Parking

Pfeiffer Beach

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Rating: A

Have you ever been to a beach with purple sand?Pfeiffer’s sand gets its unusual color from bits of manganese garnet that wash down the cliffs during winter rains.In fact, the more north you go on the beach, toward the nude section, the “purple-er” the sand appears.But the amazing sand is only one of Pfeiffer’s assets: sunset-watching can’t get any better than it does at this shoreline, where, based on a long standing tradition, your clothing is optional unless someone complains.But don’t get the site, which is federal property, confused with nearby Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.It’s a state beach, where nudity is not tolerated.

Legal status:

Part of the Los Padres National Forest, whose rangers generally ignore nudists unless someone complains.

How to find it:

Pfeiffer Beach is around 30 miles south of Monterey and 3 miles west of Highway 1. Coming from the south on Highway 1, start counting the mileage from the Esalen Institute; the beach is about 12 miles north. From the north, turn right (toward the sea) onto poorly marked Sycamore Canyon Road, about a half mile south of the main entrance to Big Sur State Park and .6 miles south of the Big Sur Ranger Station, just past the Pfeiffer Canyon highway bridge. Watch for Sycamore before turning onto it and be careful of other traffic and children while you follow tree-lined Sycamore to the beach parking lot; it’s a one-lane road for two-and-a-half miles. After paying a $5 day-use entrance fee and parking, walk north along the sand a quarter mile. A rocky outcropping divides the public and nude beaches. Walk around the bend, and you will arrive at the nude beach.

The beach:

There are two beaches. The one for clothed users is just north of Pfeiffer Creek, near the parking lot. The clothing-optional area is past the rocky promontory mentioned above.

The crowd:

On peak summer use days, expect maybe 50 people; usually, there are far fewer.

Problems:

Fee; fog; wind; cold water; riptides; in some years may be littered with driftwood.

Coyote Flat

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Rating: C

Coyote Flat remains a remote, seldom disturbed oasis of skinny-dippers, even though rangers frown on nude activity in the rest of the state property.In fact, because it’s easy to reach by hiking, many locals think of it as one of the best places to cool off on hot summer days.”A lot of people go there, and they do sometimes go naked,” says a visitor.

Legal status:

Part of Andrew Molera State Beach, where rangers discourage clothing-optional sunbathing. However, nobody in recent memory has been cited here.

How to find it:

From the main state beach parking lot (see above), cross the river to its west side and look for River Trail. Follow River Trail unit it ends at Big Sur River. The hole is at the end of the path. For more information, see Hiking The Big Sur Country: The Ventana Wilderness by Jeffrey Schaffer (Wilderness Press, 1988).

The beach:

Best time to visit this six-foot-deep swimming hole with a little beach on the Big Sur River is midday. In the morning and late afternoon, there’s less sun, due to the surrounding foliage.

The crowd:

“Even though it’s popular, at any given time you won’t see more than a few people there,” says a visitor.

Problems:

Threat of law enforcement; too shady and cool for much use in spring or fall; hole visible to occasional (but rare) visits by horseback riders on River Trail.

Garrapata Beach

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Improved directions!

Rating: B

For now, Garrapata State Park, where rangers have posted anti-nudity signs, remains open. But it is expected to be closed, due to state budget cuts, by July 2012. The remaining nude sunbathers have been pushed to the northern edge of the beach. Officials say the nudists are vulnerable to citations if complaints are received. The property, located between Carmel and Big Sur, is breathtakingly beautiful, with picturesque coves, hidden caves, a lagoon, and hills that are bursting with spring flowers.

 

Legal status:

Garrapata is no longer patrolled specifically for nudity, but rangers act on complaints, don’t tolerate sex acts, and depending on the ranger, may warn or cite nudies. “We require that you be clothed,” says  supervising ranger Glenn McGowan. But state ranger Chuck Bancroft said in an interview, “If there are some people at the north end of the beach, we’re not looking except if there’s a real problem.” When asked to describe such a problem, he replied, “it could be aggressive (sexual) approaching or if there’s aggressive behavior toward people who don’t follow the same belief or lifestyle.”

 

How to find it:

The beach is 18 miles north of Big Sur, near milepost 63.1 on Highway 1. From the corner of Rio Road and Highway 1 in Carmel, take Highway 1 south for about 15 minutes or exactly nine miles. Park on either side of the road. That will put you next to a hard-to-find access trail, which takes you onto the more nude north end of the beach. Alternately, after some open hills and a stone house with tall windows on a plateau, look for a large parking area on Highway 1 about 9.6 miles south of the Rio light. After parking, come down the trail with a guardrail, which will take you to the middle of the beach, and walk north. If you pass the Garrapata Creek Bridge, you’ve gone too far.

 

The beach:

Because nudity is not officially permitted, there’s no specific nude area at the beach. But naturists have traditionally gathered on the far north end of the shore. “Once in a while someone (nude) will wander onto the south part,” says state ranger John McGee. The central part of the beach is so windswept that temperatures can be 20 degrees cooler than those at either end.


The crowd:

In the past, nudists, nonnudists, singles, families, locals, tourists, gays, and straights all mingled at Garrapata. Today, a few nudists — mostly gay males — remain on the north end of the beach, but quickly suit up if they see rangers approaching.


Problems:

Unpredictable law enforcement; increased use by suited sunbathers and strollers who wander into the “nude area;” fog; wind; cold water; hazardous swimming conditions (one person drowned in 1998); visitors trying to make their own trails on the slopes between the highway and the beach (one death in 1989); and periodic reports of sexual activity.

Carmel Meadows

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Rating:C

Want to work on your tan near a place that actor Clint Eastwood made famous? At Carmel Meadows, you’ll be just a half mile from a cypress tree featured in “Play Misty For Me,” which starred Eastwood, who later became the mayor of Carmel.Many of the visitors who sunbathe here do so completely naked. Suited users seem to prefer nearby Carmel River State Park.

Legal status:

Carmel River State Park property.

