Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove

Every winter, western monarch butterflies descend on the eucalyptus grove at Pismo State Beach, clustering on branches in dense, shingled masses to wait out the cold. The season runs October through February. At its peak, researchers have counted up to 230,000 butterflies in a single season here — one of the largest overwintering colonies in the country. The numbers have fallen sharply in recent years, making any visit feel like witnessing something that may not last. Go before the season ends.