Ellwood Butterfly Grove

The best time to visit the butterfly grove is in winter, around December and January. It is not really a beack hike, or even a hike because the grove isn't on the beach and isn't very far from where you park the car.

But, you can make a very nice, long walk out of it on the beach after you visit the butterflies, or if there are no butterflies to see.

Best hours are mid-morning when the butterflies are waking up, evening when the owls come out and there is a nice sunset, and then any time in between.

There is no mileage for this easy walk.

Ellwood Butterfly Grove Updates

Update trail conditions

Posted: June 16, 2008, 5:20 pm
by: Johnnymac

Any good beaches lately?

Posted: January 6, 2008, 8:23 am
by: Diane

Try the directions here:
http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/hikes/beach/directions/index.shtml?butterflies

It should not be too hard to find, but if there is no sun the butterflies will not be moving and they will be hard to see.

Posted: December 31, 2007, 5:02 pm
by: yasuko

I wonder if anyone knows how to get to the Ellwood Monarch Butterfly Grove. I looked at a map, but I do not know the direction as it is not listed anywhere on the map. Many thanks.

Posted: December 30, 2006, 1:40 pm
by: martinjp

We went on Dec. 25, 2006, at about 11:00 AM. There were a lot of butterflies, and it was a great sunny day.

Posted: December 3, 2006, 10:24 am
by: hartsteins1

We visited this trail on Fri Dec 1. The Butterflies are beginning to gather in the trees. Beautiful!
Check out a current picture at: http://homepage.mac.com/hartsteins/butterflyElwood.jpg

Posted: July 31, 2005, 9:12 pm
by: Anonymous

I stumbled upon this butterfly preserve accidentally when I lived there for college. I rented a room in a house that was like 200 feet away from this place. It's AWESOME!

Posted: March 23, 2005, 7:40 pm
by: Diane

Post your updates here.