Buy 1 park ticket but visit 3 Parks Near Santa Cruz for free In 1 Day

Key Takeaways

You can visit three California State Parks near Santa Cruz in a single day for just $17 total
The three parks are Ano Nuevo State Park, Natural Bridges State Beach, and Henry Cowell Redwoods
California State Parks honor your parking receipt at other state parks on the same day
Each park offers a completely different experience: elephant seals, monarch butterflies, and redwood trees
This route makes an excellent full-day outing for families and visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area

The Three-Park Strategy

California State Parks have a policy that many visitors do not know about: if you pay for parking at one state park, your receipt is valid at other state parks on the same day. This means that the $10 parking fee you pay at your first stop covers all three parks. Combined with the $7 per person tour fee at Ano Nuevo, you get an entire day of diverse outdoor experiences for remarkably little money.

Park 1: Ano Nuevo State Reserve

Start your day at Ano Nuevo for the elephant seal tour. During breeding season (December through March), thousands of northern elephant seals crowd the beaches to breed and give birth. The guided tour takes 2-3 hours and covers about 3.5 miles. You will see massive bull males fighting, females nursing pups, and perhaps even witness a birth. Book your tour in advance since slots fill up quickly. Arrive early in the morning for the best experience and to leave time for the other two parks.

Park 2: Natural Bridges State Beach

From Ano Nuevo, drive approximately 30 minutes south to Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz. This park is famous for two things: the dramatic natural rock arch formation in the surf zone, and the annual monarch butterfly migration.

From October through February, tens of thousands of monarch butterflies cluster in the eucalyptus grove at the park, creating dense curtains of orange and black wings on the tree branches. On warm days, the butterflies take flight in swirling clouds that are mesmerizing to watch. A short, easy trail leads to the butterfly viewing area with interpretive signs explaining the migration.

Even outside butterfly season, the park’s beach is beautiful, the tidepools at the base of the rock formations teem with marine life, and the rock arch itself is a striking geological feature worth photographing.

Park 3: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

From Natural Bridges, drive approximately 15 minutes north to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. This park protects a grove of old-growth coast redwood trees, some of which are more than 1,500 years old and tower over 250 feet tall.

The Redwood Grove Loop Trail is an easy, flat, 0.8-mile loop that passes through the heart of the old-growth forest. Walking among these ancient giants, with their massive trunks and the filtered cathedral-like light, provides a profound sense of scale and natural wonder. An alternative is Big Basin Redwoods State Park, which offers more extensive trail systems if you prefer a longer hike.

Practical Planning Tips

Start early: Begin at Ano Nuevo for a morning tour, then work your way to the other parks
Bring lunch: Pack food since there are picnic areas at each park but no restaurants inside the parks themselves
Layer clothing: Coastal weather near Santa Cruz can change rapidly from sunny and warm to foggy and cold
Keep your parking receipt: Display it on your dashboard at each subsequent park
Check seasonal availability: The elephant seal tours and butterfly migrations are seasonal, so plan your visit during the overlap months (December through February) for the best combined experience

This three-park route showcases three completely different ecosystems and wildlife experiences within a compact geographic area. For more on the Ano Nuevo experience specifically, see our detailed guide on the elephant seal tour. For other travel adventures, explore Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.