Monarch butterflies clustered on trees at Pismo Beach near San Luis Obispo
Nearly 100,000 Monarch butterflies make the eucalyptus trees in Pacific Grove, Monterey their home when migrating from west of the Rockies to the California Coast. Exact migration times vary but November is the best time to observe thousands of these butterflies roosting in the trees. They cluster on eucalyptus tree branches, huddling together for warmth, looking like surreal other-worldly extensions of the tree itself.
A Monarch butterfly rests momentarily on a docent’s hand
This time last year we were driving back from San Luis Obispo to San Francisco and we made an unplanned stop at Pismo Beach which turned out to be a great decision. It was the peak of the Monarch Butterfly migration season and the eucalyptus groves were covered from top to bottom with hundreds of thousands of beautiful bright orange and black monarch butterflies. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the butterflies started moving around, fluttering from branch to branch soaking up the warmth.
Monarch butterflies basking in the sunshine
It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see thousands of these brilliant orange & black Monarch butterflies, clustering together in the eucalyptus grove. The Monarch butterfly migration in California is different from the Monarch butterfly migration to Mexico. The butterflies travel half the distance in California compared to the 2000 miles in Mexico. Eucalyptus trees are a perfect habitat for over wintering for the Monarchs since they provide warmth and food in the form of nectar from winter blooms. The butterflies time their departure from California’s coast in spring/summer when the milkweed plant is available again to lay their eggs on, since the Monarch larvae eat only milkweed. The milkweed plant provides an important defense mechanism for the Monarch larva, which is able to ingest the milkweed’s toxin and make itself toxic/poisonous to other animals and birds, effectively keeping away predators.
In awe of the Monarchs at Pismo Beach near San Luis Obispo
After admiring the butterflies in the grove, we walked onto the actual beach nearby. It’s a fun easy hike involving walking up a sand dune and making your way from the sunlit grove to a sunny sandy beach. Pismo Beach is a great spot for a picnic and some relaxation. Watch dogs running joyfully through the surf and families enjoying themselves while kids build grand sandcastles. The path loops back to the Monarch butterfly grove, so if you haven’t had your fill, you can take another look at the glorious butterflies on your way out.
Thousands of monarch butterflies overwintering in eucalyptus trees
Another great place for butterfly watching is Pacific Grove in Monterey. It also has the distinction of being the only state Monarch Butterfly Preserve in all of California! “Butterfly Town” as Pacific Grove is popularly known, celebrates the butterflies arrival every year with a “Welcome back” event and a Butterfly Parade in October and also holds a “Migration Festival” in February when the butterflies head back to the west of the Rockies.
After resting for a few moments on a docent’s hand, a Monarch butterfly gets ready to take off
This year we decided to check out Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz where the Monarch butterflies were roosting among a small grove of trees. There are many free docent-led tours available which is a great way to learn more about these wonderful fragile creatures. We joined one such tour that gave us interesting background and history on the area’s butterfly migration. It was sad to hear that there were only ~4000 butterflies visiting the grove this season; their numbers have been decreasing steadily due to habitat destruction and unavailability of milkweed plants.
Monarch butterflies overwintering in trees at Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz
The Monarch butterfly grove at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz is an easy walk from the visitor center. A boarded walkway leads to the grove where these butterflies roost. There is a viewing platform near the trees where one can stand and observe the butterflies fluttering about overhead. We saw hundreds of thousands of these gorgeous black & orange creatures clustered in the trees, waiting for the sun to shine on them so they could start moving about. Docents offered us binoculars and they also setup a powerful scope through which we could see the butterflies up-close and admire them in their natural habitat.
Although Natural Bridges State Beach was a wonderful experience, we felt Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County offered an even more spectacular experience, since we were closer to the butterflies and practically had them fluttering around within arm’s reach. The butterflies migration path is all along California’s Pacific Coast, so if you’re making a day trip, be sure to stop by at least a couple of their popular overwintering sites.
A must-see event – Monarch Butterfly migration along California’s coast
If you go:
- Top places to observe thousands of these beautiful butterflies are Pismo Beach near San Luis Obispo, Pacific Grove in Monterey and Natural Bridges State Beach Park in Santa Cruz
- The Monarch butterflies migrate from the west of the Rockies to the Pacific Coast in October and stay here till February
- Late November is supposed to be a great time to see the butterflies at their peak counts
- Make sure to carry binoculars, a tripod and your camera with a telephoto lens to capture photos of these beautiful butterflies in all their natural glory
- Wear hiking shoes and dress in layers since there are many hiking trails in these parks and butterfly sanctuaries that you can explore further
- Best times to go are when the skies are clear and the sun is shining brightly. Midday is when the butterflies are most active since their bodies need to be at a certain internal temperature for them to start moving about
- Keep your distance from the butterflies! Do not intentionally touch, handle or injure the butterflies in any manner, else you might find yourself paying a hefty fine
Happy Hiking & Butterfly Watching!
~ Trupti