The Monarch Butterfly is a traveller! Each Fall, these gorgeous creatures flood our yards and the lenses of cameras across the state.
California is full of Places To Go and Things To Do. No wonder the Monarchs love visiting us during the Monarch Butterfly Migration! These butterflies are amazing little travelers. They make a round trip every year like birds and whales. Each Fall, these gorgeous creatures flood our yards and lenses of cameras across the state. The kiddos are thrilled when they land on their clothes or even better, a finger. (It’s a myth that if you touch one it will die, but you can be fined significantly – so hands off!)
To clarify, Monarchs are tropical insects. They are the only insects that migrate to a warmer climate that is thousands of miles away. Monarchs do this every year which is why their lifespan is so fascinating. They can’t survive the winters in most of the United States. As the weather starts to turn cold – typically the end of October, Monarchs that live east of the Rocky Mountains head to Mexico. Those that live west of the Rockies head to California.
Monarchs headed to the Golden State always return to the same places every year, despite the fact that they are not the same butterflies! In fact, as many as 5 generations of butterflies have lived and died between migrations. These new Monarchs know all the best migration spots. Thus, the majority end up in three places: Santa Cruz, Pacific Grove, and Pismo Beach.
Santa Cruz: Natural Bridges State Beach
First, Natural Bridges State Beach is the only State Monarch Preserve in California. The grove contains eucalyptus trees, providing the Monarch needed shelter from the wind. These winter-flowering trees are also a convenient food source for the butterfly. On chilly days, when the temperature drops below 55 degrees, the butterflies cluster together. They group in the eucalyptus trees for warmth, so try to visit during the warmest part of the day. Free hourlong guided tours are available at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays during the butterfly season.
Pacific Grove Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary
Second, Pacific Grove has one of the largest monarch overwintering sites in America and the largest population of overwintering monarchs in Monterey County for public viewing.
Pacific Grove is a minute drive from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea. The town of Pacific Grove is so supportive of its unique label as “Butterfly Town, USA” that residents overwhelmingly voted to add a tax increase to create and fund the sanctuary. Visiting is free, and the docents who will guide you are volunteers. Again, in order to view the most butterflies, you’ll want to visit during the warmest part of the day.
Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove
Thirdly, the Monarch Butterfly Grove managed by California State Parks is located half a mile south of Pismo Beach just off Hwy 1. The grove is open from 10 am to 4 pm with docents providing daily talks at 11 am and 2 pm. Here, the butterflies cluster in the Eucalyptus trees flanking an estuary that flows directly into the Pacific Ocean. Because this site is among the furthest south, peak numbers of butterflies are seen in December, rather than November like Santa Cruz and Pacific Grove.
You can find Monarchs throughout North America and Mexico but we truly adore that amazing time of year from October to February when they cross through our state and dazzle all.
The return of thousands of monarch butterflies in 2021 is an exciting development!. With an increase of 3500% over the previous year, there is hope the fabulous creatures could be “edging away from extinction” as previous trends suggested. This article, Pismo Beach butterfly grove sees 3,500% increase in monarch count. ‘We’re thrilled’, by Mackenzie Shuman digs down into efforts to save them and highlights Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. Check out the below video from the article!
More Things To Do
So much of California activities are outdoors or even free. We have an entire category dedicated to things to do that are unique and often free. Click this link or simply the category at the top of the page.
