SB Newcomers Weekend Amblers: Ellwood Mesa and Monarch Butterfly Amble
Bluff trails and the monarch grove
The Newcomers Club's Weekend Amblers walk Ellwood Mesa in Goleta during the monarch butterfly season, when more than 100,000 monarchs spend the winter along the coast. The easy loop of about two miles starts at the Coronado Butterfly Preserve and goes to the Monarch Butterfly Grove, out to Potter's Point, along the Bluffs Overlook Trail and back to the start. Afterward the group stops for coffee and a snack at Anna's Marketplace Bakery in Goleta.
The club added this second date because the Dec 6 amble filled up, so don't sign up for both. Registration is open to the public and alumni. Wear sturdy shoes, since the ground is uneven, and bring binoculars to see the butterflies. Parking is free.