Natural Bridges Rock Arch–Natural Bridges State Beach Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints is a 5.1-mile out-and-back in Lighthouse Field State Beach near Santa Cruz, CA. The route passes 2222 Beach, West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Viewpoint and Natural Bridges Rock Arch before reaching Natural Bridges State Beach Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi23 – 52 ft5.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway 36.96119, -122.02550
Nearest town Santa Cruz, CA
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Natural Bridges Rock Arch–Natural Bridges State Beach Viewpoint, 5 viewpoints
5.1 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 43 min
Elevation 22–54 ft
Out & Back · Lighthouse Field State Beach
Trailhead: West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway · 36.96119, -122.02550
Weather Aug 3: Fog, high 66°F / low 55° · precip 0% · wind 3 mph · sunrise 6:16 AM · sunset 8:14 PM
Transit-accessible: Bay Street & West Cliff Drive stop 41 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading W.
- 200 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 1.7 miPass 2222 Beach.
- 50 ftPass West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Natural Bridges State Beach Viewpoint.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp right onto West Cliff Drive, heading W.
- 250 ftReach Natural Bridges Rock Arch, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 200 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway, heading NW.
- 1.7 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear left, heading E.
- 200 ftSharp right, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
85% paved7% dirt6% gravel2% unspecified
Weather
FogTemperature 66°F55°
Precip0%Wind3 mphUV7Humidity97%
Hourly temperature
70°55°
Sunrise 6:16 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:14 PM
Tue
62°55°
Wed
69°55°
Thu
73°59°
Fri
75°62°
Sat
71°62°
Sun
73°59°
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~53 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 8:14 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Bay Street & West Cliff Drive stop 41 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Trailhead
- Natural Bridges Rock Arch–West Cliff Multipurpose Cycleway Viewpoint, 5 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 28 ft
- Point Santa Cruz–2222 Beach, 3 beaches 5.6 mi · ▲ 55 ft
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