Lighthouse Field State Park on the Beach - Guide to Lighthouse Field State Beach

Lighthouse Field State Beach (In Santa Cruz, California)

Lighthouse Field State Beach is a protected beach as part of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, located in Santa Cruz, California.

Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds - including the rare Black Swift and wintering Monarch butterflies are drawn to this area. Sea lions populate the offshore rocks.

This is one of the places where Monarch butterflies winter along the California coast. Monarchs are unique because they migrate each winter to avoid freezing weather. The Monarchs wintering here, come from west of the Rocky Mountains. Monarchs east of the Rockies go to central Mexico for the winter.

Lighthouse Field State Beach has the distinction of being home to California's first surfing museum. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive. Overlooking internationally renowned surfing hotspot Steamer Lane, this museum has photographs, surfboards, and other interesting items tracing over 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz.

Among many noteworthy community events, Lighthouse Field State Beach hosts "Caroling Under the Stars" each Christmas, a Santa Cruz tradition which attracts hundreds of locals and visitors.

Location of Lighthouse Field State Beach

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Location: Use following Coordinates: Coordinates: 36°57'7"N 122°1'42"W in a GPS for exact locations. Lighthouse Field State Beach is located on West Cliff Drive in downtown Santa Cruz.

Lighthouse Field State Beach can be reached at 831-429-2850.

Here is a detailed list of other state beaches of California besides Lighthouse Field State Beach.