Natural Bridges Tidepools — Attraction in Santa Cruz

The first inhabitants in the Santa Cruz area were small groups of Native Americans. The Ohlone were a semi-nomadic tribe that hunted game and marine mammals and supplemented their diets with shellfish, fish, edible roots and shoots, acorns, nuts, and seeds. The Ohlone raised medicinal plants and herbs. They made tools from locally found stones and shells. Their crafts included shellfish jewelry and baskets.[3]

The displacement of the natives began with the Spanish colonization of the Americas when missionaries and soldiers brought the Ohlone into the missions. The population of Native Americans was greatly reduced by European diseases to which they had no resistance.[3] Governance of the area was transferred from Spain to Mexico after the Mexican War of Independence. The citizens of Mexico used what is now Natural Bridges State Beach as pasture land for their cattle. California became part of the United States after the Mexican–American War.[3]

The area in and around the park later supported a dairy farm, a brussels sprouts farm, hotel, housing for mill workers, a South Seas movie set and a failed housing development.[3] The land was purchased by the State of California in 1933 and construction of the state beach facilities began in 1954. The land surrounding the park was largely wild and undeveloped until the 1970s. The park is now surrounded by beach development and commercial...

It’s a perfect time to explore sea creatures during the king tide. Very interesting! We arrived at 1:30pm and spent three hours on exploration.

The parking lot without charges only offer 20 minutes parking, while the other one will charge you $10 a day. Or you may park the car on the street. Better park the car next to the center which is more closer to the beach and the tidepool.

The area that is in the west of Natural Bridge Tidepool will be more interesting. You may explore more creatures there like sea stars, sea anemones, hermit crab, black turban snail, crabs and sculpin, etc.

The mask is required, and it will be more safe to access to the tidepool according to the road of map we tried if you are with your little kids. Or you may also try walk across the rock areas to explore for fun. But better keep your eye on the sea all the time just in case.

We met an old lady who offered the services for free. She lent us a picture to explore and to ask her questions about sea creatures. We learnt a lot from her. Appreciated her kindness...

Really great and easily accessible tide pools. You can walk right onto the rock shelf from the beach at natural bridges and the walk however far down the tide will allow. At low tide, many beds of mussels, anemones, hermit crabs, snails, and other things are easily seen without too much rock scrambling. Though these aren't the best tide pools I've ever been to (there isn't much in the way of really low tide places for larger things like fish or crabs), they are still definitely fun. There are also some really cool rock formations around that are definitely...