How to find it:

Go south on Highway 1. After Monterey and most of Carmel, look for the junction of Rio Road and Highway 1 (the Crossroads Shopping Center and the Barnyard are at the intersection). Stay on Highway 1. About one mile south of Rio, turn right on Ribera Road and go about a half-mile, watching for a round turnout on the right. Park in front of the gate. Follow the trail to the beach, then go left 150 feet until you see a row of homes. Parking is limited on Ribera. For easier parking, from the stoplight at Rio, drive two miles south until you see the first beach next to the road. Park in the lot there, walk to the ocean, and go north. One of the first things you’ll pass is the tree from Misty. A half-mile later, you’ll come to a row of houses without any cliffs. Keep walking north until you see the next set of homes atop some bluffs.

The beach:

A ribbon of soft sand that measures just 30-40 feet wide in front of bluffs with homes. But people in the houses on the hill cannot see the beach.

The crowd:

Carmel Meadows averages just five or six nude sunbathers per warm summer day. “One fall, we counted at least a half dozen nude sunbathers,” says a regular bare bottom visitor. “The year before that there were that many, too. Few people know about it, but those who do love it.”

Problems:

Fog, wind, and cold water. Parking may be difficult or far away. Some houses face the beach, but the cliffs, which are about 15 feet high, help protect sunbathers from view.

Los Padres Reservoir

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Rating: C

You’re not supposed to swim in Los Padres Reservoir, much less dive into it while you are naked. But when summer temperatures soar, it not unusual to see a few naked youths to take the plunge.Instead of risking citations, others like to sunbathe without suits in lakeside areas sheltered from easy view.The swim spots are around 20 miles east of Carmel and some 5 miles east of Carmel Village, off Carmel Valley Road (G-16).

Legal status:

Unknown. The reservoir is adjacent to, but not in, Los Padres National Forest.But the paths appear to be maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Rangers are rarely present. Even though the reservoir has a long history of secret nude use, skinny-dippers may be cited.

How to find it:

From Highway 1 in Carmel, follow Carmel Valley Road (G-16) about 20 miles east, passing Carmel Village, to Cachagua Road. Turn right on Cachagua, then right on Nason Road. Take Nason to the dirt parking lot at the end. From the lot, follow the path until it forks. Then follow signs to the dam, rather than the campground. Skinny-dippers usually pick spots between a half-mile and a mile up the trail.

The beach:

Land next to a reservoir.

The crowd:

Usually just you, but on hot days, you may see naturists and/or suited swimmers.

Problems:

Swimming not permitted; better directions needed; legal status unknown.

The Bucket

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Rating: C

Local residents love to take dips in Carmel Valley’s most popular swimming hole, the Bucket, and two other holes near it on weekends.But on weekdays when others aren’t around — best bets include morning and late afternoon — these Carmel Valley Road sites still get a few skinny-dippers.Usage by them dropped off after a flood washed away some of the plants that kept the hole hidden from view.

Legal status:

Believed to be private property.

How to find it:

From Highway 1, go east on Carmel Valley Road (G-16) for about 13 miles until Camp Stephanie Road. Just after the Camp Stephanie Road sign on the right, look for a place to park. For the next 50 feet, you can park on either side of G-16 (if you’re next to a vineyard, you’re in the right place), but if you go farther than that, turn around. Walk east on G-16 a quarter mile until you arrive at a hairpin turn at a white bridge or, if they have not rebuilt it, the stumps of a bridge. Stay on G-16. About 100 feet ahead on the right is an iron gate with a Stone Pine sign. Just before it, check for a hole in the fence and a path. Take the trail down the hill. It’s steep, so keep your hands free. Follow the path through a 50-foot-long field to a fork in the trail, then take the right branch some 20 feet to the creek. Cross it, pick up the path (fainter but still going in the same direction) on the other side, and a few minutes later you’ll be at the beach.

The beach:

It’s a small, sandy creek bank that was once surrounded by trees and other greenery.

The crowd:

Up to several dozen persons visit the Bucket on the hottest days.

Problems:

Visibility from the road, parking easy to miss if you drive too far on G-16, finding trail on beach side of creek may be difficult.

Pebble Beach

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Rating: C

WTF, there are some naked people in that sand trap on Hole 9!While that isn’t quite the situation in Pebble Beach, naturists do occasionally sunbathe on the sand just below the world-famous golfing greens. “It’s remote, out of the way, and people can’t see you from nearby Carmel Beach,” says Fred, of Pacific Grove, who found the site while walking along the shore one day.

Legal status:

Believed to be Monterey County land.

How to find it:

From downtown Carmel, take Ocean Avenue west. Turn right a block or two before it ends (use any side street) and find parking where you can Walk west onto the sand of Carmel Beach City Park. At the water, turn right and go north 150 feet until you see the end of a fence. Walk north another 300 feet until you come to what looks like the end of the beach. Walk over the water-smoothed rocks or take the little, well-worn path up and over the edge of the hill next to the rocks, being careful not to leave the trail or you may wind up on golf course land. In high tide, the path is the only way to the cove.

The beach:

Measures about 150 feet long and 40 feet wide.

The crowd:

“I’ve never seen more than a few people using it,” says Fred, who counted two persons on the sand during his first visit.

Problems:

Cold water; fog; wind; usual route requires that you climb over rocks; unknown legal status.

North Marina

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Rating: C

Improved directions!

Nude sunbathers have been appearing on a little beach just 300 feet north of Marina State Beach for years. “People have been going here for two decades,” says Tom, of Monterey. Adds frequent visitor and local business owner Debbie, “It’s warm and secluded.” The main sunning area for nudies is between two large sand dunes close to the shore.

Legal status:

Unknown, believed to be private property.

How to find it:

From San Jose, take Highway 101 south to Prunedale, then Highway 146 west to join Highway 1 south at Castroville. Approaching Marina, exit at Reservation Road, turning left (east). At the first signal, turn right on Reservation and follow it to the little parking lot at the end. Walk back along Reservation to Dunes Drive and follow Dunes about 300 feet north, passing Marina Dunes Resort, located at 3295 Dunes Drive, and a sand-processing plant, until you see a yellow vehicle gate on the west (ocean) side of Dunes Drive, across from two motels. Limited parking is also available in front of the gate. The gate blocks traffic, not people, from a beach path; follow it up and down five dunes until just before the beach. The nude area is between the last two dunes, just to the right of the trail.

