What are the best nudist beaches in California?
IF YOU'RE looking for a cheeky adventure, one of California's nudist beaches could be just the ticket.
Here are the best nudist beaches in California, whether you're ready to bare it all (or just a little), whether you're a local or visiting on vacation.
What are the best nudist beaches in California?
While they tend to be off the beaten path, there are many nude beaches in California if you know where to find them.
Whether you want to get athletic and play sports like sand volleyball or to relax with lots of space, we've got a list of the best nude beaches for you to visit.
It's essential to look for signage saying that you're on a designated clothing-optional beach before you take off your clothes.
Otherwise, you could get a citation.
Whether you go topless, completely nude, or keep your bathing suit or clothes on is entirely up to you.
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Without further ado, here is a roundup of the best clothing-optional beaches in California.
Black's Beach
Black's Beach is a mile-and-a-half-long beach down a trailhead from Torrey Pines Gliderport, located in La Jolla, just north of San Diego.
The trek from the parking lot is a bit of a hike, so it's recommended to wear your sneakers for the steep trail down.
If parking at Torrey Pines Gliderport, you should follow the trailhead markers to Black's Beach, and then you'll find the beautiful protected cove below.
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The weather in this part of California is generally sunny and warm.
Expect lots of volleyball and soccer players, surfers, and hang gliders to be in the area.
There are also tons of people just looking for a relaxing day in the sun.
Marshall's Beach
Like Black's Beach, Marshall's Beach is a bit of a hike down a rocky cliff and stairs, but the view of the Golden Gate bridge makes it worth the climb.
Outside of San Francisco, the weather at this beach isn't always sunny or warm, with foggy and chilly conditions, even from one hour to the next, so we suggest taking a sweatshirt or a beach blanket.
This beach is not super touristy, so if you're going for a local vibe, this is the place.
Down on the Eastern side of the beach is an area known for being especially LGBTQ+ friendly.
Pirate's Cove
This beach is on the central coast of California, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, in a town called Avila Beach.
It's best to go during low tide, as the beach is much narrower than some other spots.
The path down to the beach offers gorgeous views but can be treacherous to navigate, so keep this in mind.
There are many private little spots between cliffs here, and it's an older crowd than at Black's Beach, meaning there aren't as many activities.
If you're in the area, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful, naturally wild beach.
Red Rock Beach
If you're looking for an active social scene with locals and tourists, Red Rock Beach in Marin County is the place to go.
If you're talking to locals, don't be surprised if they refer to it as "Mickey's beach."
It's located about a mile south of Stinson Beach and takes about half an hour to get to the nude section of the beach from the Highway 1 access.
Rock climbers and people are bouldering some of the nearby rock formations, which are stunning.
As this beach is further north in California, it's recommended by locals that you go in the afternoon after the sun has had time to warm up the rocks and the sand.
Bonny Doon Beach
This little gem of a beach is tucked away in Davenport, only a few miles north of Santa Cruz.
You can't see it from the road, and it's generally pretty secluded.
This nude beach is perfect if you want a place to read without disruption.
Also, the cliffs around Bonny Doon block the wind from blowing sand all over you.
If you're looking for the clothing-optional beach, you will want to park in the lot on Highway 1 and Boony Doon Rd.
There will be a winding trail that may have poison oak if you wander off of it too far, but it's known as an incredible hike.
A river also runs through the end of the path, but the consensus seems to be that it's safe to walk through as long as you don't mind getting your feet wet.
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Once you get onto the sand, you'll want to head to the beach's northern end, past the flat-top rock.
This is where you'll likely find stretches of sand with marked signage that visitors can go nude.
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