Usenet 1994 October/usenetsourcesnewsgroupsinfomagicoctober1994disk1.iso/answers/nude-faq/beaches/California

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From: [e-mail] (Richard M. Mathews)
Newsgroups: rec.nude,rec.answers,news.answers
Subject: REC.NUDE FAQ: Naturist Site Reports: California
Supersedes: <[e-mail]>
Followup-To: rec.nude
Date: 1 Dec 1993 09:24:57 GMT
Organization: Sunsoft Inc., Los Angeles, CA.
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Approved: [e-mail]
Expires: 14 Jan 1994 09:30:09 GMT
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NNTP-Posting-Host: astro
Summary: This posting is a list of Clothing Optional beaches, hot springs,
    and parks frequently mentioned in rec.nude.  This list is far from
    being a definitive list of Clothing Optional locales, and postings
    to rec.nude asking about other such locales or presenting "trip
    reports" to such locales are highly encouraged.
Originator: richard@astro
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.nude:19864 rec.answers:3163 news.answers:15250

Archive-name: nude-faq/beaches/California
Last-modified: Oct 26 18:35

  This is one of four volumes of the "REC.NUDE FAQ: Naturist Site Reports".
  These are posted on the first of each month.

  The purpose of this FAQ is to list some brief information on a variety
  of clothing optional locales that are frequently mentioned on rec.nude.
  This FAQ cannot be a replacement for a more thorough source such as the
  World Guide (see the REC.NUDE Frequently Asked Questions, Part II of II).
  As you can see from this FAQ, there are CO locales all over the place.
  If you don't see one near you here or want more information about these,
  feel free to ask the rec.nude assemblage (the maintainer of this FAQ is
  not an especially good source for such information, but he'll gladly
  post such a request to the net anonymously if you desire -- just make
  it clear in your request that you do want it posted anonymously).

  The maintainer of this FAQ takes no responsibility for the accuracy of
  the information contained herein.  Updates to these entries are greatly
  appreciated; this FAQ is only as good as you make it.

  Many FAQs, including this one, are archived on the site rtfm.mit.edu in
  the directory pub/usenet/news.answers.  The name under which a FAQ is
  archived appears in the Archive-name line at the top of the article.
  This FAQ and its companions are archived in the nude-faq/beaches
  subdirectory.  These may be retrieved by anonymous FTP or by sending
  e-mail to [e-mail] with a line such as the following
  in the body:
  send usenet/news.answers/nude-faq/beaches/whatever

  Additions, deletions, and changes from last month are marked with +, -,
  and | in the first column.

  (c) Copyright 1993 Richard M. Mathews.  Copyrights for contributions
  to this document may be retained by their authors who may or may not be
  named below.  Permission is granted to freely distribute this in whole
  or in part provided that it is without profit or service fees and that
  this notice remains attached.

  This volume covers California.

  In this issue:
      Northern California
          BAKER BEACH
          SAN GREGORIO NUDE BEACH
          BONNY DOON BEACH
          RED, WHITE, AND BLUE BEACH
          GARDEN OF EDEN
      Southern California
          BLACK'S BEACH
          SAN ONOFRE STATE BEACH
          SMUGGLER'S COVE
          MORE MESA
          DEEP CREEK HOT SPRINGS


  BAKER BEACH (north end) in San Francisco...actually part of the Golden
  Gate National Recreation Area, just west of the Golden Gate Bridge's
  south end.  Magnificent views of the Bridge and the headlands of the
  Marin County coast to the north and northwest.  This is a large beach,
  with clothed use near the parking area, but more and more nudity as you
  walk several hundred yards to the north.  Depending on the weather, it
  may be foggy here in the mornings (as is possible everywhere along the
  coast), but it usually clears here before it does along the western shore
  of the peninsula.  A very mixed crowd: not many children, but everything
  from single men in their twenties to couples in their seventies.  (There
  *are* younger women...  don't misinterpret that last sentence.)  Also
  fully-clothed people fishing along the shore amid nude Frisbee-players.
  Some people go in swimming, but I find the water is often too cold until
  later in the summer and fall.

  From the south, take I-280 north to SF, take the Hwy.1/Golden Gate Bridge/
  19th Avenue exit, go north on 19th Avenue, be in the left lane as you
  enter Golden Gate Park, and take the left exit for 25th Avenue within
  the park.  Go north on 25th Avenue until you see some stone pillars
  marking the entrance to an exclusive residential area; turn right here
  onto Lincoln Blvd.  There's a sign for Baker Beach with a right arrow
  here.  Then follow the signs for Baker Beach (a couple of left turns)
  to the (free!) parking lot.