The beach:

“It’s warm and secluded,” says Debbie, a longtime visitor. “People have been going here for 25 years.” Veteran users say the best time to visit is June or autumn.

The crowd:

“The beach is never crowded because only local residents know about it,” says Tom, of Monterey County.

Problems:

Unknown legal status; fog; cold water; proximity to path; limited street parking.

Zmudowski Beach State Park

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Rating:C

Rimmed by farm fields, marshy roads with potholes, and some homes, Zmudowski State Beach was slated for closure as early as this month, as part of the state’s austerity moves. Now, though, state officials expect a supporting organization, such as a nonprofit or foundation, will be found to help pay for maintenance and other costs.Why was the site on the list of parks to be padlocked?Speculates March visitor Lucy D’Mot on her blog:”I have to guess that Zmudowski State Beach is not well attended.No doubt the poor roads contribute to its lack of tourists.” An official told me, though, that even if it closes, die-hard users will probably be able to sneak in and keep sunbathing on the sand.

Occasional nudist activity is still reported at the beach, in the north end of the county, south of the Pajaro River, where ranger patrols and development of homes around the site have combined to make sans suit sunbathing mostly a thing of the past.Because of its remote location, the area is still sometimes called Hidden Beach.

Legal status:

State beach property.

How to find it:

Follow Struve Road from Highway 1, just north of Moss Landing, to its intersection with Giberson Road. Then take Giberson to its end, at the state beach parking lot. Hike to the north tip of the beach via the dirt access road that starts at the small lot. The beach path runs parallel to the shore, but nude sunbathers usually gather behind the sand dunes.

The beach:

No longer “hidden” (see above), the site is now ringed by houses and condos.

The crowd:

Mostly a family beach.

Problems:

Pending possible state park closure and/or reduced maintenance; rangers (keep your swimsuit on when rangers or clothed beachgoers are in the area); cold water; wind; fog; riptides.

Manresa Beach

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Rating: C

“In some of the more remote areas, there were people who would sunbathe without clothing,” Ron Schafer, former head of the state parks for the Bay Area region and an ex-staffer at Manresa State Beach, told us the season before he died in 2010. “It was a plain old non-issue to rangers,” he added. Today, the tradition continues, even though some rangers issue citations for nudity. Although families often visit Manresa to take advantage of its nice views and good, dependable flat sand, nude sunbathers occasionally gather in the sand dunes at the north end of the beach. Those who stay in the dune area seem to have few problems. Manresa is dog-friendly and also has a campground.

Legal status:

Part of Manresa Beach State Park. In areas of the beach frequently used by families and other visitors, rangers will probably ask naturists to put their suits on. Elsewhere, enforcement of the park’s nudity policy seems to be left up to the individual ranger.

How to find it:

From Santa Cruz, follow Highway 1 south past Watsonville to the Larkin Valley Road exit and look for the town of La Selva Beach. Turn right on San Andreas Road and follow it to its terminus near the beach. Walk north to the dunes near the beach property, just south of La Selva Beach.

The beach:

Sandy and beautiful. Many naturists prefer the dunes north of the main public beach.

The crowd:

Same as at La Selva. Manresa only draws occasional nudity.

Problems:

Same as at La Selva, plus parking fee.

Elsewhere in Santa Cruz County

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Rating: C

Women sometimes sunbathe topless on Capitola Beach and Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach on warm days. For several decades, lifeguards and rangers at the sites have allowed the practice to continue. So far, they’ve received few complaints. However, full nudity isn’t accepted.

Legal status:

Since at least 1981, when activist Nikki Craft was arrested on a Capitola beach for topless sunbathing (she then co-founded the Cross Your Heart Support Committee, whose members were arrested nine times in Santa Cruz for nudity), countercultural and law enforcement values have clashed on and off the sand in Santa Cruz and Capitola. Neither city has an antinudity statute, and attempts to pass them have been unsuccessful.

How to find it:

How to find it: Boardwalk Beach: from downtown Santa Cruz, go west on Front Street until it ends at Beach Street, across from the Santa Cruz Municipal Pier. Park on the pier or turn left onto Beach and find parking on a side street. Capitola: take Highway 1 south of Santa Cruz to the Capitola Avenue exit. Follow Capitola west to Capitola State Beach.

The beach:

Backed by a large amusement park, Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach is wide, expansive, and very flat and sandy. Capitola Beach is enclosed between two bluffs and is bordered by the Esplanade, an area lined with shops, galleries, and dozens of restaurants.

The crowd:

A mix of locals and tourists.

Problems:

At both beaches, wind, fog, and cold water. For Boardwalk Beach, add noise from the amusement park.

Privates Beach

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Highly recommended!

Rating: A

“Privates is one of my favorite beaches,” says Brittney Barrios, manager/buyer of Freeline Design Surf Shop, which is located nearby and sells keys to unlock the gate leading to the clean, beautiful cove.. “It’s always very peaceful.” Visitors include nudists, surfers, families, and local residents. “Everyone gets along,” adds Barrios. “And it’s never crowded.”

Barrios says many of the naturists, who often visit in groups, like to play Paddle Ball on the sand. As for Barrios, she prefers to “lay out,” as she calls it, in the sun.

There’s almost no litter, wind, noise, or troublemakers — security guards plus a locked gate keep the latter out — and world class surfers, such as those who starred in Endless Summer II, regularly put on a free show for the naked people who share the warm, clean sand with surfers.

“It’s really nice,” says Hunter Young, a former worker at Freeline, which sells up to 600 beach passes a year. “Surfers love it because it has good waves. It’s 100 percent standup surfing, with paddling. Anytime I go to Privates, I can expect a long ride on my longboard.”

“The beach is also very family oriented,” explains Barrios. “And it’s okay for dogs too.”

“There are two different coves on the beach,” says Young. “Clothed families who use the beach know which cove is nude and stay away from it. If you want to play naked Frisbee, at the bottom of the beach stairs you just walk to the left.” 

