SCOTT CREEK BEACH

Up and down the California coast, board surfers, windsurfers, and kite surfers sometimes share their shores with skinnydippers. One such sunspot is Scott Creek Beach, near Davenport, which is seldom crowded and, in a plus for nature lovers, even sports a beautiful lagoon. There's also a large stream in the middle of property during much of the year. Surfers favor the north side of the beach, especially from October to May. For extra privacy, visit on a weekday morning or late afternoon. Use caution when swimming in case of unexpected riptides. For more fun, visit Ano Nuevo State Reserve and its amazing elephant seals, just north of Scott Creek.

County land.

Scott Creek is three miles north of Davenport, off Highway 1, and 15.5 miles north of the junction of Highways 1 and 17, in Santa Cruz. It's also 35.8 miles south of the intersection of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay. Check for Swanton Road, shown on some maps. There are two turnouts for parking. You can walk to the beach from either north or south of the bridge.

Frequently deserted, half-mile-long Scott Creek Beach is at the bottom of a small bluff. At the north end, a submerged reef creates one of the finest surfing spots in northern California.

The beach is usually quiet, but the two turn-outs, which hold 60-to-100 cars between them, fill up quickly on peak summer days.

Wind; undertow; cold water; a pipeline offshore detracts from the view.

ROPE BEACH

Improved directions!

Last season, we introduced a sandy shore that's so isolated you may have it all to yourself as a virtual private nude beach, but is so difficult to reach that you will need to hang onto a rope that longtime visitors keep in place next to a crumbling trail that leads down the cliff. "It's almost all nude," says beach regular Russ, who likes to visit with his wife on Sundays or Mondays. "We've only seen a few people there wearing swimsuits."

During his most recent outing, "I was taking photos of the surf and watching it crash on the rocks offshore, while my wife was sunbathing," tells Russ, a teacher who noticed "a round, one-inch diameter steel stake pounded into the cliff" with a rope dangling from it one day, spotted people on the sand, decided they must have gotten there via the rope, and used it to reach the beach.

Located between Davenport Cove and the town of Davenport, Rope Beach -- named for the rope on the beach trail that hikers use to balance themselves -- is not as pretty as Shark's Tooth Beach and twice as hard to find. "We saw someone look for it for an hour," says Russ. The north end of the site borders Davenport. The land on the cliffs above the beach, used in the past to grow artichokes, reportedly was recently bought by the Nature Conservancy from the Packard Foundation.

Rumored to be destined to become a state beach.

Rope Beach is north of Shark's Tooth Beach (Davenport Cove), between it and Davenport Municipal Beach. If you're facing Shark's Tooth, it's to the right. Follow the directions to Davenport Cove (see entry below) off Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz. The turnoff is 39.1 miles south of the junction of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay and 12.2 miles north of the junction of Highways 1 and 17 in Santa Cruz. Park at the main public beach, find the railroad tracks, and take the trail that begins there. But instead of following it about a half mile south, which will take you Davenport Cove, at the tracks "you go to the right," says Russ. On part of the trail, "there's a stretch where you need to hang onto a rope there for support." Look for "a round, one-inch diameter steel stake that is rusted, which marks the area where the rope goes down," adds Russ. The rope "has knots tied in it, so it won't slip out of your hand when you go up or down" the cliff. Make sure you hang onto it. "Otherwise, if you take one false step, you could fall 50 feet," explains Russ.

What Rope Beach lacks in length -- it's maybe 150 yards long -- it more than makes up for in width. "It's very wide," says Russ, who likes to sit near but not directly next to the cliff, "which will give you some shelter from the wind." The beach is usually in good shape, with almost no litter, due to the lack of visitors. "A few people go in the water, but the waves are pretty rough," says Russ. "It's more of a sunning beach."

"You might see as many as 8-to-10 people there, but more often there are a half dozen or less" reports a recent visitor. "Quite often, there are nude people on the beach."

Steep, slippery trail; needs better directions; rough water; rope may be hard to find, so from the cliffs, keep looking for people on the beach; gawkers occasionally lurked in the plants on the cliff edge, but they've been mowed down.

