The Magnificent Monarch Migration

With bright orange wings and a polka-dotted black and white body, the western monarch is one of the most iconic butterflies in the world. And just a 10-minute drive from Avila Pismo RV Resort, you’ll find one of their most popular overwintering sites. From late October to February, tens of thousands of western monarchs flock to the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove where they find solace from the cold winters of the Mountain West and the Pacific Northwest.

Western monarchs are very particular about their overwintering habitats. They look for large groves with lush canopies where they can huddle together to find protection from the elements. If you take a walk out into the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove and look up, you’ll see the butterflies forming dense clusters on branches of the park’s eucalyptus trees. They arrange themselves so that each butterfly’s wings hang down over the butterfly below it, creating a shingle effect. This helps the whole cluster stay warm and protected from the rain. By clustering, the butterflies also work to weigh down the branches they cling to so that the tree’s limbs don’t move as much in the wind.

If you want to see this spectacular sight for yourself, grab your camera and take Highway 1 south to Dolliver Street. Parking is limited, so be prepared to park on the side of the highway. Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, consider biking from the Pismo Beach Pier instead. The butterfly grove is just over a mile from the pier, where you can rent a bike if you didn’t bring your own.

Once you’re in the grove, take care to watch where you step. The western monarch population has decreased by 90% since the 1980s due to development, drought and pesticides. And we need to help protect every member the population has left. Not to mention, by treading lightly and talking quietly, you’re much more likely to have a butterfly decide to land on you.

There are few sights in the world quite like the wintering western monarchs at the Pismo Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. If seeing it has led you to want to know more about these magnificent insects, check out this video by the CA State Parks system. The annual monarch migration is one of the state’s most incredible natural events and well worth a trip to Avila.