Key facts
| Country | United States (La Jolla, San Diego, California) |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | San Diego International (SAN), about 25 minutes by road |
| Best time | July to October for warmer water; May–June often bring coastal fog |
| Type | Remote public beach below sandstone cliffs |
| Adults only | No — a public beach |
| Clothing | Customarily clothing-optional on the northern state-beach portion; nudity prohibited on the city portion |
| Best months | July–October |
Black's Beach lies at the foot of the tall sandstone cliffs of Torrey Pines, in the La Jolla area of San Diego. It is isolated, beautiful and hard to reach, which is part of its appeal. In the mid-1970s the city section was posted "swimsuit optional", making Black's one of the first public beaches in the United States to allow nudity officially. That changed in 1977, when San Diego banned nudity on the city-owned part. The northern stretch, managed by California State Parks as part of Torrey Pines State Beach, has continued to be used as a clothing-optional beach ever since.
Understand the legal split
The beach has two jurisdictions:
- Northern portion (state beach): Long used by nude sunbathers. It is not formally designated clothing-optional, and state park rules allow rangers to cite people for nudity; in practice this has tended to happen in response to complaints. Nudity here is a tolerated custom, not a guaranteed right.
- Southern portion (Torrey Pines City Beach): Nudity is prohibited by city ordinance and can lead to a citation.
If you want to be nude, stay on the northern stretch, keep away from clothed families, and cover up promptly if asked by rangers or lifeguards. Lewd behaviour is illegal everywhere and is taken seriously.
Who it suits
- Experienced naturists comfortable with a remote beach and a legal grey area.
- Surfers and strong swimmers; Black's is one of Southern California's best-known surf spots.
- Hikers, who will enjoy the cliffs and the views on the way down.
It is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility, and it is not a lifestyle venue.
Getting there
There are several ways down, none of them easy:
- Torrey Pines Gliderport trail: The most popular route, starting near the Gliderport on Torrey Pines Scenic Drive. It descends roughly 300 feet on a steep, eroding path. Allow extra time for the climb back up.
- Via La Jolla Farms / UC San Diego: A paved but very steep road leads down from the La Jolla Farms area; it is closed to general vehicle traffic.
- Along the shore: Walk south from Torrey Pines State Beach (about two miles) or north from La Jolla Shores (about three miles), only at low tide and with a tide table.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is about 25 minutes away by car.
Best time to go
The water is warmest from late summer to early autumn. May and June often bring the marine layer known locally as "May Gray" and "June Gloom", with overcast mornings. Winter days can be sunny but the water is cold. Always check the tide: high tides can cover much of the beach and cut off routes along the shore.
Safety
- Cliffs: The cliffs are unstable and landslides have caused deaths. Stay away from the base of the cliffs and never climb them.
- Surf: Powerful waves and rip currents make swimming dangerous for non-experts. Lifeguards serve parts of the beach, particularly in summer; swim near them and heed their advice.
- Tides: Carry a tide table and do not get trapped between high water and the cliffs.
- Supplies: There are no shops on the beach. Bring water, food and sun protection, and carry out all rubbish.
Etiquette
- No photographs of nude people.
- No staring, filming or approaching people with sexual intent.
- Respect surfers' space in the water and swimmers' space on the sand.
Nearby
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve on the cliffs above has excellent trails. For a legally clothing-optional beach in California, see Baker Beach in San Francisco. Browse members in the United States and naturist places in the US.