Lighthouse Field State Beach is a protected beach in the
state park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "Federated state, state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on accou ...
system of
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
, United States. It is located in the city of
Santa Cruz at the north end of
Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean located on the coast of the U.S. state of California, south of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco itself is further north along the coast, by about 75 miles (120 km), accessible via California S ...
. The beach overlooks the
Steamer Lane surfing hotspot. It also contains the
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, housed in a 1967 lighthouse.
The site was established in 1978.
Natural history
Lighthouse Field State Beach is a wintering ground for migrating
monarch butterflies
The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (''Danaus plexippus'') is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. ...
. Other resident animals include
California sea lion
The California sea lion (''Zalophus californianus'') is a coastal eared seal native to western North America. It is one of six species of sea lions. Its natural habitat ranges from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, including the Gulf of Califo ...
s and
American black swifts.
Recreation
Steamer Lane is a famous surfing location. Each Christmas the park hosts Santa Cruz's annual "Caroling under the Stars" event.
The park is free to visit year-round, and offers walking trails, wildlife viewing, picnic areas, public restrooms, and outdoor showers.
See also
*
List of California state parks
This is a list of parks, historic resources, reserves and recreation areas in the California State Parks system.
List of parks
See also
* California State Beaches
* List of California State Historic Parks
* Parks in California
*California Dep ...
*
Natural Bridges State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach is a List of California state parks, California state park in Santa Cruz, California, in the United States. The park features a natural bridge across a section of the beach and a eucalyptus grove provides habitat fo ...
References
External links
*
Lighthouse Field State Beach
{{Protected areas of California, SP
1978 establishments in California
California State Beaches
Parks in Santa Cruz County, California
Protected areas established in 1978
San Francisco Bay Area beaches
Santa Cruz, California
Beaches of Santa Cruz County, California
Beaches of Northern California