LOWER CACHE CREEK

Because so many people ask about it, here's the latest news on fan favorite Crabtree Hot Springs, which served hundreds of naturists during its heyday. It's still "temporarily closed." Says a Web post by one of its owners (the springs, while surrounded by US Forest Service property, are private property), "I am still working on getting [it] open, but need more time.... No one [will] be more happy than I, when we are able to welcome back those of you who truly love it." Fortunately, if you're a quick dipper, you can still enjoy four other swimming holes that attract skinny-dippers in a single day in Lake County. To reach all four, simply follow Highway 20 toward Williams. Note: suited swimmers also visit these locations and - yikes - so, occasionally, do the police.

Unknown; may be California Department of Fish and Game, Federal Bureau of Land Management, or reservation land.

To find the first skinny-dipping hole, from the cities of Clear Lake or Lower Lake, take Highway 53 north to Highway 20, turn east (in the direction of the Colusa County town of Williams), and go about seven miles. At the Cache Creek Bridge (Lake County mile marker 37.07), where Highway 20 crosses over the creek on a curve, look for the nude beach. Park in the lot on the west side of the bridge, then walk downstream to the nude area.

Sandier and not quite as rocky as Upper Cache Creek. "It's a great nude beach," a reader told us. "At first I was worried that people on the [nearby] bridge would be looking down, but that didn't happen."

Most clothing-optional use is limited to weekdays. Cache Creek is frequented by clothed families on weekends.

Lack of good weekend use; proximity to the highway; uncertain legal status; those law enforcers.

UPPER CACHE CREEK

While Upper Cache has more pebbles than Lower Cache, those who happen upon it often appreciate the little clothing-optional hole because it's more shielded from view than the downstream site. How can you find it? Walk for a few minutes up the creek from Lower Cache until you see some clothing-optional sunbathers.

Private property posted with Do Not Trespass signs.

Follow directions to Lower Cache Creek (see above), but walk a short distance upstream to the clothing-optional area. The beach usually draws fewer visitors than Lower Cache.

Less visible from the highway than Lower Cache Creek, Upper Cache also has less sand.

Just a few visitors. Nude use evaporates on weekends.

Not much weekend nude use; less sand than at Lower Cache; Do Not Trespass signs.

LOWER LONG VALLEY

The next two sunny, sans-suit swimming sites are located just past the previous two entries. You may find yourself alone at these little, out-of-the-way spots, or there could be a few other users there. Please let us know about your experience!

Unknown.

Look for the beach about two miles west of Cache Creek Bridge, near mile marker 34.94 on Highway 20, just east of New Long Valley Road. Park and walk upstream to a nude site that is hidden from the road.

Out of sight from the road, just downstream from the point where the highway and the creek run side by side.

Sparse nude use, especially on weekends, and little overall visitation.

Directions could be improved; unknown legal status.

UPPER LONG VALLEY

Like its downstream cousin, Upper Long Valley is a small skinny-dipping hole.

Unknown.

See Lower Long Valley (above). To find this clothing-optional beach, walk a few sandy banks upstream from Lower Long Valley.

A sunny nook along a riverbank that is visited mostly by local residents and travelers.

Like Lower Long Valley, this site gets little traffic.

Directions need improvement; unknown legal status.