Natural Bridges State Beach
High Traffic Alert
This park experiences heavy crowds, especially on weekends.
Check out the similar parks below for a better experience
Popular destination, arrive early for parking
Best: Weekdays before 10am
Natural Bridges is famous for two things: its iconic natural rock arch carved by the sea, and the largest monarch butterfly overwintering colony in California. From October through February, tens of thousands of monarchs cluster in the eucalyptus grove. Year-round, the park's tidepools are among the most accessible and richest in the Monterey Bay area.
Try These Instead
These parks offer similar experiences with fewer crowds
Asilomar State Beach
Dramatic granite coastline on the Monterey Peninsula with world-class tidepools and a historic Julia Morgan conference center.
Why go: Similar coastal scenery, tide pools, wildlife viewing experience
Around 24 miles away
