Natural Bridges State Beach, W Cliff Dr Santa Cruz, CA

The park also offers a monarch butterfly migration preserve and exhibit, picnic areas, hiking trails, an accessible boardwalk, and a great sandy beach. A lagoon forms where the creek backs up and birds pose for photographs in this area. This state park is right on the western edge of urban Santa Cruz. Natural Bridges State Beach is a popular family park with lots to explore including great tide pools at low tide. Consult tide charts to plan your trip if you want to go tidepooling. The entrance to the park is located where West Cliff Drive ends at Swanton Boulevard. There is a free parking lot next to an ocean/beach overlook at this intersection that is a perfect lookout for whale-watching during the gray migration (Dec-Apr). You can easily walk into the park from this parking lot. If you drive into the park, there is an entrance fee.