Visit Monarchs at the Monarch Sanctuary
Check this site for the latest count. We update this page weekly.
Explanation behind the count
Monarch butterflies migrate to sites in coastal California. They arrive in mid-October and depart at the end of February, with peak seasons from November - January.
This years, it looks like the population will be low in Pacific Grove and other overwintering sites. We do not know what the future will bring this season.
Migratory monarch butterflies are a highly threatened species whose population has plummeted with human development of their habitats, climate change, and pesticide poisonings. In addition, insect populations naturally fluctuate — learn more about how you can help monarchs in the “Monarch Migrations FAQs” section below. We will continue to monitor the monarch population in Pacific Grove and across Monterey County.
Want to learn more?
Listen to this 4-minute story by NPR
Read a press release by the Xerces Society about early monitoring results
About the Sanctuary
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The Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary is the largest overwintering site for monarch butterflies in Monterey County. It is also one of the largest publicly accessible monarch overwintering sites in California.
Monarchs are not in Pacific Grove year-round. They are a migratory species. These butterflies typically arrive in mid-October and leave in February.
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Sunrise to sunset daily, including weekends and holidays.
The Monarch Sanctuary is an open park and is only closed in cases of extreme inclement weather, where high winds would make visitation unsafe.
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There is no admission fee, and reservations are not required.
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The Monarch Sanctuary is ADA accessible. It is an open park with a packed gravel trail. There is a slight incline downhill.
Parking is free, but limited. There is street parking around the streets adjacent to the Monarch Sanctuary, like Lighthouse Ave.
There is no bus parking at the Monarch Sanctuary. Buses should contact the City of Pacific Grove for options.
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Pets are not permitted, for the safety of the monarch butterflies.
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Monarch Docents with the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History are often found at the Monarch Sanctuary from October - February. These fantastic volunteers are generally at the Sanctuary from 11 am - 3 pm, weather permitting.
Monarch Viewing FAQs
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Western monarch butterflies are historically in the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary from mid-October through mid-February, with a peak season of November – January.
To see monarchs cluster, visit the Sanctuary in the morning before 11 am, or on overcast days below 55 F. Look closely: clustering monarchs resemble small pinecones or brown leaves.
To see monarchs in flight, visit the Sanctuary in the mid-day or afternoon after 11 am, or on sunny days above 55 F. Monarchs will be most present in the nectar beds on the south end of the trail.
Other popular monarch overwintering locations in California include Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz and Pismo State Beach.
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Monarch butterflies cluster: they hang from the branches of trees in dense chandeliers that can number thousands of monarchs within a single cluster.
Look up: do any of the trees seem to have a large number of small pine cones or brown leaves? Those are monarch butterflies with their wings closed! Monarchs cluster to conserve energy, so by staying still, they are doing exactly what they need to do. Monarchs do not cluster on the same tree every year, or even every day! Ask the Monarch Docents which trees the monarchs are on that day, and the Docent can help point them out.
It's important to note that monarchs are ectothermic, or cold-blooded. Their ability to be active is dependent on the weather. They are more likely to fly when it is warm and sunny, and they are more likely to cluster when the weather is cold and cloudy. On warm days, cast your eyes skyward, and you'll see a procession of monarchs passing overhead.
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The Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary is designed to be as monarch friendly as possible. Visitors can help the safety and well being of the monarchs by abiding by the following protocols:
• Stay on designated paths.
• Keep pets outside – do not bring dogs or other pets in the Sanctuary.
• Do not touch, pick up, chase, or in any way molest or stress the butterflies.
• Keep your voices down.
• No food or smoking is permitted within the Sanctuary.The Pacific Grove Police Department enforces these regulations with a fine of up to $1,000.
Thank you for helping to keep the monarch butterflies in Pacific Grove safe!
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No matter where you live, you can help to protect the iconic and Endangered monarch butterfly.
1. Support ecofriendly legislation and leaders on a local, state, and federal level. Support the protection of habitats for monarch butterflies and pollinators. Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of population decline of the Western monarch butterfly.
2. Plant native nectar plants. Adult monarch butterflies feed off nectar. If you live close to an overwintering site, like Pacific Grove, plant native flowers that bloom in the fall, winter, and/or spring.
3. If you live at least 5 miles from the coast, plant native milkweeds. Milkweed is not native to coastal California, and introduction of the non-native plant may disrupt the natural migration process.
4. Refrain from using pesticides around your home – herbicides and insecticides – and support companies that are also pollinator-friendly.