There are four main ways to get to Privates, which is off Opal Cliff Drive, north of the Capitola Pier, and takes its name from the gate at the entrance, as well as the young security guards at the top of the path (“They’re usually 18-23 year old guys who give information on how to get a key or assist people in using theirs,” says Young), both intended to keep the site “private”:

1) Some visitors walk north from Capitola Pier in low tide (Four people walked from Capitola Beach to a beach just east of Privates, only to become trapped by rising water; they were rescued by swimmers and officers from a harbor patrol boat).

2) Others reach it in low tide via the stairs at the end of 41st Avenue, which lead to a surf spot called The Hook at the south end of a rocky shoreline known as Pleasure Point.

3) Surfers paddle on boards for a few minutes to Privates from Capitola or The Hook.

4) And still others enter the beach from little Opal Cliff Park, on the cliffs, via a key entry gate at the top of a staircase. The park is between two houses, near 4524 Opal Cliff Drive.

Most users buy a key for $100 (cash only) at Freeline Design Surf Shop, 821 41st Ave., Santa Cruz. 831-476-2950, some 1.5 blocks west of the beach. The keys, which are changed yearly, are good June 1 through May 31; if you purchase a key late in the year, there’s no discount. Local residents listed on a roll of taxpayers (kept at Freeline), who pay property taxes to support the park and gate, can get a yearlong key for $50.

Another option is to try to go through the gate for free. “I’ve either gone along with someone with a key, or waited outside the gate until someone with a key goes in and then followed them,” says Bay Area Naturists leader Rich Pasco. “Most beachgoers will gladly hold the gate open for someone behind them whose hands are full.” But that only works if a guard is not present (they often are there).

Legal status: Privates is managed by the Opal Cliffs Recreation District and is funded by neighborhood property taxes and beach dues. The district maintains the park and stairwell, but is subject to the terms of the California Coastal Commission, which as recently as 2009 asked the district to make some changes.

How to find it:

In Santa Cruz, park in the five-vehicle lot next to Opal Cliff Park, in front of the gate near 4524 Opal Cliff Drive; find street parking elsewhere on Opal Cliff; or, from Freeline, walk 1.5 blocks (roughly five minutes) east to the park, which is the size of an average house lot. Go down the staircase. The nude area is to the left of the bottom of the stairs.

The beach:

A beautiful, gently curving, sandy site. Clothing-optional users usually gather at a separate cove on the south part of the beach (to the left of the entrance, when facing the ocean); a quarter acre cove used by clothed beachgoers, separated from the nude one by a rocky outcropping, is to the right. The beach is backed by slowly eroding sandstone and siltstone cliffs.

The crowd:

Expect a mix of nudists and surfers, including locals and out-of-towners. “I was down there with a friend who was babysitting a bunch of little kids,” says Young, who’s now an emergency medical technician on an ambulance. “There were families there having a really good time. Then there were all these people surfing. And to the far left, as you face the ocean, there were the nudists.” Depending on when you arrive, you may be alone or one of several dozen visitors. “Usually, you’ll see five-to-10 nudists at the most,” adds Young. “They act cool and mostly sunbathe. It’s not like they are walking around with their stuff hanging out. On a really hot weekend day, there will be maybe six-to-15 families on the beach and eight-to-12 surfers when the waves are small, or up to 15 during big waves.”

Problems:

Entrance fee; small parking lot; cold water; fog; sometimes a few sticks on the beach.

Cowell State Beach

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Rating: C

The wooden deck at Santa Cruz’s Cowell State Beach is usually used by surfers to put on or take off their wetsuits. But we’ve spotted several people jump naked right into the water from the platform on the hottest summer days.

Legal status:

Cowell State Beach

How to find it:

Head to West Cliff Drive but park when you first turn onto it from the Municipal Wharf area. Parking is often easy to find. Walk to the beach stairway at West Cliff and Monterey, on the west side of West Cliff. Leave your clothes on the deck, where water access begins (there’s no beach per se).

The beach:

A deck and the water near it. Watch out for frequent rough waves. Skinny-dippers prefer to stay near the shore.

The crowd:

Mostly surfers, but on particularly hot days a few naturists sometimes show up.

Problems:

Not a beach; mainly used by suited surfers; heavy undertow; cold water; fog; proximity to residences; lack of privacy.

2222

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Improved directions!

Rating: A

In late May, when my girlfriend and I visited a little cliffside park above it and peered down on the aptly named 2222 — it’s the number of the house across the street — we discovered that the pocket-size cove looked as beautiful as ever. In fact, America’s smallest nude beach is so small it could probably fit in your yard. And that’s what makes it a magical place. You won’t find crowds at 2222, which takes scrambling to reach and isn’t recommended for children or anyone who isn’t a good hiker. However, those who are agile enough to make it down a steep cliff and over some concrete blocks on the way down will probably be rewarded with an oasis of calm and a good spot to catch some sunrays. The most dependable trail begins on the southeast corner of the hillside overlooking the site. Even though there’s a walking path just above it, the beach can’t be seen from there. College students like to hangout here and, if they’re lucky, get a glimpse of a local juggler who sometimes practices his routines on the sand. Tip: for great accommodations, check out the West Cliff Inn, 174 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, a bed and breakfast inn located a few blocks to the south; it’s somewhat pricey, but truly enjoyable.

Legal status:

Santa Cruz city property.

How to find it:

The beach is a few blocks west of Natural Bridges State Beach and about 2.5 miles north of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. From either north or south of Santa Cruz, take Highway 1 to Swift Street. Drive .8 miles to the sea, then turn right on West Cliff Drive. 2222 is five blocks away. Past Auburn Avenue, look for 2222 West Cliff on the inland side of the street. Park in the pullout with eight parking spaces next to the cliff. If it’s full, continue straight and park along Chico Avenue. An overlook with two benches facing an interesting obelisk-style sculpture is located between the parking area. Bay Area Naturists leader Rich Pasco suggests visitors use care and then follow the path on the side of the beach closest to downtown Santa Cruz and the Municipal Wharf.

The beach:

As Pasco puts it, “It’s a small, delicate, baby beach.” Depending on the tide, the beach measures a quarter to a half acre in size. Although the trail is littered with rocks and eroding soil, the cove itself is flat and very sandy.

