Water

Elsewhere Near the Bucket

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Rating: C

Two more swimming holes are located just upstream from the Bucket. Bucket Bend, the most private and deepest of these pools, has a small, sandy beach approximately 50 feet from the Bucket.The Rope Swing (named after a rope swing that was on the property) is a large, shallow, clothing-optional swim spot.

Legal status:

Believed to be private property.

How to find it:

For Bucket Bend, go to the Bucket (see above) and look for a second fork in the trail. Turn right. You’ll know you’re headed the right way if the path leads you upstream and around a sharp bend to a little, sandy beach. To reach Rope Swing, go to the Bucket, but at the first fork in the path, instead of going right, turn left. That will take you to the Rope Swing area.

The beach:

Bucket Bend is a small, sandy beach and swimming hole around 50 feet from the Bucket. Rope Swing is a large, shallow pool of water.

The crowd:

You will probably have these spots all to yourself.

Problems:

Visibility from road; poison oak on trail; finding path on beach side of creek may be difficult; rockier than the Bucket; water at Rope Swing too shallow for swimming.

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.

Indian Head Beach

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Rating: C

A few naturists visit this beach in the town of Marina from time to time on warm summer days and during trips by nudist groups.”Some walkers and fishermen also come by,” says Tiburon lawyer Charles Harris II, who’s been helping push a project to make the spot an officially designated nude beach for years.So far, despite Harris’ persistence, that effort has fallen on deaf ears.

Legal status:

Part of Fort Ord Dunes State Park.

How to find it:

From San Jose, take Highway 101 south to Prunedale, then Highway 156 west to join Highway 1 south at Castroville. Approaching Marina, exit at Reservation road, turning left (east). At the first signal, go right on Reservation, then follow it a half mile to Lake Drive. Turn right on Lake. Follow it half a mile until it goes under the freeway.

Or from Monterey, go north on Highway 1 to Marina. Exit at Del Monte Avenue. Proceed straight through the first signal, then turn left at the next signal on Palm Avenue. Follow it across the tracks, take the second left onto Lake Drive, and stay on it as it goes under the freeway.

Once under the freeway, park straight ahead on the right side of Lake. Look for the Marina Beach sign. “The obvious path uphill is your route,” says Harris. “The climb really is as steep as it looks.” Go up and over the sand dune, staying on the trail. At the beach, turn left and walk about half a mile south to the nude area.

The beach:

Normally narrow and steep, Indian Head can sometimes be a broad beach, bordered by rolling dunes of invitingly soft sand.

Here’s how the site looks

The crowd:

You may encounter a few other nudists, an entire group of naked people from a club or other group, or none at all.

Problems:

Steep trail; cold, hazardous water; often foggy or windy; some litter; sparse use, so it may feel a bit lonely; nudity not yet approved by state.

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.

La Selva

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Rating: C

A few naked sunbathers show up here on a periodic basis. “It’s duney, but also so wide open in places that rangers can drive up and down and harass people,” a regular visitor says. What little nudity occurs usually happens on weekdays or when there aren’t many other people present. Use discretion and be prepared to suit up fast, in case a beach cop appears.

Legal status:

Unknown.

How to find it:

Just south of Rio del Mar, look for La Selva. Drive to Manresa State Beach (see next entry), then walk north along the sand.

The beach:

Various dunes before and after homes overlooking the ocean.

The crowd:

Use with care; this is mostly a family beach.

Problems:

Riptides; undertow; cold water; increased law enforcement; proximity of homes.

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.

Its Beach

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Rating: C

It’s a beach, but whose beach is Its? Although derided by recent visitor Andrea, of Portland, for “decaying kelp” that’s often left on the beach (It’s “no fun for walking on,” she adds), the main issue that’s been brewing for years at the shore in front of the lighthouse on Santa Cruz’s West Cliff Drive is whether or not dogs should be banned. Dog lovers and haters, plus a small contingent of nudists, are regular visitors to the site, near Santa Cruz’s Municipal Wharf. Both sides have been howling. Some regulars want the dogs to be banned or leashed, but there’s also a strong local movement to let them roam free. Under one plan, announced in 2008, the city of Santa Cruz would buy 2.5 acres of Its Beach from the state for $103,000, and the rest of Lighthouse Field State Beach in the future, which would allow the dogs to be legally off-leash, which isn’t allowed at other state beaches. The beach itself is nothing to write home about. For the best sand, visit in late summer or early fall. Nearby attractions include the lighthouse’s surfing museum; a butterfly refuge at Natural Bridges State Beach; the Municipal Wharf; and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, with an amusement park and rides.

