The annual Santa Cruz County History Fair will be hosted by the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park on Saturday May 18th from 12-5pm. We will be joined by organizations, individuals, and museums from around the county to bring local history to our community. Sponsored by State Parks, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, & the Capitola Historical Museum. Connect with local historiansDiscover stories of neighborhoods and residentsInvestigate genealogical resourcesComplete the Passport to the Past scavenger huntLearn more about your community! Free Admission for All AgesFor questions or concerns email us [email protected] or call (831) 425-5849

Join us for a special walking tour of Whaler’s Cove and Pigeon Point! Learn about the historic shipwrecks that led to the building of our landmark lighthouse and how the point got its name. The walk is easy and largely flat, but the ground can be uneven. Meet near the sign in front of the first cottage. Ground is uneven, but is ADA Accessible.Register Shipwreck History Walk

Come explore the tidepools at Natural Bridges State Beach on this guided tour.  Our Marine Protected Area is a beautiful and diverse habitat you will not want to miss!SIGN UP HEREParticipation is free, however, a $10 vehicle day-use fee will be charged upon arrival at the entrance kiosk. Please plan to meet promptly at Natural Bridges State Beach Visitor Center. Please be sure to prepare yourself with a re-usable water bottle, backpack, hiking shoes, and sun protection (ie. hat/sunglasses/sunscreen).  Rain cancels this guided tour due to safety.For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact (831) 423-4609 or email [email protected] look forward to seeing you soon at Natural Bridges State Beach!

Join us for a special walking tour of Whaler’s Cove and Pigeon Point! Learn about the historic shipwrecks that led to the building of our landmark lighthouse and how the point got its name. The walk is easy and largely flat, but the ground can be uneven. Meet near the sign in front of the first cottage. Ground is uneven, but is ADA Accessible.Register Shipwreck History Walk

Join our Natural Bridges Volunteer team to assist with removal of invasive plants.These plants are still small and the ground moist, so it is much easier now!This is an opportunity to get to off trail sites where the deer, bunnies and birds live..Wear long pants, socks, close-toed shoes, layers on top, hat and bring sunscreen and a water bottle. If you have them bring gloves and a trowel or dandelion puller, otherwise borrow from the park. Snacks provided so come join the party!  Please sign up: call 831-423-0871 or santacruzstateparks.as.me/schedule

Join a State Park Educator and enjoy the flora and fauna of Butano State Park on this moderate 2.2 mile loop. This hike features creekside riparian habitat, redwood forest, and oak woodlands. Keep your eyes peeled for banana slugs and newts! Where: Meet at the Visitor Center near the front entranceTime: 10:00amParking:  Parking is located by visitor center. Additional parking is located at the picnic area further down Butano State Park Road. $10 vehicle day use fee applies. Preparation: Participants should wear sturdy shoes and a hat, and bring plenty of water & snacks. Hike includes some slippery downhill in the winter; trekking poles are encouraged. Steady rain will cancel. Note that there is no running water in this park, so bring plenty!Contact: [email protected] or (669)758-1819

Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!

Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday and Sunday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!

Come explore the tidepools at Natural Bridges State Beach on this guided tour.  Our Marine Protected Area is a beautiful and diverse habitat you will not want to miss!SIGN UP HEREParticipation is free, however, a $10 vehicle day-use fee will be charged upon arrival at the entrance kiosk. Please plan to meet promptly at Natural Bridges State Beach Visitor Center. Please be sure to prepare yourself with a re-usable water bottle, backpack, hiking shoes, and sun protection (ie. hat/sunglasses/sunscreen).  Rain cancels this guided tour due to safety.For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact (831) 423-4609 or email [email protected] look forward to seeing you soon at Natural Bridges State Beach!

Want to learn about the rich dairy history of Wilder Ranch State Park? Dreamt of peeking inside our beautiful Victorian homes and barns? Join us weekly on Saturdays and Sundays for a 1.5 hour long tour of the historic buildings of Wilder Ranch! Meet at the visitor's center at 1 pm. Pre-register here or join us on the day-of. This tour is free. Parking in Day-use lot is $10. Questions? Call (831)426-0505 or email [email protected]

Join us for a walking tour of the historic grounds of Pigeon Point Light Station. Meet by the fence in front of the first cottage. Hear tales of whalers, bootleggers, shipwrecks, the building of the lighthouse, the “Wickies” and their families, and the restoration of the tower (currently closed to the public). Visit the Fog Signal Building to view the magnificent First Order Fresnel lens and explore the exhibits. ADA accessible.Register for Lighthouse History Walk

The culmination of several weeks of hard work, students aged 8-13 will perform a dramatized historical story of Santa Cruz outdoors at our park. Students have rehearsed, researched, and learned history through the process of a performance that they present to the public. Our story for this Spring 2024 ParkStage is set in 1850's Santa Cruz, and follows a dramatized tale of how Eliza Farnham and Georgiana Bruce Kirby come to experience life in California. Arriving empty-handed to her late husband's land in Santa Cruz, Eliza is immediately thrust into a whirlwind of western society-- untrustworthy lawyers, reinvented men running from their pasts, forward thinking women, sharp-witted newspaper editors, and a Santa Cruz split between cultures, all while the temptation of gold lingers just beyond the mountains. These two women, remembered over 100 years after their time, find their own way and forge their own paths as they learn what freedoms the "frontier" might have to offer. This performance is free to the public, and will take place on the lawn at our historic state park Friday May 17th @ 6pm and Sunday May 19th at 4pm. Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to sit on.