Best Nude Beaches in California

Located in the town of Stinson Beach, Red Rock Beach is a small, rocky, and remote beach that is a part of Mount Tamalpais State Park. Also known as Little Stinson, Mickey‚Äôs, and Redrock Beach ‚Äì Red Rock Beach is a clothing-optional beach. Hot springs are the only amenity offered at Red Rock Beach. 

Located in the city of Venice in Southern California, Venice Beach – also known as Venice City Beach - is an extremely popular three-mile long beach that has light brown sand and rocky breakwaters. This beach is very large – approximately 238 acres in size. The southern portion of Venice Beach is known as Venice Pier Beach- this portion received this name because it has a 1,300-feet long pier named the Venice Pier that is also known as Venice Fishing Pier. Venice Beach has been named the 3rd Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” (Please note that Venice Beach in California should not be confused with another popular beach in the United States named Venice Public Beach, which is also known as Venice Beach) that is located in Sarasota County in Florida.) 

Venice Beach hosts many sporting events, and two of them – skateboarding and 3x3 basketball – will be held there during the 2028 Summer Olympics. Venice Beach has lifeguards from 8 am to sunset (that usually occurs around 6 pm) - during summers, lifeguards here are posted from 7 am till sunset (that occurs around 8:30 pm). In addition to lifeguards, Venice Beach and the area around it offer many other amenities including picnic areas, restrooms, showers, bike rental facilities, a bike path, grassy recreational areas, paddle tennis courts, basketball courts, skateboarding, volleyball courts, handball courts, walking paths, nearby watersports equipment rental facilities, and a kids’ play area. Dogs are not allowed on Venice Beach.  

Located in the city of San Francisco, Fort Funston Beach is a long and wide beach situated below tall bluffs in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Fort Funston Beach is the southernmost beach on the Pacific Coast side of the city and is a well-known hang-gliding destination where hang-gliders take off from a platform on the tall bluffs above the beach.

Located to the south of the city of Trinidad, Baker Beach - also known as Baker’s - is a remote yet beautiful beach with dark brown sand and some rock formations.  This beach is located below forested oceanfront bluffs, and there are also some offshore sea-stacks near this beach.  Please note that this beach should not be confused with another separate beach named Baker Beach – this beach is located in San Francisco.

El Matador Beach, located in Los Angeles County, is one of three beaches that make up the Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach (the other two are El Pescador Beach and La Piedra Beach). Nestled along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, El Matador Beach, or “El Mat,” is known for its picturesque rock formations, golden sands, and is located below dramatic oceanfront bluffs that are lined with very expensive multimillion-dollar homes that, in some cases, exceed $30 million.

The beach has been named as the 11th best beach in “Top 50 Beaches of the United States” list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as “Mr. Beach.” Managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, El Matador Beach is also celebrated by Lonely Planet as one of the top beaches in the U.S., and it’s often recognized as one of Los Angeles’s best beaches. Visitors can enjoy the beach daily from 8 am until sunset.

Stinson Beach is a picturesque, curve-shaped beach located in the town of Stinson Beach. Known for its light brown sand, it is part of the Gate National Recreation Area. Recognized by SFGate as one of Northern California's top beaches and featured in AFAR’s “16 Best Beaches to Visit in California,” it attracts visitors from all over. It is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known at Mr. Beach. The beach opens daily at 9 AM, with closing times varying by season.

Located in the small town of Muir Beach, Muir Beach is a quiet beach that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Redwood Creek forms some wetlands, wetlands, and a lagoon near Muir Beach that is home to several shorebirds, amphibians, salmon, monarch butterflies, and water-loving plants. 

Located in Marin County, Bolinas Beach is an L-shaped beach situated in the seaside town of Bolinas at the mouth of Bolinas Lagoon. The beach has light brown and the scenic Bolinas Ridge can be seen from here. Bolinas Beach has calm water with mild waves and is also called Brighton Beach because the beach can be accessed primarily via Brighton Avenue. Bolinas Beach does not have lifeguards or other amenities except restrooms, so come prepared. However, the beach does allow dogs on leash. Getting to Bolinas Beach is easy - it is located near the intersection of Brighton Avenue and Cliff Road off of California Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway. Free street parking is available along Brighton Avenue.

More Mesa Beach, located along the Santa Barbara County shoreline, is a secluded, narrow beach with light brown sand. This serene spot lies beneath the blufftop More Mesa Open Space, an undeveloped natural area perfect for those seeking a quieter experience.

Located in the center of the City of Pismo Beach, the northern end of Pismo State Beach gives way to a bustling beach area centered around the iconic Pismo Beach Pier. The southern areas of the beach provide access to the North Beach Campground area where Pismo Creek forms a lagoon while in the north of the beach are volleyball courts, several rock formations, and another beach area (which is also accessible via Wilmar Stairs). The beach is the starting point of a massive stretch of a continuous sandy area that spans several miles and ends in the City of Guadalupe, California. 