DAVENPORT COVE

Nearly devoid of sand and covered with rotting seaweed left by winter storms, the clothing-optional shoreline known as both Davenport Cove and Shark's Tooth Beach didn't look so good this spring. But it's making a strong comeback. The beach, which is off Highway 1, just south of Davenport town's public beach, continues to draw fans to its picturesque little cove. Some visitors swim here, but the water is usually too cold and, adds a regular, "if it's a rough sea day, with all the rocks offshore, it isn't advisable." However, the wind-sheltered beach is great for sunbathing. In fact, if the breeze picks up, "it can help keep it from being too hot," says another visitor. As for those rocks offshore, the beach faces a jutting formation in the sea that looks like -- you guessed it -- a shark's tooth. A steep trail takes you to a cave you can explore (some water pours into it) and some interesting rock formations. But use caution when exploring the cove in high tide; it often washes out. Also, "avoid the area at night," suggests Russ, who has heard stories of rowdy partiers harassing people who remained after dark. A four-year-old sign near the end of the trail cites beach hours (it's closed after dark) and urges visitors not to leave valuables in their vehicles. Gawkers in cliff bushes used to be a problem, but, due to their hiding places being removed, they recently left and haven't come back.

Believed to be privately owned, with public access allowed under state law.

Look for Davenport Cove off Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz. The turnoff is 39.1 miles south of the junction of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay and 12.2 miles north of the junction of Highways 1 and 17 in Santa Cruz. Park at the main public beach, find the railroad tracks, and take the trail that begins there and runs about a half mile south to the cove. Or check for a turnoff half a mile south of Davenport, pull off the highway, and park in the rutted lot, which holds about 10 cars. Go around a long metal gate to a path leading to the sand. It's a poor and steep trail, winding up and over the railroad tracks, but it will take you directly to the cove.

Backed by towering white cliffs. The cove is small but sandy.

Only a few people visit Davenport Cove, and not everyone goes nude. Russ and his wife recently counted six other visitors.

Fog; wind; cold water; steep trail; poor parking; sometimes poison oak on trail; formerly had cliff gawkers; rough surf; cove may be covered by high tide.

BONNY DOON BEACH

On a scale of 1-10, Pasco rates it a 9.0 "because it's a wonderful beach, but we still have some litter."

Rumors continue to persist that the Bay Area may lose one of its best nude beaches, at Bonny Doon, 11 miles north of Santa Cruz, due to a change in land stewardship. For now, despite concerns that it would be added, at press time Bonny Doon is not appearing on California's list of active state beaches. Rangers, though, may eventually be hired to patrol the beach by the state, which acquired the site in 2005 after years of ownership by the Coast Dairies Ranch and then the Trust For Public Land Of California, supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

If clothing-optional use is ended, it will be sorely missed. "It has a nice, friendly crowd," says Bay Area Naturists leader Rich Pasco. In June, Bobby Y., of San Francisco, wrote in a post on yelp.com that he thinks Bonnie Doon is "one of the nicest beaches." Other yelpers agree: "We were in awe of how beautiful it was," reports Sarah W., of San Francisco. Sarah says she saw "a lot of older naked people," but, on the same message board, Eric W., of Hayward, comments that he likes Bonny Doon because of its "mixed collection of younger 30-somethings or college students" who tend "to be fit, free, and open minded." He especially likes the social atmosphere: "You almost feel left out if you decide to be prudish, and not join in on the (beach) festivities."

Think you might be alone at the beach? Nude use is strong at the clothing-optional cove, which adjoins the public, clothed beach at Bonny Doon. "No matter how cold it is you will see naked people," says Cassy R., who lives in the city of Bonny Doon. The site attracts more women and couples than many nude beaches. "Minuses" include occasional auto burglaries (lock your car) and gawkers on the bluffs or in the bushes.

Formerly privately owned, with public access available under state law, Bonny Doon Beach was sold in 2001. It may eventually become Bonny Doon State Beach. Settled in the 1850s as a logging camp and named in 1880 by a group of spiritualists, Bonny Doon has no town center or shops, although there are some wineries and even an airport.