The crowd:

Although it can sometimes be deserted (during my last visit, nobody was there), on a warm Sunday, we counted five nudists. Pasco found “maybe 10-to-15 people” at the beach. Almost everyone goes nude.

Problems:

Limited parking; proximity to residences; lack of privacy; cold water; may be foggy or windy; flies; steep trail with concrete blocks.

Natural Bridges Beach

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Rating: C

Which do you like better, watching butterflies or sunbathing in the nude? Amazingly, at Natural Bridges, at the north end of West Cliff Drive, in Santa Cruz, if you’re the adventurous type with at least a slight daring streak, you can do both. Better known for its beautiful butterflies, the park also features a cove that has been getting scattered nude use, during the moments when rangers aren’t around, on hot summer days for decades, although we didn’t see any nudies there on Memorial Day weekend this year, when it was rather chilly. The site has tide pools and a shoreline (bring binoculars) good for spotting whales, seals, and otters. The nude spot is a tiny, 150-foot-long “hidden” section located around the remains of the collapsed natural bridge that gives the park its name. “No one can see you there, and nobody patrols the area,” says George, a UC Santa Cruz student. “The beach gets fewer nudists than 2222 [see below], but it’s far less visible to the prying eyes of ogling tourists than Its Beach [see below].” Budget cuts have helped the nudists by sparking what George terms a “drastic reduction of lifeguard and ranger staff.” Often lifeguards aren’t even present on weekdays; on weekends they are more likely to patrol the main beach. However, except in low tide, getting to the nude spot isn’t easy. Says George: “You walk down to the main beach, keeping tight to the cliff and then simply go around the point. Depending on the tide, your shorts might get wet and you might even be temporarily stranded on that side.” While you’re at Natural Bridges, be sure to visit the Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve, the official state monarch refuge in California, where up to 100,000 monarchs form a “city in the trees,” hanging from mid October until the end of February. From the park’s parking lot, walk uphill and follow the Preserve signs and then an easy wooden walkway to the butterflies.

Legal status:

Part of Natural Bridges State Beach.

How to find it:

Take Highway 1 to Swift Street in Santa Cruz. Follow Swift to the sea and turn right on West Cliff Drive. Or coming from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, go north and stay on West Cliff until it ends at Natural Bridges

The beach:

150 feet long, located around the point from the main beach, hidden from view.

The crowd:

Most likely you, and perhaps a few other visitors.

Problems:

Water sometimes washes over the nude area; fog; wind; cold water; day use parking fee; except for the part around the point, Natural Bridges is a clothed, family beach.

San Lorenzo River

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Rating: C

If you’re in the Bay Area, you won’t have to travel far to find the Golden State’s version of the Garden of Eden, a creekside skinny-dipping spot located in Henry Cowell Redwoods Stae Park, between Santa Cruz and Fulton. Praised by April visitor Ferrah for being “a beautiful little water hole,” the site gets mixed reviews from newcomers. It’s “a must when you’re here,” says Jazmin, who dropped by in September. “Pack some lunch and head out to” it, she suggests. “It’s just an incredibly beautiful place,” agrees Mike, of Fremont. “A lot of hikers are surprised when they see people nude there, but they shrug it off and keep walking. Some, especially on the weekends, will swim alongside us with their swimsuits on and totally ignore us. Others are uneasy, so if that happens we usually try to find another spot.”

“We hiked to the Garden Of Eden, while sipping on a huge bottle of wine on a Friday afternoon,” tells Chanel, of Santa Cruz, in a post on Yelp, “and … we found it rather easily. This place is so gorgeous! A small secluded swimming hole in the middle of the woods. We were the only ones there, so we decided to ditch the bikinis and cross skinny dipping off the bucket list.”

“When I thought it couldn’t get any better, all the naked people started showing up,” Labpuggleechi, of Cupertino, said in another Yelp entry. “Of course, the guys didn’t mind the naked women, but the naked man pushed them over the edge. People started yelling and before I knew it, people were fighting.”

Park rangers called to the scene are often too late to be of help. “We hate going down there on the trail because by the time we get there the problem we’ve heard about may be over,” a longtime ranger told me. “And you have to watch out for poison oak on the trail.”

Plus the path to Eden can be slippery, so be careful as you walk. Eden is one of three clothing-optional swimming holes on the San Lorenzo River. To find these easy-to-miss locales, look for cars pulled over on Highway 9, next to the state park, which bans nudity but seldom sends ranger patrols to the creek. “It’s a great area for hikes,” says Russ, a regular visitor. “We saw very little litter along any of the trails. There were quite a few small groups of people, including one nude couple, about 50 yards upstream from the main beach at the foot of the trail. But I was told by a woman that there are many more ‘nudals,’ as she called them, in the summer.”

Legal status:

Part of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Nudity is not permitted in the park, but rangers seldom patrol this particular area.

How to find it:

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located between the cities of Santa Cruz, Felton, and Scotts Valley.

From Santa Cruz, drive north on Highway 9 and look for turnouts on the right side of the road. The first, a wide turnout with a tree in the middle, is just north of Santa Cruz. Rincon Fire Trail starts about where the tree is, according to reader Robert Carlsen, of Sacramento. The many forks in the trail all lead to the river, down toward Big Rock Hole and Frisbee Beach; Carlsen says the best area off this turnout can be reached by bearing left until the end of the trail. Farther up the highway, 1.3 miles south of the park entrance, is the second and bigger pullout, called the Ox Trail Turnout, leading to Garden of Eden. Park in the turnout and follow the dirt fire road downhill and across some railroad tracks. Head south, following the tracks, for around .5 miles. Look for a “Pack Your Trash” sign with park rules and hours and then proceed down the Eden Trail. 

Ox Trail, which can be slippery, and Eden Trail both wind down steeply to the creek. “The path continues to the left, where there are several spots for wading and sunbathing,” Carlsen says. The main beach is only 75 feet long and 30 feet wide, but fairly sandy. Carlsen’s favorite hole is accessible from a trail that starts at the third turnout, a small one on the right side of the road, about 4.5 miles from Highway 1 and just before Felton. A gate marks the start of the path. The trail bends left. When you come to the road again, go right. At the railroad tracks, go right. From here, look for the river down the hill on your left; many paths lead to it. Tells Mike: “Within 10 yards, you can be in the water.” 

