What's New

Make your state parks adventures easier with a Golden Poppy Pass. Valid at all local state parks and beaches, this pass is available in the ParkStore Online.

SHOP

New bilingual interpretive panels have been installed at Seabright State Beach and the historic Castle Beach gate has been restored. Check them out next time you visit.

EXPLORE

Flash flooding at Wilder Ranch State Park damaged portions of the park’s historic dairy ranch. Your help is needed to support the short-term response and long-term recovery efforts.

DONATE

The Horse Camp at Rancho Del Oso Unit on the coast side of Big Basin is open for interim walk-in and bike-in, non-equestrian camping. Reservations required.

CAMP

Plan Your Visit

Our Mission, Our Passion

Our local parks and beaches: thriving and available to all!

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends) is a vital partner with California State Parks, creatively working to ensure our cherished local parks and beaches are thriving and available to all. Friends’ innovative and collaborative community partnership provides support and investment for education, equity and inclusion, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation and cultural events.

I want to help!

Get News and Stay Connected

Red snow? Nope! Just one of our local tidepool residents: copepods. Copepods are some of the most overlooked of our tidepool creatures, probably because they're nearly microscopic! These tiny creatures are possibly the most hardy residents of the tidepools. They live in the splash zone and can survive drying out, salty and warm evaporating pools, and rained out nearly freshwater pools! They're kind of like our own tiny tidepool super heroes. Next time you're visiting the tidepools, stop in the splash zone and look closely to give our copepods some love.
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#NaturalBridges #NaturalBridgesStateBeach #ThatsMyPark #CAStateParks #SantaCruz #SantaCruzStateBeaches #VisitSantaCruz #ThingsToDoInSantaCruz #CaliforniaBeaches #ExploreSantaCruz #RecreateResponsibly #NatureLovers #GetOutside #CaliforniaMPAs #CalifMPAs #DiveIntoMPAs #MarineProtectedArea #MPAMonday
#MontereyBay #WestCliffDrive #SantaCruzLife #CaliforniaCoast
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Here’s your Monday Morning Otter Shot. We see mom’s caring for pups all year round on our Safari boat tours, as Sea Otters don’t have a specific pupping season.
#seaottersofinstagram #seaotters #otters #marinemammals #babyanimals #wildlife_photography #wildlife #wildlifetour #wildlife_shots #wildlifephotographers #experienceoverthings #traveladventures #amazinganimals #NatGeo #sunsetmag #elkhornslough #sanjoselove #visitsanjose #mosslanding #montereycalifornia #californiawildlife #santacruznow #thatsmypark #santacruzcounty #montereybayaquarium #VisitCalifornia #santacruzlife #seemonterey #earthlovers #happyanimals
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Happy Spring Solstice 🌷☀️ Enjoy the extra daylight, wildflowers and sunshine!!

@santacruzstatebeaches
#thatsmypark #Thatsmybeach #Bee #Spring #Flowers #Wildflowers #Pollinators #SpringSolstice #HappySpring
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Wildflowers are coming to a redwood forest near you…

#spring #springflowers #wildflowers #redwoods #redwoodforest #thatsmypark #visitsantacruz
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