  From the north, take the Golden Gate Bridge south to San Francisco and
  use the rightmost toll booth lane.  The first possible exit is marked
  "25th Avenue" and leads you to Lincoln Boulevard, within the Presidio
  army base.  Turn right onto Lincoln, and follow the signs (a couple of
  right turns) to the Baker Beach parking lot.
      [Original from Neil E. Midkiff ([e-mail])]


  SAN GREGORIO NUDE BEACH is a privately owned beach which has been CO since
  1967.  It is probably the closest CO beach for those around Palo Alto.
  It is just north of (and adjacent to) San Gregorio State Beach where
  Highway 84 (Woodside Road exit from I-280) meets the coastal Highway 1.
  The road over the coastal range is curvy and hilly, but well-paved and
  very scenic.  The nude beach has a privately-run parking lot ($2/person,
  1991 price), but you can also just park in the state beach lot, walk
  down to the sand, and walk north along the shore until you see other
  nudists.  This beach is a *very* long stretch of sand.  A disadvantage
  is that there is no "community" feeling among the beach-goers... there
  reportedly tend to be isolated pockets of folks who seem to have come
  together and who don't interact with others.  Also, it can easily be
  sunny 100 yards inland and foggy on the beach.  Pets are OK, but there
  are no restrooms or drinking water.
      [Original from Neil E. Midkiff ([e-mail])]


  BONNY DOON BEACH, a little farther south, is one of the nicest spots if
  the coastal weather is clear.  Even on cool days, the horseshoe-shaped
  cliffs overlooking the beach offer protection from the wind and double
  as a sun-reflector.  Strong currents and waves make swimming a dangerous
  activity.  It is just south of the village of Davenport on Highway 1,
  about 10 miles northwest of Santa Cruz.  Go south on Hwy 17 to Santa
  Cruz and head northwest on 1, or take 84 to San Gregorio and head south
  on 1.  Either way is about 55 miles from Palo Alto.  Try to avoid 17
  to S.Cruz at the "weekend rush hours" of Bay Area folks heading for a
  day at Santa Cruz...the traffic can get extremely clogged over the
  hills.  Anyway, Bonny Doon beach is just where the road to Bonnie Doon
  (a small settlement in the foothills) intersects Hwy. 1, a mile south
  of Davenport.  There are a few turnoffs for parking along Hwy 1.  Then
  you have to walk over the railroad tracks and down to the beach.  The
  main CO area is the northern cove.  Most *everybody* will be nude, and
  there is a sense that there are a lot of regulars there who know each
  other.  The nude part of the beach is clean and well-taken-care-of (the
  main part of the beach had a bunch of bottles and trash).  There is a
  very relaxed atmosphere, seemingly very welcoming.  Note that there are
  no rest rooms or outhouses, not even a large bush.  Also, don't sit too
  close to the cliffs -- they drop rocks more often than you might guess.
      [Original from Neil E. Midkiff ([e-mail])]


  RED, WHITE, AND BLUE BEACH is a private beach 6 miles north of Santa Cruz
  off of Highway 1.  Conveniences include a volleyball court, picnic tables,
  fire pits, and hot showers.  It is a family beach, and lots of people
  spend weekends there in their trailers.  RVs fit.  "Rangers" patrol the
  cliffs to keep spectators away.  Look for a red, white, and blue mailbox
  at Scaroni Road near milepost 24.9.  Go on down the Scaroni Road about
  a 1/4 mile, and you can't miss the entrance.  Call [phone] for
  more info.  Admission charge is $7 per single or couple (1993 price;
  more for overnight camping).


  GARDEN OF EDEN is a good change of pace or an alternative when the coast
  is fogged in.  It is in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park at a spot where
  the San Lorenzo River makes an "S" bend and has deposited sandy spots on
  both sides of this small stream ("river" is somewhat of an exaggeration!).
  This spot may sometimes be occupied by textiles, but you will sometimes
  find it deserted or nude or mixed.  If not, try going upstream a hundred
  yards or so.  The Garden is so named on the map on the signboard near
  park headquarters, and on the AAA map of Santa Cruz and Vicinity (the
  park is about six miles north of Santa Cruz on Hwy. 9).  From the main
  parking lot, enjoy walking south through the short Redwood Loop trail;
  from the south end of the loop follow the railroad tracks over a bridge
  and about another half-mile south until you can see a new gravel roadbed
  for the train tracks (this is where the rail tunnel mentioned in older
  directions used to be).  Or you can park along Highway 9 at the Ox Road
  Trailhead, about a mile and a quarter south of the main park entrance,
  and walk a quarter of a mile to the tracks, then turn right 1/4 mile
  until the new gravel is in sight.  Maybe 50 yards before the gravel,
  a trail leads off to the left and down to the river.  There's a state
  park sign nailed to a tree by the trailhead, though the "No Diving" sign
  and the slim vertical "Garden of Eden" signpost are no longer there.  Go
  down to the river and enjoy!
      [Original from Neil E. Midkiff ([e-mail])]


  BLACK'S BEACH is in San Diego between Del Mar and La Jolla.  It lies just
  south of Torrey Pines State Beach.  No problems with police.  Lifeguards
  occasionally pass by and are quite friendly.  The body surfing at Black's
  is great.