Legal status:

Lighthouse Field State Beach, also known as Its Beach and Point Santa Cruz.

How to find it:

Take Highway 1 to Swift Street in Santa Cruz. Follow Swift to the sea, then turn right on West Cliff Drive. Follow West Cliff until you see the lighthouse. Starting from the wharf, take West Cliff Drive north to the lighthouse, which will be on the left (beach) side of the street. Park at the lighthouse and walk down to the little, pebble-strewn shore.  The nude section is at the far right end of the beach.

The beach:

Small with a mix of sand and rocks.

The crowd:

Visitors are mostly suited, but the site gets occasional use by nude sunbathers. Members of yelp.com seem to love the nudists. “My favorite beach in Santa Cruz by far,” says Gretchen P., of San Francisco. ” … I got accustomed to the naked people and deadheads … The cozy enclave feeling of this little crescent moon of a beach made me feel safe and I could sleep and read and roast for hours without being bothered.” Andrew B. writes: “The best beach in Santa Cruz. It has lots of cool dogs, a few naked hippies, and a fun little beach … to play in.” Dave, of San Jose, called it “hands down the best beach to take your dog … The vibe here is hot and on a hot sunny day it can get packed.” He found “crunchy hippy nudists and a drum circle that can go on for days with mega gatherings” on the right side of the beach.”

Problems:

Unleashed dogs may soon come romping onto the sand; cold water; wind; fog; hazardous swimming conditions; beach open to view.

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.

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.

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.

Rope Beach

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Rating: D

A support rope that beachgoers used to guide themselves up and down a cliff in the Davenport area has disappeared, making access to the sand below very dangerous. “It’s very hard not to slip down the loose rock and rock face,” says one visitor, Russ. “We didn’t fall or anything, but I would not recommend going down to this beach unless you consider yourself an experienced rock climber. It’s probably a 70 degree slope. We went back up very carefully. It’s much harder than ever before, with nothing to prevent you from slipping and falling down.”

To reach the beautiful and nearly always uncrowded shore, visitors previously used the rope to hold themselves close to the cliff while placing their feet on footholds. Says Russ: “The rope helped you steady yourself.”

Legal status:

Rumored to be destined to become a state beach. The Nature Conservancy reportedly bought the land on the cliffs above the beach, used in the past to grow artichokes, from the Packard Foundation.

How to find it:

Rope Beach is north of Shark’s Tooth Beach (Davenport Cove), between it and Davenport Municipal Beach. If you’re facing Shark’s Tooth, it’s to the right. Follow the directions to Davenport Cove (see entry below) 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. But instead of following it about a half mile south, which will take you Davenport Cove, at the tracks “you go to the right,” says Russ. Previously, visitors would look for “a round, one-inch diameter steel stake that is rusted, which marks the area where the rope goes down,” according to Russ. He said the rope had knots tied in it, so it won’t slip out of your hand when you go up or down” the cliff. We told visitors to be sure you hang onto it. “Otherwise, if you take one false step, you could fall 50 feet,” explained Russ. Now, though, with the rope gone, experienced visitors look for what Russ calls “a little narrow path through the brush. We were looking for little toeholds in the rocks. On the way back, I helped my wife up and handed her stuff, like our backpack.”

The beach:

What Rope Beach lacks in length — it’s maybe 150 yards long — it more than makes up for in width. Russ likes to sit near but not directly next to the cliff, “which will give you some shelter from the wind. The beach is big enough so that you can spread out on it without being near someone. People aren’t planted five feet away from each other. If somebody is uncomfortable (with someone being nude), they could move to another part of the beach.” The beach is usually in good shape, with almost no litter, due to the lack of visitors. “A few people go in the water, but the waves are pretty rough,” says Russ. “It’s more of a sunning beach.” Adds a reader: “The beach is nice once you get there.”

The crowd:

“You might see as many as eight-to-10 people there, but more often there are a half dozen or less” reports a recent visitor. “Quite often, there are nude people on the beach.” Russ says there was nobody else there one time he was at the beach and “a lady and a couple” during his next visit. 

Problems:

Support rope gone; steep, slippery trail; needs better directions; rough water; from the cliffs, keep looking for people on the beach; gawkers have occasionally lurked in the plants on the cliff edge.

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.

San Gregorio

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Rating: A

Still the USA’s longest continually used nude beach, San Gregorio even has its own website and live web cam. The privately run operation, which is located next to San Gregorio State Beach, recently began its 46th year of serving the clothing-optional community.

The beach often draws a large gay crowd, along with some nude and suited straight couples, singles, and families.