From San Francisco, go south on Highway 1 to the Bonny Doon parking lot at milepost 27.6 on the west side of the road, 2.4 miles north of Red, White, and Blue Beach, and some 11 miles north of Santa Cruz. From Santa Cruz, head north on Highway 1 until you see Bonny Doon Road, which veers off sharply to the right just south of Davenport. The beach is just off the intersection. Park in the paved lot to the west of Highway 1; don't park on Bonny Doon Road or the shoulder of Highway 1. If the lot is full, drive north on Highway 1, park at the next beach lot, and walk back to the first lot. Or take Santa Cruz Metro Transit District bus route 40 to the lot; it leaves the Metro Center three times a day on Saturdays and takes about 20 minutes. To get to the beach, climb the berm next to the railroad tracks adjacent to the Bonny Doon lot, cross the tracks, descend, and take a recently improved, sign-marked trail to the sand. Walk north past most of the beach to the nude cove on the north end.

Bonny Doon is a sunny patch of sand and surf. You can bring dogs, and if you come before July, you may see whales. "The area just away from the cliff offers good shelter from the wind," says Pasco. But don't sit right next to it, as erosion (and falling rocks) is a problem.

Bob Wood, of San Francisco, found several dozen people, almost all nude, young and old, couples and singles, gays and straights, and men and women, though more men than women.

Clothing-optional status may eventually change, with the advent of state management; fog; wind; gawkers; hazardous waves; loose cliffs; parking lot fills early; auto burglaries; sometimes becomes rocky shelf with no sand in late winter ("It was pretty washed out," remembers Russ, who visited in 2007).

PANTHER BEACH

Heading south on Highway 1 from San Francisco on a foggy morning may make you feel a bit blue, but by the time you reach it, the sun is often shining on picturesque Panther Beach. In fact, it's often so sunny there that naturists put up a crop of sun-shielding umbrellas on the sand to give them some protection from the most intense rays. Whether you want to picnic, rock climb (a popular activity here), bird watch, swim, explore the shore, or simply do nothing at all at picturesque Panther Beach, south of Davenport and around 10 miles north of Santa Cruz, is up to you. Rock climbing opportunities range from easy boulders to challenges that are 25 feet. The site includes a beachside rock wall with a cave that extends inside for about 10 feet. Some climbers like the left side of the entrance of the cave, where there are some handholds. If you fall there, you'll likely come down in the sand. Swimming is touch-and-go, so if your toes tell you it's too cold or the riptides are frothing, then you might want to stick to clothing-free tanning. You can even watch whales as they migrate past the shoreline, which has tall rock towers, natural arching bridges, and that wall of rocks with the caves, on the south end. Bring good walking shoes for the trail to this small but gorgeous beach.

Was privately owned, with public access. But the California State Parks Department voted in 2006 to accept five miles of rugged coastline, including Panther Beach, into its system. According to State Parks spokesman Roy Stearns, rangers will start patrolling soon.

Panther Beach is located between mileposts 26.86 and 26.4 on Highway 1, some 10.6 miles north of the junction of Highway 1 and 17 in Santa Cruz and 40.7 miles south of the intersection of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay. Drive slowly so you can make a sharp right turn onto a small dirt road on the west side of the highway, which is difficult to see when approaching from the north. The road leads to a rutted parking area that lies on a ridge between the highway and some railroad tracks. From the north end of the lot, cross the tracks and, while watching for poison oak, follow the steep, sloping, somewhat crumbly path to the sand.

High rock towers, natural bridges, and a wall of rocks complete with a cave on the southern edge make Panther picture perfect. The beach is about 100 yards long and 70 yards wide and has some of the area's best sand. Click here for photos.

Usually a half dozen people, half of whom are nude. Nude and suited sunbathers, surfers, rock climbers, and others usually get along well here.

Rutted parking lot; eroded trail; poison oak; hazardous access to the south beach; auto vandalism.

HOLE IN THE WALL BEACH

Breathtakingly beautiful but hard to reach Hole In The Wall Beach attracts up to 50 people on the hottest summer days, maybe once or twice a year. The 200-yard-long site is usually quiet, clean, and a nice retreat from the usual beach scene. But this seaside retreat can only be reached during low tide -- and even then, access is dangerous. The beach is linked to the south end of Panther Beach by a wall of rocks with the area's namesake hole in it. Don't even consider visiting in high tide. The reason is, even if the water in the passageway between Hole In The Wall and Panther looks calm, you may be washed away. In November 2002, a wave swept two men through the tunnel-like hole and into the sea; one never returned. A month earlier two others drowned. Two other people died in 1998.

