You'd Never Know One Of The Most Incredible Natural Wonders In Southern California Is Hiding In This Tiny Park
By Natasha Kayes|Published February 21, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Natural wonders just seem to light us up, cause us to marvel, and feed our souls. Often, when we think of natural wonders, we tend to think of stationery things that have formed over time, like rock formations, waterfalls, sand dunes, caves, and canyons. But the natural world has other wonders, too, that move, that come and go with the seasons. In the west, one of these wonders is the annual Monarch butterfly migration. Though you would never guess it from outside the park, an excellent place to see these butterflies in Southern California is a small Eucalyptus grove located in Santa Barbara Shores Park.
Each year, starting in November until as late as March, thousands of beautiful Monarch butterflies can be found in the Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove at Elwood Mesa.
The butterflies begin to head to Southern California when temperatures drop in October or early November. They come from areas to the north and east to spend winter in a warmer climate.
Thousands of butterflies hang in clusters from the leaves and branches high up in the Eucalyptus trees. They rest and sleep clinging to the leaves. When the sun hits the butterflies and warms them, they often take off en masse. It is an amazing thing to see.
There are clear, maintained paths leading into the Eucalyptus grove from various points on the eastern side of Elwood Mesa and Santa Barbara Shores Park. The butterfly grove is hidden inside this wooded area of the park.
It can be difficult to see the sleeping Monarchs at first glance, despite their numbers. Since the butterflies close their wings upward and the undersides are far less brilliantly colored than the top sides, they look like dry leaves on the tree until you focus in and see their triangular shape.
Monarch butterflies are a natural wonder on their own. They are bright and colorful, known for their striking orange and black wing patterns. Seeing them in huge clusters is just that much more spectacular.
As you explore the grove, keep your eyes peeled and searching because the butterflies can be seen flying around and landing on various trees and plants. In fact, watch your step as well, as butterflies land on the ground sometimes.
Elwood Mesa is a series of trails throughout Santa Barbara Shores Park, which is tucked between a residential community and the ocean. Trails run through the grove and beyond, crisscrossing a small plane and running along a bluff over the beach. The views beyond the grove are as wondrous as the butterflies themselves.
The number of butterflies at overwintering sites in Southern California varies from year to year and month to month, but when they are present, it is an incredible thing to observe. Have you seen the Monarch butterflies in Goleta? Tell us about your experience in the comments. We also have a few other natural wonders in SoCal to share with you.
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