Nude use of San Gregorio began before 1966. Air Force veteran and San Francisco State College senior Darrell Tarver, 28, formed, with a “Committee For Free Beaches” with some of his friends to leaflet college campuses in San Francisco and Berkeley about the “free beach” in San Gregorio. Word spread rapidly. Soon, there were 500 nudists swarming onto the shore nearly every Sunday. “This is the best incentive I have to stay slim,” a UC Berkeley coed told a Time magazine reporter.

But problems soon cropped up. Gawkers began taking up positions, while small planes buzzed the beach. A father of a 14 year old girl tried to press charges after claiming that his daughter had been pressured into disrobing in public at the beach. The county district attorney’s office dropped the case after deciding that nothing lewd or obscene had taken place. But instead of dissuading visitors from disrobing, the news sent even more nudists onto the sand. Attempts to keep the hordes of naked people away by closing the access roads proved futile because they walked around the south end of the beach at low tide or even formed human chains down some dangerous cliff trails.

Today, the human chains are long gone and have been replaced by a privately managed attraction. “It’s a really romantic spot,” says a single woman. But make no mistake, the college coeds have mostly left. In fact, San Gregorio has, over the years, become mostly a gay hangout and pickup spot. Want to give it a try? First-timers are sometimes annoyed (as I was, years ago) by the driftwood structures on the sandy slope leading down to the beach, which are used by some visitors as “sex condos.” However, fans of the beach savor San Gregorio’s stunning scenery. It has “awesome natural beauty,” says regular visitor Bob Wood. Attractions of the 120 acre site include two miles of soft sand and tide pools to explore, as well as a lagoon, lava tube, and, if you look closely enough on the cliffs, the remains of an old railroad line.

Some 49 percent of over 1,000 persons surveyed at about.com advised “don’t go there,” 38% called it excellent, and 10% rated it “good, but with a few flaws.”

The beach is open weekends 9 a.m. until sunset on weekends and weekdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., with the last users admitted at 5 p.m. Weather report hotline: 415-765-7697.

Legal status:

Private property, leased land.

How to find it:

From San Francisco, drive south on Highway 1, past Half Moon Bay, and, between mileposts 18 and 19, look on the right side of the road for telephone call box number SM 001 0195, at the intersection of Highway 1 and Stage Road, and near an iron gate with trees on either side. From there, expect a drive of 1.1 miles to the entrance. At the Junction 84 highway sign, the beach’s driveway is just .1 mile away. Turn into a gravel driveway, passing through the iron gate mentioned above, which says 119429 on the gatepost. Drive past a grassy field to the parking lot, where you’ll be asked to pay an entrance fee. Take the long path from the lot to the sand; everything north of the trail’s end is clothing-optional. The beach is also accessible from the San Gregorio State Beach parking area to the south; from there, hike about a half-mile north. Take the dirt road past the big white gate with the Toll Road sign to the parking lot.

The beach:

You’ll find caves, cliffs, driftwood structures (common practice is to hang a t-shirt over a pole to indicate a structure is occupied), and a beach full of clean, rolling sand. Pets are OK (though dogs are not allowed on weekends or holidays); fires, cameras, and overnight camping are banned. Swimming is not recommended. There are chemical toilets in the parking lot.

The crowd:

On the warmest days 50 to 200 visitors may be spread thinly along the sprawling beach, which is so large it never feels crowded. “The wide open spaces give one the feeling of being very alone,” a reader named Paul says. “I was surprised, though, that even on warm weekends there were almost no heterosexuals in sight.” On the south end of the beach, there are sometimes dozens of straight couples and families, both naked and clothed. Gay men tend to hang out on the north side.

Problems:

Entrance fee, wind, riptides, cold water, summer fog, sex on the beach or in driftwood “condos,” not much of a social atmosphere.

Montara State Beach

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Rating: C

Montara doesn’t allow nudity, so keep some clothes handy if you decide to attempt some bare bottom baking in the summer sun — and a ranger starts approaching. Most visitors do not go nude. Only a few people still sunbathe topless or nude at the far north end of Montara, which is just south of People’s Beach and People’s neighbor, Devil’s Slide. It originally attracted naturists when a landslide blocked the road to Devil’s Slide years ago. 

Legal status:

State beach, where rangers will and do issue citations for nudity.

How to find it:

Montara is 1.1 miles south of Devil’s Slide on Highway 1. Arrive early on busy days to get parking. Walk north to the northern tip of the beach, where occasional nudity takes place on the hottest summer weekdays.

