From: Richard.Mathews@West.Sun.COM (Richard M. Mathews)
Newsgroups: rec.nude
Subject: Nude Beaches Etc. FAQ; California
Date: 20 Nov 1992 06:18:50 GMT
Organization: Sunsoft Inc., Los Angeles, CA.
NNTP-Posting-Host: astro
Originator: richard@astro.West.Sun.COM

This is one of 2 volumes of the REC.NUDE Nude Beaches Etc. FAQ.  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 author 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.

This volume covers California.

In this issue:
	Northern California
		BAKER BEACH
		SAN GREGORIO NUDE BEACH
		BONNY DOON 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.


SAN GREGORIO NUDE BEACH is probably the closest 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, 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.


BONNY DOON BEACH, a little farther south, is one of the nicest spots
if the coastal weather is clear.  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, about 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.


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 usually find it deserted or nude or mixed (this info is a
few years out of date -- updates anyone?).  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 maybe eight 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 maybe another half-mile south until
you see signs warning you about diving in the river; there may still be
a slim vertical post sign showing the trail down to the Garden of Eden.
(If you take the railroad tracks as far as the rail tunnel, you've gone
too far by maybe 50 yards).  Go down to the river and enjoy!


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

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 at the
far end of the parking lot down the hill.  There are 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.


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 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 (1992 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 until you
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.


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?).

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 (only $4 in 1991) 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.


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.


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.
Drive several miles to Central Avenue.  Turn right on Central.  Drive
the mile or so until you get to Roundup.  Go left on Roundup 2.2 miles
until you hit Bowen Ranch Road (no sign, all roads are dirt).  Turn
right and drive the 9.5 miles to Bowen Ranch.  Pay $2 to park (1990
price), then hike the 2.5 miles down to the Springs and enjoy!

A possibility for avoiding paying for parking: 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.