Monarch Butterfly Grove

Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach, California has been serving visitors for years with a treat of seeing thousands of butterflies. Every year, California is the site of a monarch butterfly migration. Orange and black Monarchs fly to Pismo Beach seeking shelter from the northern winters. They fly in October to February before they fly out again. The grove is found off of Highway 1 just south of the Pismo Beach city boundary.

Visitors will find volunteers offer daily talks and information. These volunteers are quite knowledgeable when it comes to the monarch butterflies. Visitors will see huge clusters of the butterflies, one hanging on top of another in order to find shelter from rain and remain warm. The weight of such a cluster keeps them from getting whipped in the wind. Usually Pismo Beach sees 25,000 butterflies on average each season, at least for the last five years. The Monarchs visiting Pismo Beach have a life span of six months rather than the usually six weeks of other species. It is thought that a fat storing system helps keep them alive longer. The butterflies that leave in February or March will not return to the grove.