“When we got to the water, we saw suited families, so we walked upriver until we saw skinny-dippers,” says John, a visitor from Monterey. For even more privacy, suggests Mike, “cross the creek on chunks of wood and go over some sand to another leg of the river. That’s what we like to do.”

For a map showing the Garden of Eden, please go to http://www.fernriver.com/hike.html

The beach:

A trio of small skinny-dipping holes on the San Lorenzo River. The Garden of Eden features some fairly deep pools, especially after winters with heavy rain, scattered among large boulders that are used for sitting and tanning. Says Russ: “They have a rope swing takes you from the tree into the water.” No bikes or dogs are allowed. 

The crowd:

Use of these sites tends to ebb and flow, depending on the weather, time of week, and whether word of mouth has helped send new visitors down the trails. You may come across a few other visitors or even one or two groups. Or you may be the only one present. “I usually go with nudist friends,” says Russ. “Usually it’s just you or your group. But on weekends, we encounter a lot of nonnudists.” The holes also draw small numbers of mostly young people, including clad teens and college students. 

Problems:

Slippery and, at times, steep trails; poison oak continues to be a frequent complaint; rowdy youths; threat of ranger patrols (nudity not allowed); parking turnouts may be hard to find so go slow and use your odometer to check for them.

Four Mile Beach

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Rating: B

Over the years, Wilder’s gotten tamer. In fact, only a few naturists usually show up at the south end of Wilder Ranch State Park, known locally as Four Mile Beach, on weekdays when families are not present. Mike Oropeza, a former regular at Red, White and Blue Beach until it closed in 2006, says he has gone nude at “the Table Rock area near this blowhole (at Four Mile), where the waves crash” and the north side of the beach, when the surfers who use it aren’t around.

Legal status:

Part of Wilder Ranch State Park.

How to find it:

Four Mile Beach is off Highway 1, four miles north of the junction with Mission Street in Santa Cruz. San Franciscans may prefer to think of it as 44 Mile Beach because its distance from the junction of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay is exactly 44 miles. Park where you see a group of cars pulled over on the unpaved turnout next to where Highway 1 crosses Baldwin Creek. Take the dirt road that begins there. Stay on the road as you cross the railroad tracks and wind left of the marsh. In less than 10 minutes you’ll be at the beach. Or from Santa Cruz, go north on Highway 1 some 1.8 miles past the stoplight at Western Drive and turn left (west) into the entrance for Wilder, whose address is 1401 Old Coast Road, Santa Cruz. The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset; day use parking costs $10.

The beach:

The shore here has roughly a mile of nice, white sand.

The crowd:

Mostly a family oriented beach with clothed sunbathers whose awesome breakers also attract surfers. Even on the hottest afternoons, only 10-to-20 visitors use the nude portion of the beach.

Problems:

Threat of law enforcement; large mounds of seaweed sometimes litter the edge of the sand; entrance fee.

Laguna Creek

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Rating: A

Veteran visitors say Laguna Creek’s solitude is perfect for those days when you want to work on the prefect tan without tan lines, read, relax, beachcomb, or even watch birds at its charming lagoon. The beach is located 9.8 miles north of Highway 1 between mileposts 25.96 and 26.01.

Legal status:

Privately owned but publicly used.

How to find it:

About 9.8 miles north of the junction of Highways 1 and 17 in Santa Cruz and 41.5 miles south of the Highway 1 and 92 junction in Half Moon Bay, look for either Laguna’s dirt parking lot on the inland side of Highway 1 or the unmarked side road (Laguna Road) next to the lot. Park there and head for a road on the west side of the highway that faces the lot, where Laguna Road and Highway 1 join up. Just north of that road, follow a narrow path through the bushes, while keeping an eye out for poison oak. It will become a jeep path. Take it to the north end of the beach, where you may see some skinny-dippers. Or walk along the water’s edge to the south end, which gets both suited and nude use.

The beach:

The half-mile beach widens to the south, but the north end is warmest, according to Bill, a regular visitor who likes Laguna’s small, protected coves. Birds are usually seen in the lagoon include grebes, gulls, and song sparrows.

The crowd:

Even on warm days, fewer than 50 people, and sometimes just one or two. “It had nudists and non-nudists on both ends of the beach,” says Bill. The beach has become something of a gay hangout, especially in the middle.

Problems:

Cold water; fog; erosion; occasional gawkers; wind; poison oak on trail; wind on south end.

Hole in the Wall Beach

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Rating: B

Less than 10 people are usually spread out at the clothing-optional shoreline known as Hole In The Wall. But on the warmest days, the population may soar to several dozen. True to its name, this 600-foot long beach can only be reached through an opening in a wall of rocks at the south end of Panther Beach. Even in low tide, access can be hazardous: the water in the passageway between the two beaches looks deceptively calm. In a few seconds, it can turn deadly. Over the years, numerous drownings have been reported. And in 2002, a wave swept two men through the “hole” and into the sea; one never returned.

Legal status:

Privately owned, with public access under state law.

How to find it:

From Panther, walk south and through the hole.

The beach:

About 25 to 50 yards wide and backed by tall cliffs ending in a rocky shelf. Farther south, low rock shelves continue for several hundred yards.

The crowd:

Like Panther, Hole in the Wall attracts only a handful of users. On the hottest days, though, expect up 30-50 people.

Problems:

Fog; cold water; wind; rough waves; rutted parking lot; eroded trail; auto vandalism; litter.

Panther Beach

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Rating: B

Popular activities at Panther Beach, some 10 miles north of Santa Cruz, include sunbathing, reading, picnicking, rock climbing, bird watching, swimming, exploring the shore, or simply doing nothing at all. If the time is right, you can even spot a whale or two as they migrate past the shoreline, which has tall rock towers, natural arching bridges, and a wall of rocks with caves, on the south end. Tip: bring a beach umbrella and good walking shoes for the trail to this small but beautiful beach.