Located in the city of Oceanside, San Onofre State Beach - Nude Beach is a long and wide beach that is a part of a state park named San Onofre State Beach. San Onofre State Beach - Nude Beach is backed by a bluff and is a clothing-optional beach. 

Located in the city of Avalon, Button Shell Beach is a private east-facing beach on Catalina Island and is owned by Guided Discoveries. Also known as Buttonshell Beach and Fox Landing, Button Shell Beach is on the south side of Long Point State Marine Reserve.

Located a couple of miles west of the city of Santa Cruz, Panther Beach (which is officially known as Yellow Bank Beach) is a beach area located along the coastline of Coast Dairies State Park. The beach is connected to the adjacent Hole-In-The-Wall Beach via an archway that is located on the southern end of the beach area, which can be used to access Hole-In-The-Wall Beach during low tide. Another man-made tunnel can be found in the southern end of the beach, through which Yellow Creek flows into Panther Beach and forms a lagoon here. The beach has golden sand, which is formed from the erosion of yellow sandstones and a mixture of the local mudstone. A variety of rock formations are present on the beach and the surrounding shoreline. Panther Beach, along with the neighboring Hole-In-The-Wall Beach, is considered a clothing-optional area due to its secluded location. However, any act of public indecency is punishable under local regulations. The beach offers no lifeguards or other amenities except some walking trails and dogs are not allowed here. 

Located in the city of Sand City, The Crater Beach is a one-mile-long, wide, and remote beach that is situated in front of the Eolian Dunes Preserve. Also known as The Crater, The Crater Beach is a clothing-optional beach.  The Crater Beach is a family-friendly beach because it has an incredible playground and large-sized dunes where children can play.  The Crater Beach is a perfect destination for swimming and beachcombing.

Located on the shores of Half Moon Bay within the community of San Gregorio, San Gregorio Private Beach - also known as San Gregorio Nude Beach - is a small beige sand beach.  The beach is actually a smaller part of the famous San Gregorio State Beach, which is positioned on its northern end and is separated by a bluff.  It is important to note that the beach itself is a public beach, whereas the area surrounding the beach is private property.  It has an amazing backdrop of many grassy bluffs, cliffs, and sea caves, which together provide spectacular views of the rugged coastline of Northern California, especially during sunset.  The beach is managed by the California State Park System, which protects its natural and cultural resources, so we recommend abiding by park rules and regulations to preserve the environment.

Located in the small town of Muir Beach, Muir Beach is a quiet beach that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Redwood Creek forms some wetlands, wetlands, and a lagoon near Muir Beach that is home to several shorebirds, amphibians, salmon, monarch butterflies, and water-loving plants. 

Located in the town of Capetown, Black Sand Beach is a narrow, rocky, and black sand beach on the south side of Cape Mendocino.

Located in the Corona del Mar neighborhood in Newport Beach in Southern California, Little Corona del Mar Beach is popular for its plentiful activities and unique landscape that protects the beach from swells and surf.

Located near the southern end of the iconic and world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, Mile Rock Beach is a narrow and rocky beach that is situated along the eastern shoreline near the bluff-top Lands End park in the city of San Francisco. The beach is situated in a cove and is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Mile Rock Beach is littered with logs, so we recommend being careful while walking here.

Located in the town of Stinson Beach, Steep Ravine Beach is a very small, narrow, rocky, and secluded beach situated at the mouth of Webb Creek.  Steep Ravine Beach is a part of Mount Tamalpais State Park and is next to a campground that is managed by Steep Ravine Environment Campground.

Located near the southern end of Carmel-by-the-Sea (also known as Carmel), Carmel River State Beach is a large oceanfront state park that has a mile-long beach area. The state park has three beaches - the main beach in Carmel River State Beach, Carmel Meadows Beach, and Monastery Beach. All the beaches have light brown sand, and Carmel Meadows Beach has some rocky parts. The water near the beaches in Carmel River State Beach has strong currents. The Carmel River meets the ocean near the northern part of the state park and forms a lagoon here. Additionally, San Jose Creek Beach, which is popular with scuba divers, is another notable nearby location known for its unique underwater landscapes.

Located along the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County in Southern California, Gaviota State Park Beach - also known as Gaviota Beach - is a small golden sand beach with many rocky portions.  This beach is part of Gaviota State Park, which encompasses over 2,800 acres and has a spectacular backdrop of rugged coastal bluffs, dunes, grasslands, lush vegetation, Gaviota State Park Beach & Campground, and the Southern Pacific Railroad trestle bridge that runs above the beach, creating a picturesque setting along the Santa Barbara Channel.  Gaviota State Park Beach is part of the Kashtayit State Marine Conservation Area managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices that preserve its natural environment and marine life.