Privately owned, with public access under state law.

From Panther, walk south and through the hole.

About 25-to-50 yards wide and backed by tall cliffs ending in a rocky shelf. Farther south, low rock shelves continue for several hundred yards. See a photo here.

Like Panther, Hole in the Wall attracts only a handful of users. On the hottest days, though, expect up to three or four dozen people.

Fog; cold water; wind; rough waves; rutted parking lot; eroded trail; auto vandalism; litter.

LAGUNA CREEK BEACH

Located off Highway 1 between mileposts 25.96 and 26.01, Laguna Creek is a beautiful little beach backed by sandstone cliffs that glow orange in the late afternoon and toward evening. It features above-average sand that's ideal for tanning, reading, or other quiet activities; little coves that are surprisingly good for beachcombing; and even a lovely lagoon to explore for resident and migratory waterfowl. The best landmark is adjacent Laguna Road, on Highway 1, some 9.8 miles north of Santa Cruz.

Privately owned but publicly used.

About 9.8 miles north of the junction of Highways 1 and 17 in Santa Cruz and 41.5 miles south of the Highway 1 and 92 junction in Half Moon Bay, look for either Laguna's dirt parking lot on the inland side of Highway 1 or the unmarked side road (Laguna Road) next to the lot. Park there and head for a road on the west side of the highway that faces the lot, where Laguna Road and Highway 1 join up. Just north of that road, follow a narrow path through the bushes, while keeping an eye out for poison oak. It will become a jeep path. Take it to the north end of the beach, where you may see some skinny-dippers. Or walk along the water's edge to the south end, which gets both suited and nude use.

The half-mile beach widens to the south, but the north end is warmest, according to Bill, a regular visitor who likes Laguna's small, protected coves. Birds are usually seen in the lagoon include grebes, gulls, and song sparrows. Here are some photos.

Even on warm days, fewer than 50 people, and sometimes just one or two. "It had nudists and non-nudists on both ends of the beach," says Bill. The beach has become something of a gay hangout, especially in the middle.

Cold water; fog; erosion; occasional gawkers; wind; poison oak on trail; wind on south end.

FOUR MILE BEACH

Improved directions!

On the warmest days, a few nude sunbathers show up on weekdays and when crowds are almost gone on the south end of the beach of Wilder Ranch State Park, which is known locally as Four Mile Beach. Mike Oropeza, who used to visit Red, White and Blue Beach until it closed in 2006, says he's also tried "the Table Rock area near this blowhole [at Four Mile], where the waves crash" and the north side of the beach, when the surfers who frequent it are gone. Usually, though, only 5-to-10 persons, and often even fewer, use the clothing-optional area.

Part of Wilder Ranch State Park.

Four Mile Beach is off Highway 1, four miles north of the junction with Mission Street in Santa Cruz. San Franciscans may prefer to think of it as 44-Mile Beach because its distance from the junction of Highways 1 and 92 in Half Moon Bay is exactly 44 miles. Park where you see a group of cars pulled over on the unpaved turnout next to where Highway 1 crosses Baldwin Creek. Take the dirt road that begins there. Stay on the road as you cross the railroad tracks and wind left of the marsh. In less than 10 minutes you'll be at the beach. Or from Santa Cruz, go north on Highway 1 about two miles past Western Drive and turn left into the entrance for Wilder, whose address is 1401 Old Coast Road, Santa Cruz. The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset; day use parking costs $6.

The shore here has roughly a mile of nice, white sand.

Mostly a family-oriented beach with clothed sunbathers whose awesome breakers also attract surfers. Even on the hottest afternoons, only 10-to-20 visitors use the nude portion of the beach.

Threat of law enforcement; large mounds of seaweed sometimes litter the edge of the sand; entrance fee.

