Thousands of Monarch Butterflies Migrate to California Every Fall and Winter—How to See Them and Save Them

There are myriad extraordinary animal phenomena in the natural world, from the running of the salmon to the months-long hibernation of bears. But in California, it’s the monarch migration that naturalists and citizen scientists alike are waiting for expectantly right now.

Many (but not all) monarchs migrate seasonally, seeking refuge from too-cold temperatures. In Western North America, monarchs fly south from Canada and the Pacific Northwest to overwinter in temperate spots along the California coast. Some come from colder regions west of the Rocky Mountains, too. The overwintering season in California is roughly October to February. 

During this time, monarchs cluster together in packed colonies for warmth—in a good year, thousands of monarchs might rest on a single tree, creating a kaleidoscope of brilliantly colored wings. Eucalyptus, Monterey pine, and Monterey cypress trees are common homes for roosting monarchs, as those tree species provide adequate shelter from weather and predators. 

Sadly, monarch populations have been in a steady decline for years—and some seasons, including last year’s, have brought extreme dips. For example, Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove sheltered over 24,000 monarchs in 2022/23, over 16,000 in 2023/24, and then just 556 in 2024/25. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which organizes the official Western Monarch Count, cites climate change, pesticide use, and loss of overwintering habitat as reasons for monarch decline.

The 2025/26 migration season is upon us, and while it’s hard to predict what California’s overwintering populations will be, here’s where experts say to go for a chance to observe the butterflies and how you might help bolster the species, too. 

Natural Bridges State Park, Santa Cruz

Rhiannon Sims, an interpretation and education program manager for California State Parks, supervises the interpretive staff at Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz. During the winter months, the park’s Monarch Grove Trail is a huge draw. The interpretive trail is open from 8 a.m. to sunset for self-guided walks and is a great place to spot monarchs.

“This is the busiest time of the year for us,” Sims said, “as early November is usually peak viewing for the monarchs. During this time, we have docents in the grove—they hang out there to answer your questions, and sometimes they’ll have spotting scopes, so that people can get a good look at the monarchs when they’re clustering in the trees.”

Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove, Pismo Beach

Set just one mile from downtown Pismo Beach, Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove is another easy-to-access viewing spot in California. Emma Rhoads, director of the Pismo Beach Stewardship and Educational Outreach Program, loves how the grove is set right back from the sea. 

“There’s something so cool about being able to go right from the waves to the grove,” she said. “Within five minutes, you’re in a eucalyptus fairy world, with giant trees and monarchs everywhere.”

Rhoads says late November to early December is a good time to see the monarchs of Pismo—though of course that can shift. 

Monarch Grove Sanctuary, Pacific Grove

Pacific Grove, a beach town adjacent to Monterey, is home to another  Monarch Grove Sanctuary—and the overwintering populations here even garnered the hamlet the nickname “Butterfly Town, U.S.A.” During the October to February overwintering period, volunteer docents are present in the preserve to provide assistance and education. 

Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove, Goleta

Sarah Cusser, a terrestrial invertebrate conservation ecologist at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, has dedicated her professional life to studying and protecting “bugs with jobs.” Butterflies serve as pollinators, which are vital to plant reproduction, and therefore fall into that category. Unsurprisingly, there’s a pollinator garden at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, but travelers can also try to spot monarchs in the wild nearby.

“The most iconic place to see monarchs here in Santa Barbara County is the Goleta Butterfly Grove in Elwood Mesa,” Cusser said. “On a good year, you can see hundreds, even thousands, of these butterflies overwintering in trees. And it’s just so magical—they look like little living, fluttering leaves.”

Cusser also suggests checking for clusters in nearby Carpinteria.

How to Help Monarch Butterflies 

Kim Zsembik, regional coordinator for the Xerces Society Western Monarch Count and lead butterfly wrangler at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for its Butterflies Alive experience, hopes more people will become enamored with the “charismatic” monarch species so they’ll be inspired to do more to help protect them.

Zsembik says monarch enthusiasts can be mindful of habitat loss and vote to conserve lands that monarchs use. They can also plant native milkweed in their own gardens, as this is the sole food source for monarch caterpillars, and the only plant on which adult monarchs lay their eggs. Asking your local nursery to procure plants that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides, which can harm monarchs in every stage of life, is another actionable step. You can even volunteer to help count monarchs.

“Going out and collecting data lets you see how biologists and conservation scientists do their work,” Zsembik said. “And you’re part of a bigger movement—you’re doing something that’s really powerful for the planet. Even just observing monarchs roosting over winter is a really humbling and transformative experience.”