  There are three ways to get there: hike in from Torrey Pines State
  Beach; park at the glider port just off of Genesee Blvd and hike down
  the cliff; or park by the University, hike through the La Jolla Farms
  housing development (public streets), down the blacktop road to the beach,
  and then north to Black's.  The hike down the cliff is the shortest.

  To get to the glider port entrance, take Interstate 5 to the Genesee exit
  (just south of the I-805 junction at the north end of San Diego).  Head
  west towards the ocean.  Go straight at the light at the top of the hill
  (onto North Torrey Pines Rd.), and make the first right after the big
  arcing turn to the left.  There are signs at the corner referring to
  Salk Institute and to the glider landing area.  Go all the way to the
  end to the large dirt parking lot which also serves the glider port.
  Find a spot to park and walk towards the cliffs.  Take the well used
  path (known as Steve's trail) at the far end of the parking lot down
  the hill.  There are a few other trails, but they are dangerous.  Bring
  water and any other supplies you need for the day, but not more than what
  you want to carry down the cliff.
      [Original from Chris Carlson ([e-mail])]


  SAN ONOFRE STATE BEACH is preferred by many over the more famous
  Black's.  The hike isn't nearly as steep, and it is less crowded with
  fewer gawkers.  It is quite aggressively patrolled by the regulars who
  chase off the various problem types that are known around Black's.

  San Onofre Beach is near the San Diego County / Orange County border.
  You should get there early because they close the gates when the parking
  lot fills up.  Take I-5 to the Basilone exit.  Drive west then south a
  few miles past the nuclear power plant (can't miss it; looks like two
  large breasts with nipples on top:-)) to the beach parking entrance.
  Pay the $6 parking fee (1993 price).  Ask the rangers where the nude
  beach is.  They will tell you, and it is good that they know you are
  there to go to the nude beach.  Drive down as far as you can to Trail
  6.  Trails are fairly well marked.  Head down to the beach and walk
  about .5 miles south.  As you pass lifeguard station 6, you will see
  the volleyball nets and all the folks properly unattired and having
  fun.  Trail 5 is an easier but longer walk.

  Alternately, many recommend avoiding the parking hassle by bicycling in.
  Drive to the Las Pulgas Road exit from I-5, just an exit or two south of
  Basilone Road.  Park to the east of the freeway in a lot there.  From
  here, it is an easy, pretty, three or so mile ride down a bicycle path
  to San Onofre.  Bicyclists can chain their bicycles to the chain link
  fence across from the bathrooms; we've been doing that for a long time
  and no one has ever bothered the bikes.

  You can get naked anywhere from the last lifeguard station (the lifeguards
  reportedly tolerate it) on down into the Camp Pendleton Marine base.  There
  is a new Commandant at Camp Pendleton who is alleged to be very hardline
  about trespassing onto the base.
      [Original from Norman Kraft ([e-mail]),
      Bruce Hamilton ([e-mail]),
      and Jeff Foster ([e-mail])]


  SMUGGLER'S COVE, also known as Sacred's Beach, is located near Los Angeles
  on the Palos Verdes peninsula between Abalone Beach and Portugese Bend (or
  maybe the CO beach includes Portugese Bend?).  This is apparently a private
  beach leased from L.A.County by area residents which allows it to avoid
  the county nudity law.

  Take the Harbor Freeway south to its end.  Continue straight ahead (on
  Gaffey Street).  Turn right on 25th St.  This becomes Palos Verdes Drive
  South in about 2 miles.  Park at the Abalone Cove County Beach parking
  lot ($5 in 1993) and walk a bit east, or park on Paseo Del Mar and walk
  1.5 miles west.

  The beach is rocky and small, and the water is full of seascum Watch
  out for rocks that are thrown around in the water.  One has to negotiate
  rather nasty rocks to go into the water (on one side of the beach); but
  the cliffs and beauty of the place make up for it, and there are some
  neat tidepools and caves.  The usually small attendance at the beach
  makes it nice as well.  Folks are friendly.  The east side is coed and
  family-oriented, while the west side is reported to be mostly gay.
      [Original from Bob Larson ([e-mail]),
      Niels Catsimpoolas ([e-mail]),
      and David Brahm ([e-mail])


  MORE MESA is located about 5 miles west (aka north:-) of downtown Santa
  Barbara and a few miles east of UCSB.  Nice sand.  No hassle.  Quiet.
  Occasional surf.  Oil/tar sometimes; but the oil companies assure us
  it's "natural leakage", so we feel ok about it:^(  Exit U.S. 101 North
  at Turnpike.  Turn left over the freeway.  Drive down the hill, and turn
  left at the light (Hollister).  Turn right at Puente (the next light).
  Continue past the stop sign, up the hill, and park on the street where
  Mockingbird Lane goes to the left.  Do not park on Mockingbird lane, as
  you will be towed.  Walk up Mockingbird lane, and when it ends continue
  on the dirt trail/road that runs to the left.  The trail will go left,
  then straighten out to the cliff, then a wooden staircase leads down
  to the beach.  Total walk is about a mile.  And don't forget to bring
  water.

