Walk – Natural Bridges State Beach and West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/17/24
10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location
Natural Bridges State Beach

Categories

Monthly Events

Natural Bridges State Beach and West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

As part of our new COVID-19 protocols, walkers must sign up on our NEW myHPREC website in advance and supply their emergency contact information electronically. This is necessary to avoid close contact on the day of the walk and to make sure the maximum of number of walkers for each session is 30 (including the walk leader).

Meet at one of two places:

At the Northside Parking Lot located on Hwy 9 midway between University Avenue and Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos at 9:20 am. The sign at the lot says “Free Unlimited Parking – Northside Lot.” Take CA-17 south toward Los Gatos. Exit at Hwy 9-Los Gatos/Saratoga and continue west on Hwy 9 (approx. 1/3 mile) to parking lot, located on your right just before Santa Cruz Avenue. Or …
If you drive directly, take CA-17 south to Santa Cruz, and then CA-1 north toward Half Moon Bay. Go through the light at Swift Street, then left at the next light onto Western Drive. Turn right on Mission, turn left on Natural Bridges. Turn left on Delaware Avenue, right on Swanton, and right again into Natural Bridges State Beach.

You may park free on Delaware (sketchy) or Swanton (better) and walk in. At the park kiosk, pay $9 per car or show your Park Pass. Continue to Visitor Center (VC) parking lot. The address is 2531 West Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz. There are beach restrooms on the left on the way to the VC parking lot and also at the beach side of the VC (main) parking lot. The VC restrooms open at 11 am.

The plan is to walk the paved pathway along the West Cliff ocean bluffs to the light house and Surfing Museum overlooking Steamer Lane. We will return to the VC for a picnic lunch overlooking NB State Beach, and then wrap up with a tour of the Monarch Grove. Assuming a sunny day, the butterflies will be more active by then. There are fantastic tidepools if you wish to stay longer, but you may have to cross a stream if we have had a good start to the winter rains.

If you want to cancel your reservation/sign up:
Call or send an email message to the event leader and inform the leader of your cancellation. (grpowers@gmail.com or call Gary Powers at 801-619-0544)