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Description
Natural Bridges is named for a rocky arch (the last of 3 original rock arches) formed from an eroded peninsula of cliff that once protruded from the coastline. It includes a sandy beach, reached from a short trail from the parking lot, and is bracketed by the Moore Creek Wetlands Natural Preserve to the North - with marshy creek estuary habitat, and the Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve in a stand of Eucalyptus to the south of the parking lot. Rocky shoreline lies on either side of the beach and includes tide pools at low tide.
A wide variety of bird species can be observed here, depending on the season, including Surf Scoter, Pigeon Guillemot, Brown Pelican Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brown Pelican and Western Grebe on and over the water, and birds like Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Sanderling along the beach and rocks. A variety of gulls can be seen here, including Heermann's Gull, Short-billed Gull, Western Gull, California Gull and others. The terrestrial habitats hosts birds like Downy Woodpecker, Anna's Hummingbird Wilson's Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Western Flycatcher, California Scrub-Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow and others. On the north side of the entrance drive, starting from Delaware Rd westward and along Swanton Blvd, coastal scrub offers habitat for species like California Quail, California Thrasher, and Wrentit.
Details
Access
Close to Highway 1 (Cabrillo Highway), on the North side of Santa Cruz. Click on the P in the map for directions or coordinates.