Monarch Butterflies Migrate to California: Where to Experience the Spectacular
There are many amazing phenomena in nature, from salmon spawning to bear hibernation. But in California, it's the migration of butterflies, commonly called Monarch butterfly, cottonmouth butterfly, common tiger butterfly, wanderer butterfly, black-veined brown butterfly, became the most high-profile event for scientists and nature lovers, writes Travel & Leisure.
Many of them, escaping extreme cold, undertake seasonal migrations. They fly from Canada and the Pacific Northwest to spend the winter in milder climates along the California coast. Some arrive from colder regions west of the Rocky Mountains. Their wintering season in California lasts from approximately October to February.
During this time, butterflies gather in dense colonies (this is how they stay warm). Sometimes, up to a thousand moths can rest on a single tree, turning it into a kaleidoscope of brightly colored wings. Eucalyptus, pine, and cypress trees are typical trees where they settle, as these plant species provide sufficient protection from inclement weather and predators.
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Unfortunately, the monarch butterfly population has been steadily declining for many years. In some seasons, including the past, the decline has been particularly dramatic. For example, at the Pismo Beach Preserve, there were over 24,000 individuals in 2022/2023, over 16,000 in 2023/2024, and only 556 in 2024/2025. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which maintains the official monarch butterfly census, cites climate change, pesticide use, and the loss of overwintering habitat as reasons for the decline.
The 2025/2026 migration season for these winged flowers has already begun, although it is difficult to predict how many will choose the California coast for wintering.
Where can you observe these butterflies, and what can be done to preserve the species?
Natural Bridges State Park, Santa Cruz
Rhiannon Sims, Interpretive and Education Programs Manager for California State Parks, oversees the tour guides at Natural Bridges Park in Santa Cruz. During the winter months, the Monarch Grove Trail attracts many visitors. Open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset for self-guided walks, it's a great spot for butterfly viewing.
"This is our busiest time of year," Sims noted. "Observations typically peak in early November. During this time, we have volunteers on duty in the grove, answering visitors' questions and sometimes bringing spotting scopes so people can get a better look at the moths as they gather in the trees."
Monarch Butterfly Grove at Pismo Beach, Pismo Beach
Just a mile from downtown Pismo Beach lies another prime spot for butterfly viewing: the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. Emma Rhodes, director of the Pismo Beach Environmental Education and Stewardship Program, notes that this spot is especially beautiful due to its proximity to the ocean.
"There's something amazing about being able to walk from the surf to the grove in just five minutes and suddenly find yourself in a magical eucalyptus world with giant trees and monarchs everywhere," she said.
The best time to see Pismo is from late November to early December, according to Rhodes, although the timing can vary.
Monarch Grove Preserve, Pacific Grove
The beach town of Pacific Grove near Monterey is home to another monarch grove sanctuary—the local population of these moths has even earned Pacific Grove the nickname "Butterfly City, USA." During the wintering season from October to February, volunteer tour guides are available to assist visitors and educate them about these lepidopterans.
Golita Monarch Butterfly Grove
Sarah Kasser, a terrestrial invertebrate conservation ecologist at the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, has dedicated her career to studying and protecting "insects with a vital mission." Butterflies are pollinators, making them vital for plant reproduction. Santa Barbara has a dedicated pollinator garden, but travelers can also try to spot monarchs in the wild nearby.
"The most famous monarch-watching spot in Santa Barbara County is the butterfly grove in Goleta, in the Elwood Mesa area," Kasser explained. "In a good year, you can see hundreds, even thousands, of them overwintering in the trees. It's simply magical—they look like tiny, living, fluttering leaves."
In addition, Kasser advises looking for clusters of these wanderers in the neighboring town of Carpinteria.
How to help monarch butterflies
Kim Zembic, regional coordinator of the Xerxes Society's Western Moth Count and lead butterfly specialist at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (Butterflies Alive exhibit), hopes more people will embrace these beautiful creatures and want to protect them.
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Zembik says monarch butterfly enthusiasts can be mindful of habitat loss and vote to protect the lands where these winged creatures thrive. They can also plant native milkweed species in their gardens. This is the only plant on which monarchs lay their eggs and on which their caterpillars feed. It's also worth asking nurseries to supply plants untreated with pesticides, which are dangerous to monarchs. You can even volunteer to participate in butterfly counts.
"When you go out collecting data, you see how biologists and conservationists work. And you're doing something truly important for the planet. Even just observing the monarchs overwintering is a truly transformative experience," Zembic concluded.
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