Legal status:

Undeveloped state beach.

How to find it:

Panther Beach is located between mileposts 26.86 and 26.4 on Highway 1, some 10.6 miles north of the junction of Highway 1 and 17 in Santa Cruz and 40.7 miles south of the intersection of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay. Drive slowly so you can make a sharp right turn onto a small dirt road on the west side of the highway, which is difficult to see when approaching from the north. The road leads to a rutted parking area that lies on a ridge between the highway and some railroad tracks. From the north end of the lot, cross the tracks and, while watching for poison oak, follow the steep, sloping, somewhat crumbly path to the sand.

The beach:

High rock towers, natural bridges, and a wall of rocks complete with a cave on the southern edge make Panther picture perfect. Rock climbing opportunities range from easy boulders to challenges that are 25 feet. The area includes a beachside rock wall with a cave that extends inside for around 10 feet. Some climbers like the left side of the entrance of the cave, where there are some handholds. If you fall there, you’ll probably land in the sand. Swimming is touch-and-go, so if your toes tell you it’s too cold or the riptides are frothing, then you might want to stick to clothing-free tanning. The beach is about 100 yards long and 70 yards wide and has some of the area’s best sand. 

Photos available here

The crowd:

Usually a half dozen people, half of whom are nude. Nude and suited sunbathers, surfers, rock climbers, and others usually get along well here.

Problems:

Patrols by rangers may eventually begin; rutted parking lot; eroded trail; poison oak; hazardous access to the south beach; auto vandalism.

Bonny Doon Beach

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Rating: A

Despite the erection of anti-nudity warning signs at longtime nudie fan favorite Bonny Doon Beach, north of Santa Cruz, officials have told us they have no immediate plans to issue citations at the north end of the site, which has traditionally been occupied by naturists.

In fact, in June, Pam, of San Mateo, even found a nudist “wandering around,” as she calls it, the main public, south side of the beach, which is used by suited visitors. A 15-foot long rock on the sand, along with a sloping cliff with rocks that jut out, separate the two sides of the cove that form Bonny Doon.

“In the short term, things at Bonny Doon are destined to continue the way they are,” says Kirk Lingenfelter, sector superintendent for Bonny Doon and nearby state beaches.

“Ultimately it would be nice to see some level of improvement, maybe trail work or stair work,” adds Lingenfelter. “But before we’d even do that, there would need to be a General Plan or an Interim Use Plan, which we don’t have. And we also don’t have any funding for it.”

Lingenfelter says he likes Bonny Doon just the way it is. “It’s one of our pocket beaches,” he explains. “They can really give you the feeling of rugged, untouched majesty. I like standing on those beaches. You can sometimes forget that there’s a highway in the distance. It’s a very important feeling to maintain.”

As for nudity, Lingenfelter says his rangers, who periodically patrol the beach, haven’t issued a single warning or citation for nudity since the state approved the acquisition of the beach in 2006. “We’ll respond to complaints we receive,” he explains, “but I can’t recall (receiving) a single complaint.”

Asked about reports to a nudist group by two naturists, in separate incidents in the summer of 2009, that they were told to suit up by an unidentified law enforcer, Lingenfelter denied his rangers were involved. He admitted that “there is some overlap” of law enforcement at the beach by deputies of the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department, but a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department says they did not take such action.

Bonny Doon usually gets high marks from beachgoers. “It was perfectly secluded,” says Pam who plans to return. “Folks kept to themselves.” John, of San Leandro, who dropped by in February, calls it “gorgeous.” Dusty, of Santa Cruz, rates it as “tranquil.” He also likes its “stunning views.”

“I love this beach,” said visitor Caitlin, of Campbell, on a message board.

But last year five beachgoers, including a friend of Caitlin’s, encountered overly aggressive men at Bonny Doon.  Says Jeff P., of Palo Alto, on Yelp, who was approached for sex by one: “These pervs sap the credibility from nudists.” Elizabeth, of San Jose, reports being asked by a middle-aged male nudist if “I needed to get tanning lotion put on. I gave them the get away from me look and things were cool after that.” 

“I love nude beaches,” said another poster, Jill, of Santa Cruz, after a visit. “So far, Bonny Doon is the only one at which I’ve actually felt uncomfortable, even with my boyfriend at my side the entire time … Even after we … left the nude part of the beach, one of the men actually got up and followed us. How creepy can you get?”

Julie, of the East Bay, had a similar experience. “For women, I would not recommend going solo if for no other reason than to be left alone,” she said. “I’ve had a few brave ‘johns’ that like to walk up (naked) and introduce themselves even when I’m there with my boyfriend.”

And in a more humorous vein, summer visitor Katie, of Redwood City, complains about the looks of the guys on the sand: “Why don’t some hot dudes come here and sun-bathe naked? That might make it a 5 star beach.”

The clothing-optional section usually attracts more women and couples than most nude beaches. “Minuses” include occasional vehicle burglaries and gawkers on the bluffs or in the bushes.

Legal status:

The beach was frequently used by nudists in the 1960s, following the formation of the so-called Experimental Beach 1958 (XB-58), popularized by Sol Stern, Stan Stohler, and Ed Lange, to bring nudist club members together on the sand and develop the concept of a nude public beach. Formerly privately owned but with public access available under state law, Bonny Doon Beach was sold in 2001. Today, the area east of the highway is owned by the Bureau of Land Management, while the state parks system has, since 2006, controlled the beach, which may eventually become Bonny Doon State Beach. 

How to find it:

From San Francisco, go south on Highway 1 to the Bonny Doon parking lot at milepost 27.6 on the west side of the road, 2.4 miles north of Red, White, and Blue Beach, and some 11 miles north of Santa Cruz. From Santa Cruz, head north on Highway 1 until you see Bonny Doon Road, which veers off sharply to the right just south of Davenport. The beach is just off the intersection. Park in the paved lot to the west of Highway 1; don’t park on Bonny Doon Road or the shoulder of Highway 1. If the lot is full, drive north on Highway 1, park at the next beach lot, and walk back to the first lot. Or take Santa Cruz Metro Transit District bus route 40 to the lot; it leaves the Metro Center three times a day on Saturdays and takes about 20 minutes. To get to the beach, climb the berm next to the railroad tracks adjacent to the Bonny Doon lot, cross the tracks, descend, and take a recently improved, sign-marked trail to the sand. Walk north past most of the beach to the nude cove on the north end. Alternately, Dusty suggests parking as far north as possible, taking the northern entrance, and, with good shoes, following a “rocky and steep” walk down to the sand.