The beach:

An area of dunes on the narrow beach strip’s north end was formerly used for semiprivate nude sunbathing. In recent years, the “nude spot” has become eroded and more exposed to public view.

The crowd:

Only a few naturists still visit Montara.

Problems:

Fog; wind; beach erosion; icy water; intolerant park rangers.

People’s Beach

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Rating: D

Although we can’t recommend People’s Beach, a few people somehow still make their way down its crumbling, eroded, and very dangerous path. Worse yet, the beach disappears in high tide. And incidents of sex on the sand have driven away former regulars. In its heyday, up to 60 nudists a day wound up on the sand, recalls Dave Smith, of San Leandro. “You had to jump the last eight feet until somebody added a plank.” The site, he says, later “became a gay scene.” Remembers Bay Area resident Timothy Moscow: “It was heaven.”

“All I can say is that it’s not a very good beach,” says Carl Ernst, former operator of nearby Devil’s Slide. The path to the beach is so dangerous that it’s been officially closed for years — and the Guardian continues to recommend you avoid it. Users say the steep trail gives way to a 20 foot drop at the end. Wear hiking shoes and be prepared to turn back.

Legal status:

State property, believed to be part of Montara State Beach.

How to find it:

From San Francisco, take Highway 1 south past Pacifica to Montara Beach. Park at the Montara State Beach lot, then walk north along the highway to the trailhead. The beach path begins next to a highway turnout. Look for the “Hiking, Climbing Prohibited” sign.

The beach:

“On a good day, it’s maybe 80 to 100 yards long,” estimates Ernst. During high tide, the site may disappear altogether. Does the beach have any nice qualities? “It’s very quiet, which is why I go here,” one reader says. Another says it’s less windy than Devil’s Slide.

The crowd:

Often deserted: a big crowd here would be five people.

Problems:

Brutally steep, breakaway trail; nearly inaccessible; fog; cold water; small beach; lack of precise trail directions; reports of sex on the beach.

Devil’s Slide (Gray Whale Cove)

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Improved directions!

Recommended!

Devil’s Slide (Gray Whale Cove)

Rating: A

Gray Whale Cove, which is often called Devil’s Slide, continues to get rave reviews from visitors.

“There were lots of young, fit guys on the nudie part and about five women,” reports Alexis, of San Leandro, who visited this June and told Yelp she stayed for over five hours because it was “very warm and sunny.” The water was “very cold, but just jump in,” she suggests. “It’s somewhat tolerable and you’ll get used to it.”

“This is a great nude beach and it is a romantic place,” reports a male visitor who dropped by in April.

Adds Grace, of South San Francisco: “You don’t have to walk a half mile just to see the edge of the water.” And, she added, it’s “very secluded” so it isn’t as crowded as many other local beaches.

And here’s some even better news: although the beach appears on the list of parks scheduled to be closed this month by the state due to budget shortfalls, officials plan to keep it open while they negotiate with what Paul Keel, San Mateo coast state parks sector superintendent, calls a prospective “donor to keep it in operation for the coming year.”

At press time, Keel told us that although “nothing’s been signed or inked, it’s fair to say we are optimistic, so hopefully we will know more in the next month.”

Access to the site, though, is changing: after a long-awaited, voter-approved Devil’s Slide tunnel is completed this fall, Keel and others expect a possible increase in traffic to the beach, as more pedestrians and bicyclists use a nearby section of Highway 1 that is being closed.

Meanwhile, rangers say they will allow a long-standing tradition of nudity to continue on the sand unless visitors complain. “But it’s not a nude beach,” Supervising State Park Ranger Michael Grant told us several seasons ago.

However, with state budget woes and cutbacks of personnel, there have not been any reports of nudists being chased off the sprawling, pristine site. Even if someone wants to complain about the naked people, rangers aren’t usually at the beach and cell phone reception there to try to reach them is regarded as poor. 

Part of the beach isn’t even within state land, so it’s not subject to enforcement by rangers.

Grant told us that enforcement is being left up to individual rangers. “What we do varies, depending on the circumstances,” he says. “Every case is different.”

Another administrator claims that it’s unlikely nudists will be told to leave. “It’s a relatively remote place, so we aren’t going to be pursuing enforcement against nudity at Gray Whale Cove,” said the administrator, who wanted to remain anonymous. “Nothing’s changed about our enforcement.”

He said, though, that if a ranger drove up and saw two groups of school children approaching, then the beach would not be regarded as “remote” anymore. In such a case, naturists would probably be asked to suit up.