5. Volunteer at the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary to educate the public or gather data about the Western monarch population.
The Western Monarch Butterfly population has been in decline in recent years, let’s go over why this may be happening and ways you can help!
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For more specific questions, feel free to call us at (831) 648-5716 ext 24.
Monarch Migration FAQs
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In most migrating species, such as birds and whales, the same individuals travel the migration route year after year.
Monarch butterflies, however, have a different approach. Butterflies are short-lived: most species only live a few days or a few weeks. Monarch butterflies are long-lived for butterflies, and they live just 6-8 weeks.
But the reduced daylight in autumn triggers a new generation of monarchs. This "super-generation" lives an incredible 6-9 months and migrates south to warm winter grounds, like Coastal California. The super-generation is not a solitary species, but aggregates in large groups called clusters. No one knows how this generation knows how to find its overwintering grounds.
At the end of winter, the super-generation mates, lays eggs, and passes away. The next generation lives 6-8 weeks, and it starts the migration back north. These short-lived butterflies spend their lives journeying to a destination they will never reach. It takes several generations to complete the migration back to their northern grounds.
This is a multi-generational migration: it takes several generations of monarch butterflies to complete a single migration, from north to south to back north. It is one of the few multi-generational migrations known.
In addition, most butterfly species are solitary. The dense clusters of monarch butterflies in their overwintering grounds is a natural wonder, made rarer by the many threats that have decimated the monarch butterfly population.
With your support, we hope to keep the beautiful phenomenon of the monarch migration going for future generations.
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No matter where you live, you can help to protect the iconic and Endangered monarch butterfly.
1. Support ecofriendly legislation and leaders on a local, state, and federal level. Support the protection of habitats for monarch butterflies and pollinators. Habitat loss is one of the leading causes of population decline of the Western monarch butterfly.
2. Plant native nectar plants. Adult monarch butterflies feed off nectar. If you live close to an overwintering site, like Pacific Grove, plant native flowers that bloom in the fall, winter, and/or spring.
3. If you live at least 5 miles from the coast, plant native milkweeds. Milkweed is not native to coastal California, and introduction of the non-native plant may disrupt the natural migration process.
4. Refrain from using pesticides around your home – herbicides and insecticides – and support companies that are also pollinator-friendly.
5. Volunteer at the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary to educate the public or gather data about the Western monarch population.
The Western Monarch Butterfly population has been in decline in recent years, let’s go over why this may be happening and ways you can help!
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In overwintering habitats like the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary, you'll see chandeliers of motionless butterflies hanging from the branches of trees or the tips of leaves.
Unlike warm-blooded animals (like penguins), monarchs do not huddle for warmth. They are cold-blooded, so clustering does not provide warmth.
It does, however, offer protection from the elements. When monarchs cluster, the wind and rain sweep off them, like the shingles on a roof.
Clustering is also a sign that the monarchs have found a good tree, one with the perfect combination of shelter from wind and access to sunlight. If a single butterfly stays on a tree, it's a signal to other monarchs that the tree is a good one, which attracts more and more butterflies to that tree.
Ultimately, you can get trees with thousands upon thousands of monarchs, all perched in these dense clusters. Look closely, and you'll see the wings of the butterflies move gently with the breeze.
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The Western Monarch Butterfly is a migratory species: it can be found in different parts of North America, depending on the season.
In the summer, the Western monarch is found in the Pacific Northwest, in states like Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Idaho. During these months, monarchs are solitary and short-lived. Each butterfly lives 6-8 weeks, and they do not socialize outside of mating.
In early September, a new generation emerges with a different lifecycle. This "super-generation" has an instinct to migrate and it lives much longer, 6-9 months! It is this generation that migrates down to areas in Coastal California, like Pacific Grove.
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They do not! The monarchs you see in Pacific Grove are a sub-population of the migratory monarch butterfly called the Western Monarch Butterfly. Their northern summer grounds are in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada), and their southern winter grounds are in spots in Coastal California.
Coastal California and Mexico both have mild winter climates, which is what migratory monarchs need. Because California's winter weather is mild, monarch butterflies do not need to travel farther. Once spring time begins, the Western monarch population migrates back up to their northern grounds.
The Eastern Monarch Butterfly population's summer grounds are across all of North America east of the Rocky Mountains. These monarchs all have the same winter grounds in central Mexico.
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For more specific questions, feel free to call us at (831) 648-5716 ext 24.