The mild winters of the California coast are a perfect haven from the harsh cold weather in our country's interior. Monarchs take advantage of this climate and use the same overwintering sites year after year. Congregations of overwintering Monarchs are found at more than 200 sites along the California coast, from Mendocino County in the north to San Diego in the south. Here is information on several overwintering sites that are open to the public. Find the sites closest to you and plan for a magical day exploring this amazing phenomenon. Please keep in mind that Monarchs are present from October through February. Also, a few of these sites host festivals or other events.

Monarch Grove Sanctuary, Pacific Grove
About 20-30,000 Monarchs estimated
Hours of operation: always open
Group reservations not required in advance
Admission is free
Friends of the Monarchs: (831) 375-0982
http://www.pgmuseum.org/
Directions: The Sanctuary is located on Ridge Road, one block west of the intersection of Lighthouse Avenue and 17 Mile Drive. Parking is available at the entrance.

Pacific Grove is home to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. Each winter, thousands of Monarch Butterflies cluster together on the pines and eucalyptus of the Sanctuary. Arriving in October, these hardy insects will overwinter until February, when they will join the spring Monarch migration, spreading northward and eastward as they hunt for milkweed plants on which to lay their eggs.

Natural Bridges State Beach, near Santa Cruz
About 100,000 Monarchs estimated
Open: 8:00 am until sunset
Boardwalk and observation deck (wheelchair and stroller accessible)
Tours available weekends mid October through February
Telephone: (831) 423-4609
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=541
Directions: Take Swift Avenue west from Highway 1, or follow West Cliff Drive north along the in-town bluffs until it ends at Natural Bridges.

The park Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for over 100,000 Monarchs each winter. The Monarch Grove has been declared a Natural Preserve, thus protecting the Monarchs and their winter habitat from human encroachment or harm. This is the only State Monarch Preserve in California. Access to the preserve is limited to a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk and observation area.

Lighthouse Field State Beach
Operating Hours: 7:00am to 10:00pm year round
Telephone: 831-420-5270
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=550
Directions: The beach is on West Cliff Drive in downtown Santa Cruz, just south of Natural Bridges State Park.

Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds, and wintering Monarch butterflies are drawn to this area. Sea lions populate the offshore rocks.

Pismo State Beach, near San Luis Obispo
Telephone: (805) 489-2684
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=595
Directions: The beach is located in the town of Oceano off Highway 1.

Pismo State Beach offers all kinds of attractions: hiking, swimming, surf fishing, and digging for the famous Pismo clam. There are tree-lined dunes and the beach is popular with bird watchers. The park has the largest over-wintering colony of Monarch butterflies in the U.S.

Point Lobos State Park, near Carmel
Monarchs found in warm protected areas along Whaler's Knoll Trail.
Natural History link from Point Lobos website: http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/
Directions: Three miles south of Caramel on Highway 1.

Ardenwood Historic Farm
The Monarchs roost in the North Woods between the RR tracks and the northern fence boundary.
http://www.ebparks.org/parks/arden.htm
Directions: The Farm is located south of Interstate 88 (Hwy 17) and north of Hwy 84 (which leads to Dumbarton Bridge).

Ellwood Main
This is the premier Monarch site in southern California, with close to 100,000 Monarchs in good years.
http://www.sblandtrust.org/coronado.html
Directions: East of Santa Barbara in the town of Goleta (UCSB), take the Glen Annie/Storke Road exit.

There is now a major fund raising drive led by the Trust for Public Land to purchase what is called the Ellwood Mesa area, which includes Ellwood Main. Learn more about this effort at http://www.tpl.org/ellwoodmesa

Morro Bay State Park
Situated in scenic Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County, the Park contains several butterfly overwintering sites. The camp ground is closed to camping until spring of 2005.
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=594
Directions: From San Luis Obispo take Highway 1 north to the Los Osos - Baywood Park off ramp. Turn left, go about 1 mile and turn right into the Park.

City of San Leandro
The City of San Leandro sponsors monarch tours for the public at the Monarch Golf Course. They take place every Saturday from Nov 6 - Feb 5 at 11 am, 1 pm and 2:30 pm. School group tours can also be arranged.
Contact: butterflynaturalist@earthlink.net

 

For information about additional, smaller sites please go to:
http://homepage.smc.edu/sakai_walter/Monarch%20Butterfly/sites.htm