This is a short little hike from a parking lot to the bluffs across a windswept land of grasses. Nearby is a Monarch butterfly wintering ground. Thousands of Monarch butterflies come here during the winter and hang out in a large grove of eucalyptus trees. This area is about ten minutes north of Santa Barbara, CA. These bluffs have a few tree lined sections that are great for picnicking out of the wind. One magical night, we were here with some friends and after the sun went down, a full moon lit the way back to our car on New Years Eve. It was a magical evening! The best time to see the butterflies is during December and January. If you’re ever coming through this part of CA during the winter, the monarch butterfly preserve is something you won’t want to miss!

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Ellwood beach & Monarch butterfly preserve

This is a short little hike from a parking lot to the bluffs across a windswept land of grasses. Nearby is a Monarch butterfly wintering ground. Thousands of Monarch butterflies come here during the winter and hang out in a large grove of eucalyptus trees. This area is about ten minutes north of Santa Barbara, CA. These bluffs have a few tree lined sections that are great for picnicking out of the wind. One magical night, we were here with some friends and after the sun went down, a full moon lit the way back to our car on New Years Eve. It was a magical evening! The best time to see the butterflies is during December and January. If you’re ever coming through this part of CA during the winter, the monarch butterfly preserve is something you won’t want to miss!

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