Natural Bridges State Beach - Santa Cruz,
California. As you stand and gaze
to the horizon at Natural Bridges State Beach, the scenic beauty of
Santa Cruz County is encapsulated in a single view or picture taken at
this location. Beautifully-shaped rocks surrounded by a constantly
changing ocean of seafoam grays and deep aquamarine hues are the star
attraction. The setting for this splendorous scene is an expanse of
ocean that blends in the distance with forested mountains.
Named after a rock
structure shaped like a bridge extending into the water and formed
naturally by erosion, Natural Bridges State Beach is open to public and
offers restrooms, picnic tables, tidepools, visitor information and and
an array of birds, butterflies and sea creatures guests can observe in
their natural habitat.
Spend an hour or two watching seals and
sea otters, migrating whales offshore, sea stars and sand crabs in the tidepools at low tide
or see the beautiful, orange monarch butterflies that nest in the park
from October 15th to February 1st. The monarch population has dwindled
in many areas of California along with milkweed plants used by the
butterflies in their reproduction efforts. Educational programs and
tours teach students about the life cycle of monarch butterflies and
volunteers locally count the monarch population for a national
environmental program that tracks them on an annual basis.
Located on West Cliff
Drive near residential neighborhoods, the park includes areas of coastal scrub meadows, with
bright native wildflowers in the spring. Moore Creek flows down
to the ocean through these meadows, forming a wetlands in the
sand.
Temperatures at this and many Santa Cruz
beaches are generally mild with mostly sunny days. Winds can provide a
chill so its always wise to pack a lightweight jacket so that your visit
is not cut short.
Natural Bridges State Beach is operated
by the Santa Cruz State Parks district, an organization that oversees
maintenance of a vast array of forests and beaches in Santa Cruz County.
www.santacruzstateparks.org
