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Nude Beaches

Santa Cruz County

North Marina


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.Read more »

La Selva

Rating: C

Be prepared to put your swimsuit on fast at La Selva Beach in the case of a beach cop driving by the sand dunes to try to roust you from the area. A few naked sunbathers show up here on a periodic basis. "It's dune-y, but also so wide open in places that rangers can drive up and down and harass people," a regular says. What little nudity occurs usually happens on weekdays or when there aren't many other people present. Use discretion.

 

Legal status:

Unknown.

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Rio Del Mar Beach


Rating: C

Rio Del Mar, close to the town of Aptos, is one of four adjoining beaches in south Santa Cruz County and north Monterey County where nudity isn't allowed, but occasionally occurs behind sand dunes, away from the sight of families visiting the sand. If you see rangers approaching, put your swimsuit on right away. "Most of the nudists are gay men, though straight folks also sunbathe without swimsuits at Rio Del Mar," says a reader. Read more »

Privates Beach

Highly recommended!

Improved directions!

Rating: A

Surf and turf conditions at Privates in Santa Cruz, are excellent this year, with the beach looking as pristine as ever.

"Privates is one of my favorite beaches," says Brittney Barrios, manager-buyer of Freeline Design Surfboards, which is located nearby. "It's always very peaceful." Nudists, surfers, and families all mingle on the sand. "Everyone gets along," adds Barrios. "And it's never crowded."Read more »

Cowell State Beach

Rating: C

It isn't nude, and it isn't even a beach. Instead, the wooden deck at Santa Cruz's Cowell State Beach is used by surfers to put on or take off their wetsuits. But on the hottest summer days, a few people jump naked right into the water from the platform. We know because we've seen them -- and no, it wasn't us.

 

Legal status:

Cowell State Beach.


How to find it:Read more »

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Rating: ARead more »

San Lorenzo River

Improved directions!

Rating: C

Visits to the enticingly named Garden of Eden, nestled in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park between Santa Cruz and Felton, get mixed reviews. "It's just an incredibly beautiful place," says 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."Read more »

Four Mile Beach

Improved directions!

 

Four Mile Beach

 

Rating: BRead more »

Laguna Creek

Rating: A

Lovely, charming, and delightful are three words that describe little-known Laguna Creek, some 9.8 miles north of Santa Cruz off Highway 1 between mileposts 25.96 and 26.01. It's awesome for tanning, reading, or relaxing, as well as beachcombing or, at its lagoon, trying your hand at either clad or unclad birdwatching.

 

Legal status:

Privately-owned but publicly-used.

 

How to find it:Read more »

Scott Creek Beach

Rating: B

At Scott Creek near Davenport, surfers, nature lovers, and naturists share the water and sand of an exceptionally clean beach. Surfers usually ride breakers off the north end of the shore from October to May. The site has a lovely lagoon for bird watchers to explore. For even more nature action, stop at nearby Año Nuevo State Reserve to look for elephant seals. 

Tip: before swimming at Scott Creek, check for possible riptides offshore.

 

Legal status:

County land.

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