State park
Natural Bridges State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach is a state park in Santa Cruz County, California. Day use costs $10 per vehicle. Hours: Park Hours: 8am to Sunset Visitor Center Hours: 11 am to 4 pm October 1 - January 31: Daily February 1 - September 30: F.
Natural Bridges State Beach map
Natural Bridges State Beach boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
Common questions
- Entry to Natural Bridges State Beach costs $10 per vehicle. Hours: Park Hours: 8am to Sunset Visitor Center Hours: 11 am to 4 pm October 1 - January 31: Daily February 1 - September 30: F.
- No, day use at Natural Bridges State Beach does not need a reservation; pay the entry fee on arrival.
- No, dogs are not allowed at Natural Bridges State Beach.
Before you go
Day use needs no reservation; pay the entry fee on arrival.
Trails
- Monarch Trail Wheelchair-accessible boardwalk to the monarch observation deck
- Tide pool access trail Path to public intertidal pools; visit at tides of 2 feet or lower
What to see
- Arch Natural Bridges sea arch Wave-carved sea arch remaining at the beach
- Feature Monarch Grove Natural Preserve Only State Monarch Preserve in California; winter roost in eucalyptus
- Feature Moore Creek wetlands Freshwater wetlands and salt marsh before the creek reaches the sea
Public lands next to Natural Bridges State Beach
- BLM unitNatural Bridges State Beach borders California Coastal National Monument.
- State parkWilder Ranch State Park is 0.7 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkLighthouse Field State Beach, a state park, is 1.2 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkSanta Cruz Mission State Historic Park is 2.1 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- State parkTwin Lakes State Beach, a state park, is 2.4 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=541 (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_state_parks (accessed 2026-09-28)