  Rumor is that local sheriff has been cracking down on nudity at some
  Santa Barbara area beaches due to complaints about sex.  So far More
  Mesa has been left alone, but the locals blame the sexual activity on
  people from L.A. and other outsiders.  (Certainly no-one from Santa
  Barbara would have sex on a beach! :-( )  Anyway, because of this the
  locals seem to have copped an attitude towards outsiders and if you go
  there they might not be especially friendly.
      [Original from "anonymous"]


  DEEP CREEK HOT SPRINGS is considered to be one of the ten best hot springs
  in the West.  On weekdays you can enjoy the "hot-pottin'" solitude by
  yourself or maybe with a stranger or two.  During the weekends plan on
  a mellow group of all shapes, sizes, and ages of friendly folks.  The
  hot water flows from several cracks in a rock just above a large pool
  in a bend of the cool waters of Deep Creek.  The hot water is contained
  in three distinct pools of varying temperatures on a flat rock shelf
  above the creek.  The scenery at the springs is worth the hike!  (The
  surrounding mountains, trees, and rocks are not bad to look at either.)
  You can always be guaranteed to find plenty of sunny space to toast your
  buns (or anything else you want to toast).

  To get there, take the Bear Valley Cutoff from I-15 in Victorville.  Go
  about 10 miles to Central Road.  Turn right on Central.  Drive about 3
  miles until you get to Roundup Way.  Go left on Roundup 2.2 miles until
  you hit Bowen Ranch Road (no sign, all roads are dirt).  Turn right and
  drive 5.6+ miles to Bowen Ranch.  Pay $2/person/day plus $2/night to
  park (1993 price).  Be sure to lock valuables in your trunk; this is
  an unprotected area and cars have been known to be broken into.  Then
  hike the 2.5 miles down to the Springs and enjoy!

  A possibility for avoiding paying for parking that may or may not work
  now: when you get to Bowen Ranch, don't park.  Turn right just before
  you enter the ranch.  Drive about .5 miles until you pass the trailhead
  on your right, and park.

  An alternate route is the highway 138 exit from I-15 in Cajon Pass, to
  highway 173 at Lake Silverwood.  Stay on Highway 173 until you get to
  the dry Mojave River Forks Reservoir.  Park here and hike up Deep Creek
  Canyon to the springs.  Free parking here, but you have a long, gentle
  6 mile hike in.  There are some reports of vandalism of cars parked at
  the dam, however.

  To get to the hot springs from Bowen Ranch you should start walking
  (although you can drive further but the road gets worse).  At the end
  of the road on top of a hill find the trail and follow it down the hill,
  cross a dirt road where you may find some parked vehicles and go through
  an opening in the fence.  Just follow the canyon, you'll pass a park
  boundary sign with a few rules on it.  Follow the canyon (you'll be
  on the right side hill) about 1.5 mi to the end of a ridge where the
  creek is ahead of you and on both sides of you (only at a much lower
  elevation, about 150 feet lower).  A large rock outcropping straddles
  the creek right in front of you at the bottom of the hill.  A trail
  goes down the hill to the creek from the end of this ridge, but you
  have to turn almost completely around to the right to see this trail.
  Most people just risk their lives by scrambling the short way down the
  right side face of this steep, treacherous decomposed granite bank to
  the creek.  You can leave your stuff at the beach here or take it with
  you as you ford the creek to the hot springs located on the other side.

  Note: The trail there is all downhill.  That means going back it is all
  uphill, about a 1200 foot elevation change.  Bring lots of drinking water.
  You will probably spend all day at the springs, so bring a picnic lunch.
  There are no facilities anywhere nearby on this trip so be completely
  self-contained.  Take: Drinking Water, Sunscreen, drinking water, food,
  drinking water, maybe beer or soft drinks, drinking water, a hat, and
  drinking water.
      [Original from [e-mail]
      Dan Kegel ([e-mail])
      and Tom Middleton ([e-mail])]

     Richard M. Mathews            D efend
                     E stonian-Latvian-Lithuanian
    [e-mail]          I ndependence