Natural Bridges State Beach
Also known as Natural Bridges SB
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(831) 423-4609
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Santa Cruz County, about 2 miles from Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges State Beach covers about 62 acres.
The park supports surfing, historic sites, ranger programs, wildlife watching, and geocaching. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
| Visitor center | Daily | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Park Hours: 8am to Sunset
Visitor Center Hours: 11 am to 4 pm October 1 – January 31: Daily February 1 – September 30: Friday through Monday
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
| Bus, Large | $100 |
| Bus, Small | $50 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00 • Bus, Large: $100.00 • Bus, Small: $50.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Are dogs allowed? • For everyone's enjoyment, no smoking, dogs, bicycles, skates, or skateboards on the boardwalk. DOGS are allowed only in the parking lots and picnic areas, but NOT on the beach and trails (except for ADA service animals). All dogs must be on a six-foot maximum leash and under human control at all times. Please do not leave your dog unattended in a vehicle. For a list of locations that you can take your dog to in Santa Cruz County, view Where Can I Take My Dog?
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursPicnickingRanger and interpretive programsWildlife viewing and birdingSurfingGeocachingHikingBiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Water
- Swimming beach
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview Natural Bridges State Beach with its surf-worn rock bridge provides a good vantage point for beach and bird watchers. The park's Monarch Grove Natural Preserve provides a temporary home for over 100,000 Monarchs each winter. Exit Highway 1 at Swift Avenue west, or follow West Cliff Drive north along the in-town bluffs until it ends at the park. Phone (831) 423-4609 for more information. Picnic Area Three accessibly designed picnic areas are available in the main parking lot. Each site includes accessible parking, two tables, two BBQ grills, one water spigot, and trash receptacles. Accessible flushing restrooms with drinking fountains are available nearby. Trails The Monarch Trail is an accessible interpretive boardwalk of about 0.13 mile. It has shaded areas and many rest or conversation areas, some with built-in benches. Trailhead is across the road from the visitor center. A single accessible parking stall is available at the visitor center. Additional accessible parking, restrooms, picnicking, and water are available in the main parking lot. Beach/Shore Access Beach wheelchairs are available for use, free of charge. Reservations at least five business days before your visit are recommended, but not required. Online reservations can be made by visiting the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Beach Wheelchairs website. For more information or assistance, please phone Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks at (831) 429-1840 or email parks@thatsmypark.org. For requests less than five business days, please phone the park directly or phone the Santa Cruz District Special Events Office at (831) 335-8497 or email SCD.specialevents@parks.ca.gov. Exhibits/Programs The visitor center is generally accessible and includes interactive displays, videos, and a bookstore. A single accessible parking stall is available at the visitor center; additional accessible parking is available in the main parking lot. Accessible restrooms are available at the visitor center and in the main parking lot. Other Information Adjacent to the entrance station is a generally accessible viewing platform with benches that overlook the beach and the natural bridges.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 2531 West Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 - Nearest town
- Santa Cruz — about 2 mi (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 36.9522, -122.0572
- Phone
- (831) 423-4609
- SCD.specialevents@parks.ca.gov
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Take Swift St. south from Highway 1, or follow West Cliff Dr. west along the in-town bluffs until it ends at Natural Bridges.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Southern California - Natural Bridges Beach, Near Santa Cruz - NARA - 543398.jpg — Public domain (US federal government work), Dick Rowan
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology