Unless you grew up on the California coast, you might not be familiar with some of its more niche coastal wonders. And although winter isn’t typically when you’d plan a beach trip, it’s actually the ideal season to witness two distinctly Californian natural events: the king tides and the monarch butterfly migration.
There are numerous destinations down the coast where you can see both of these phenomena, but Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz is arguably the best one. Not only is it a locally lauded tide pooling destination, especially during the king tides, but it’s also one of the most famous California overwintering sites for monarch butterflies. Time your visit with the king tides to see Natural Bridges at its best.
Here’s what to know before you go.
Tide pooling during the king tides
The highest tides of the year, also known as the king tides, occur each winter in California when the sun and Earth align with a new or full moon. At high tide, waters rise 1 to 2 feet above average — but during low tide, the water pulls back to reveal rocky coastal habitats that are usually fully submerged.
We can expect the next king tides from December 4-6, 2025, and January 1-3, 2026.
This makes for some next-level tide pooling at local beaches, where you can observe anemones, starfish, urchins, crabs, and other critters. Natural Bridges is widely considered to be one of the best nearby tide pooling spots, with plenty of rocky shoreline to explore. And no matter when you visit, you’ll get some cool pictures with the beach’s eye-catching natural rock arch emerging from the water.
If you decide to try tide pooling, make sure you always check the tide predictions and follow all essential safety practices, as the king tides can create risky situations on the beach. Read our guide to the king tides to learn more.
Seeing the monarch butterflies
The annual monarch butterfly migration is happening all along the coast of California this winter. Every year, these delicate insects fly from colder northern regions to the California coast, entering a dormant state in eucalyptus groves. They typically gather in coastal overwintering sites from October or early November through February.
Santa Cruz is one of the best places to see the monarchs in this state. Per the Xerces Society’s early 2025 monarch count, over 1,100 monarchs have already arrived at Natural Bridges State Beach, and 900 or so were counted at nearby Lighthouse Field State Beach.
These numbers are likely to rise throughout the season. Read our guide to the monarch migration to learn more.
Visiting Natural Bridges
It typically takes about 1.5 hours to reach Natural Bridges State Beach by car from San Francisco.
If you decide to make the trip, consider reading our articles about nearby Capitola and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for more ways to make the most of your time there.
🌐 Website: Natural Bridges State Beach