The beach:

Bonny Doon is a sunny patch of sand and surf. You can bring dogs, and if you come before July, you may see whales. “The area just away from the cliff offers good shelter from the wind,” says Pasco. But don’t sit right next to it, as erosion (and falling rocks) is a problem.

The crowd:

Pam spotted a nude man on the clothed end of the beach, plus a photographer, nude model, and several other persons fully or totally unclad on the north side. Later, several older men, two older couples, and a family in their 30s arrived. Bob Wood of San Francisco found several dozen people, almost all nude: young and old, couples and singles, gays and straights, and men and women, though more men than women.

Problems:

Anti-nudity warning signs added; numerous complaints by both male and female visitors in 2011 and 2010 about men making unwanted advances toward them; two warnings for nudity from unidentified law enforcers reported by beachgoers in separate incidents in 2009; fog; wind; gawkers; hazardous waves; loose cliffs; parking lot fills early; auto burglaries; sometimes becomes rocky shelf with no sand in late winter; grains of beach sand are “too big,” according to some visitors.

Davenport Cove

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Rating: C

Both clothed and unclad visitors can be found at this site, which is off Highway 1, just south of Davenport’s public beach. “It’s really a beautiful place,” says regular visitor Russ. A group of offshore rocks resembling a shark’s tooth gives the beach its alternate name, Shark’s Tooth Beach. Swimming isn’t recommended, due to dangerous waves and cold water, but some locals paddle around anyway. However, the wind-sheltered cove is good for suitless sunbathing. A steep trail takes you to a cave you can explore and some interesting rock formations. Use caution when visiting the cove in high tide; it often washes out. Also, “avoid the area at night,” suggests Russ, who has heard stories of partiers harassing people who remained after dark in defiance of the beach’s official closure at dusk. Former problems included car robberies and gawkers in bushes.

Legal status:

Believed to be privately owned, with public access allowed under state law.

How to find it:

Look for Davenport Cove off Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz. The turnoff is 39.1 miles south of the junction of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay and 12.2 miles north of the junction of Highways 1 and 17 in Santa Cruz. Park at the main public beach, find the railroad tracks, and take the trail that begins there and runs about a half mile south to the cove. Or check for a turnoff half a mile south of Davenport, pull off the highway, and park in the rutted lot, which holds about 10 cars. Go around a long metal gate to a path leading to the sand. It’s a poor and steep trail, winding up and over the railroad tracks, but it will take you directly to the cove. “The path isn’t easy,” says Russ. “Instead of walking down the trail, you kind of climb down the trail.”

The beach:

Backed by towering white cliffs. The cove is small but sandy.

The crowd:

Only a few people visit Davenport Cove, and not everyone goes nude. Russ and his wife counted six other visitors.

Problems:

Beach erosion, especially in spring and winter; fog; wind; cold water; steep trail; poor parking; sometimes poison oak on trail; formerly had cliff gawkers; rough surf; cove may be covered by high tide; signs urge visitors not to leave valuables in their vehicles.

Scott Creek Beach

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Rating: B

Surfers, nature lovers, and naturists all like to visit Scott Creek, near Davenport, with surfers usually gathering on the north shore. If you’re a bird watcher, then you may want to check for waterfowl in the site’s little lagoon. For even more nature action, stop at nearby Ano Nuevo State Reserve to look for elephant seals. Tip: before swimming at Scott Creek, check for possible riptides offshore.

Legal status:

County land.

How to find it:

Scott Creek is three miles north of Davenport, off Highway 1, and 15.5 miles north of the junction of Highways 1 and 17, in Santa Cruz. It’s also 35.8 miles south of the intersection of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay. Check for Swanton Road, shown on some maps. There are two turnouts for parking. You can walk to the beach from either north or south of the bridge.

The beach:

Frequently deserted, half-mile-long Scott Creek Beach is at the bottom of a small bluff. At the north end, a submerged reef creates one of the finest surfing spots in northern California, which prime surfing from October-May. 

The crowd:

The beach is usually quiet, but the two turnouts, which hold 60-to-100 cars between them, fill up quickly on peak summer days.

Problems:

Wind; undertow; cold water; a pipeline offshore detracts from the view

 

Pomponio State Beach

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Rating: C

Most people who visit Pomponio State Beach don’t disrobe. But over the years, some visitors have gone nude at its wind-sheltered cove, which is also known for its incredibly clean sand. But trying to reach the best spot for naked tanning can be a bit risky. The main path to the water is long and, in parts, has almost vanished, due to erosion. Plus the waves are so strong that swimming isn’t advisable. Several swimmers have even been knocked down and carried out to sea. Bring a windbreaker in case the weather changes.

Legal status:

State beach property.

How to find it:

Pomponio is some two miles north of Pescadero State Beach on Highway 1, roughly 12 miles south of Half Moon Bay. To find the nude area at the south end of the 1.5-mile long beach, walk south in low tide along the water from the Pomponio entrance. Or from the old Pomponio parking turn-out (marked with pole-like barriers) on Highway 1, follow a trail that starts there until it enters a ravine with a creek. Visitors used to cross the canyon on a board, but it’s gone. At last report, some regulars were hopping on a pallet to cross part of the chasm, and then crawling the rest of the way.

The beach:

There’s a mile and a half of partially sheltered sand that varies from being flat to gently sloping. To avoid falling rocks, stay away from the edge of the high sandstone bluffs above the beach.

Photos available here

The crowd:

As many as 25 nudists a day were visiting the beach, but that number has dropped to single digits, even on the hottest days.

Problems:

Long walk, riptides, cliff erosion, cold air, wind, gawkers, and reports of car burglaries in the past. Swimming while au naturel is not permitted.

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