About one or two in every 20-30 visitors go nude at the beautiful cove — quite a contrast to the several hundred who used to strip off their clothes when the site was a privately operated nude beach a decade ago.

The remaining naturists tend to hang out on the north end of the shoreline. “It’s a good place to recharge from work,” says regular visitor Ron, who enjoys swimming there, even though signs warn of dangerous surf. The beach is open every day. Dogs are prohibited.

Legal status:

Gray Whale Cove State Beach.

How to find it:

From San Francisco, take Highway 1 south through Pacifica. Three miles south of the Denny’s restaurant in Linda Mar, turn left (inland or east) on an unmarked road, which takes you to the beach’s parking lot. Coming from the south on Highway 1, look for the turnoff road on the right (east), 1.2 miles north of the Chart House restaurant in Montara.

New directions after this fall: from the north, take Highway 1 through the Devil’s Slide tunnel and then turn left onto the road described above. From the south, continue using the above directions.

Park in the beach lot and then take a 146-step staircase leads to the sand. “The steps are in good shape,” Ron says. 

Most naturists use the north end of the sand, which some visitors regard as the prettiest part of the shore. It’s separated by rocks from the rest of the beach, so regular visitors suggest waiting until low tide to make the crossing to the nude area. 

Alexis, who visited when the tide was high, says: “You have to be in some kind of good shape and have the agility to climb over those boulders with the waves violently crashing into them. I got cuts on my feet, but it was easier to do it barefoot, though.”

“I lost my flip flops” during the climb, she adds. It was “too slippery with them on anyway.” She notes it is “probably not always like this.” The “tide was very rough and high at 5 p.m.”

The beach:

The 300-foot long site is surrounded by orange-hued sandstone cliffs on one side and the beautiful Pacific Ocean on the other. “The beach is beautiful” and “tucked away on the coast,” so it’s not “over populated with city folks,” tells Jane, of San Francisco. Devil’s Slide is a great place to read, tan, jog, play Frisbee, or watch (true to its state beach name) gray whales, pelicans, and surfers. 

The crowd:

Tourists, families, surfers, and naturists all use the beach.

Problems:

Says Ranger Grant: “There’s been an increase in break-ins of vehicles parked along the highway. No matter where you park, be sure to remove any property and take it with you.” Other concerns include highway scheduled to be permanently closed this fall; slippery nude area access rocks; attempting to reach the nude spot in high tide can be dangerous; change in enforcement policy (see above); influx of suited visitors; cold water; fog; wind; landslides sometimes close Highway 1; long walk to the beach; three great white sharks seen in ’80s; parking fee; some sexual activity reported in north cove area and arrests for lewd behavior; and gawking (numerous reports on message boards).

Strawberry Canyon Pool

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Rating: B

The deck and surrounding grassy area at the East Pool, one of three pools in the Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area run by the University of California, Berkeley, has long been used for topless sunbathing. The 25-yard-by-25-yard pool with six lap lanes finally reopened, but there’s no word yet on whether the fun in the sun will continue. Before the closure, rule No. 8 of the posted regulations said that “Bathing suits must be worn at all times by all patrons using the facility (State of California Health Code); topless sunbathing permitted.”

Although thongs and toplessness are banned at the facility’s West Pool, over the years topless use of the East Pool has depended on the weather and the crowd. One visitor said she had been top-free there “every weekend” for two years before the pool was closed for repairs. Very few women were going topless on weekdays, but a fair number were on warm weekends when in the company of other top-free sunbathers. Note: neither all-nude sunbathing nor topless swimming are permitted, and top-free sunning was OK only on the deck of the 80-degree adult lap and “water jogging” East Pool, not at the other two.

Legal status:

Part of UC Berkeley.

How to find it: In Berkeley, take Dwight Way east toward the hills. Two blocks after Piedmont Avenue, turn left onto Prospect Street, which winds around Memorial Stadium. Turn right onto Centennial Drive and follow signs a short distance to the Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area parking lot. Walk past the wading pool and the family-oriented West Pool. The Strawberry Canyon fee for nonstudents is $5 a day, $60 to $75 for a 15-entry pass.

The beach:

A deck and a grassy area around the deck of a large pool used for adult lap swimming.

The crowd:

Mostly UC Berkeley students, professors, and staff and other Berkeley-area residents, leaning heavily toward the young. At the www.topfreedom.com site, Becky, of Oakland, reports that “top freedom” can range “from 10-50 percent on warm and sunny weekend afternoons.”

Problems:

Not designated for full clothing-optional use; no sand; not very private; people must be suited to swim or walk, fee, closed until further notice. The university is raising funds to replaster and reopen the pool.

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