bridge is closed for maintenance (July 2011) there is a way to get to the trail- from the further end of the park.
Then make a walk to the Natural bridges beach. Friendly beach- dress in layers. Easy access. -
Review from H H.
Union City, CA
2/14/2011
Loved it. Came for the Migration Festival, lots of eco friendly vendors, music, educational and artsy activities for kids etc. I think I was most enamoured with the live bat exhibit (teeny cute sleeping black fuzz ball) and the Monarch trail walk.
The Monarch trail is truly lovely, even if the hordes of butterflies have left town already, and the little beaches were busy but not crowded. Very cozy and friendly and definitely light years away from the mess and din of Boardwalk. Nice visitor center and little shop where one can buy nature stuff for all the nieces and nephews, as well as flower seeds and such,
Easy hiking trails, and lots of people jogging along the beautiful coastline. -
Review from Janis V.
1/10/2011
Perfect place to hit up when you want to go to a beach in Santa Cruz, but not in the mood for the SC Beach Boardwalk. There's still a number of people who visit this beach, but it's smaller and more intimate, in my opinion.
When I visit this beach, I like to take the scenic route along the coast because the view is just absolutely beautiful, especially on a warm, sunny day - just be careful you don't run into anything while you're driving... it's also a good idea to park your car somewhere and take a nice walk down to the beach.
I'm a Pisces and I love the water and ocean views, so I like to take advantage of the great photo-ops here, as well. It's a great place to enjoy the beauty of nature and relax. -
Review from jasmine c.
San Jose, CA
2/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Once upon a time I used to live down the road from here...and I loved every minute of it. When my (once upon a time) housemates and I would be up late studying we would ride bikes or drive down to this beach and run into the water at 2am and ride back shivering, but exhilarated. This allowed us to stay awake in a way that coffee or Red Bull could not.
Today, I come down to this beach to appreciate the natural beauty Santa Cruz has to offer. Since I live "over the hill" now, I now come back to this peaceful refuge to get away from the hustle and bustle of living in a big city. My preference is to come here during the week, while those with normal work hours are busy at their jobs/careers. Sometimes, I just sit in my car with all the windows down and the sunroof open and fall asleep. Other times, I park down the street and walk down to the beach with a book and blanket in tow. Either choice is sure to bring a smile, and an appreciation for untainted beauty. -
Review from Kathy D.
8/30/2010
My new favorite beach!!!
I came here this past Saturday and it was perfect ( with a bit of wind..) sunny weather. I loved the sun beaming onto the ocean. The waters was so blue and teal, it almost felt like I was back in Cancun. I especially loved the scenic nature cliffs that comes along with this beach. It is just beautiful. Almost felt like I was driving along the coast in San Diego! But not quite there though of course :P
We put down our belongings and towels along the cliff rocks to help us block the windy sand blowing in our faces. That's what most people did due to the wind. I loved walking along the beach line especially towards the rocks. You get to see tide pools!!! Tide pools protected by the state! Too bad I didn't see any sea creatures though.. Only hermit crabs, but nothing too exciting. It looked awesome though!
Tons of people were BBQ out in the back picnic area. Sand felt perfect and clean on your feet. No dogs allowed on the beach from what I saw, even though i saw a hot doggie. I loved it here! It nowhere felt like I was in Santa Cruz.. This broke connection in thinking that Santa Cruz always meant just Boardwalk.. Wrong! More to it than the boardwalk!
Some areas tend to have ALOT of kelp where tons of flies are in.. which was pretty gross though...But I was able to handle it while walking through it.
Parking available to pay $10, but why would i Do that? There was plenty of parking along residential side! There's like a 30 min pit stop area for people to look at the view also at the entrance of the state beach.
If you are in Santa Cruz, definitely take the time to enjoy West Cliff Drive that will take you to this wonderful beach! -
Review from Jackie C.
San Jose, CA
11/23/2010
Have you ever read a book? A book where the author transports the character to a magical place tucked right beside suburbia?
Well this, folks, is it.
When you arrive, there are so many things you can do. Go see the butterflies, and learn about their annual migration across the continent. Or, venture down onto the beach and visit the tide pools and take pictures of the rock formations. Or, better yet, just relax, lie down, and let it all in. I haven't been here in the longest time. so I can't give you any tips. But I'm sure this little haven is still a hidden gem tucked near Santa Cruz. COME HERE. You will not be disappointed.
