Visit the Pismo Beach Monarch Grove

Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove

Monarch Season is late October thru February

The Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove is one of only five sites in the state that has counts of over 10,000 butterflies annually. Each year thousands of vibrant orange and black Monarch Butterflies flock to Pismo State Beach, a location essential to their successful migration, seeking shelter from the freezing northern winters. From late October to February, the butterflies cluster in the limbs of towering, majestic Eucalyptus trees flanking a riparian estuary that flows to the Pacific Ocean. The grove is easily accessible from CA State Highway 1 at the south boundary of the city limits of Pismo Beach.

This Season's Counts:

10-15-2023 = 350 | 10-24-2023 = 3,861 | 10-31-2023 = 3,114 | 11-15-2023 = 14,935 | 11-27-2023 = 16,044 | 12-13-2023 = 16,347 | 1-3-2024 = 10,152 | 1-15-2024 = 10,040 | 1-31-2024 = 5,131

Highest Monarch Count for the 2022/2023 Season - 24,128 | Highest Count in the last 6 Seasons.


Monarch Grove Information for 2023/2024

During this monarch season State Parks will not have daily talks available. However, State Parks Staff have provided an educational monarch video located on their YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/oceanodunesdistrictcastateparks.Butterfly Grove visitors are not permitted to park inside North Beach Campground. Reservations are required for all school groups. School group information can be found here https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30273

We are accepting tour buses this season. Reservations required and can be made by calling 805-474-2663.