SAN LORENZO RIVER

Want a good place to tan when it's foggy at the coast? Look no further than Henry Cowell State Park's aptly named Garden Of Eden, a skinny-dipping hole where the sun often shines, even if it's socked in at the sea. The park is located between Santa Cruz and Felton. But the path to its Eden is anything but idyllic, so be careful as you walk. Eden is one of three clothing-optional swimming holes on the San Lorenzo River. To find these easy-to-miss swim spots, look for cars pulled over on Highway 9, next to the state park, which bans nudity but seldom sends ranger patrols to the creek. "It's a beautiful area for hikes," says Russ Smith, of San Jose, remembering a spring visit. "We saw very little litter along any of the trails. There were quite a few small groups of people, including one nude couple, about 50 yards upstream from the main beach at the foot of the trail. But I was told by a woman that there are many more 'nudals,' as she called them, in the summer." Some poison oak and occasional rowdy users seem to be the only problems, along with somewhat slippery paths.

Part of Henry Cowell State Park. Nudity is not permitted in the park, but rangers seldom patrol this particular area.

From Santa Cruz, drive north on Highway 9 and look for turnouts on the right side of the road. The first, a wide turnout with a tree in the middle, is just north of Santa Cruz. Rincon Fire Trail starts about where the tree is, according to reader Robert Carlsen, of Sacramento. The many forks in the trail all lead to the river, down toward Big Rock Hole and Frisbee Beach; Carlsen says the best area off this turnout can be reached by bearing left until the end of the trail. Farther up the highway, 1.3 miles south of the park entrance, is the second and bigger turnout, leading to Garden of Eden. Park and follow the dirt fire road across the railroad tracks. Look for a sign with park rules and hours. Ox Trail, which can be slippery, winds down steeply to the creek. "The path continues to the left, where there are several spots for wading and sunbathing," Carlsen says. The main beach is only 75 feet long and 30 feet wide, but fairly sandy. Carlsen's favorite hole is accessible from a trail that starts at the third turnout, a small one on the right side of the road, about 4.5 miles from Highway 1 and just before Felton. A gate marks the start of the path. The trail bends left. When you come to the road again, go right. At the railroad tracks, go right. From here, look for the river down the hill on your left; many paths lead to it. "When we got to the water, we saw suited families so we walked upriver until we saw skinny-dippers," says John, a visitor from Monterey.

A trio of small skinny-dipping holes on the San Lorenzo River.

Use of these sites tends to ebb and flow, depending on the weather, time of week, and whether word of mouth has helped send new visitors down the trails. You may come across a few other visitors or even one or two groups. Or you may be the only one present. Note: the holes draw small numbers of mostly young visitors, including clad teens and college students. But there are some skinny-dippers.

NATURAL BRIDGES BEACH

Naturists are slowly returning to one of their old gathering places: a cove at the north end of Cliff Drive, in Santa Cruz, that's more well known for its adjacent butterfly refuge. In the 1970's and 1980's, small numbers of free beachers frequented Natural Bridges Beach. The site has tide pools and a shoreline (bring binoculars) that's good for spotting whales, seals, and otters. The still-emerging nude spot is a tiny, 150-foot-long "hidden" section located around the remains of the collapsed natural bridge that gives the park its name. "No one can see you there, and nobody patrols the area," says George, a UC Santa Cruz student. "The beach gets fewer nudists than 2222 [see below], but it's far less visible to the prying eyes of ogling tourists than Its Beach [see below]." Budget cuts have helped the nudists by sparking what George terms a "drastic reduction of lifeguard and ranger staff." Often lifeguards aren't even present on weekdays; on weekends they are more likely to patrol the main beach. However, except in low tide, getting to the nude spot isn't easy. Says George, "You walk down to the main beach, keeping tight to the cliff and then simply go around the point. Depending on the tide, your shorts might get wet and you might even be temporarily stranded on that side." While you're at Natural Bridges, be sure to visit the Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve, the official state monarch refuge in California, where up to 100,000 monarchs form a "city in the trees," hanging from mid October until the end of February. From the park's parking lot, walk uphill and follow the Preserve signs and then an easy wooden walkway to the butterflies.

Part of Natural Bridges State Beach.

Take Highway 1 to Swift Street in Santa Cruz. Follow Swift to the sea and turn right on West Cliff Drive. Or coming from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, go north and stay on West Cliff until it ends at Natural Bridges.

150 feet long, located around the point from the main beach, hidden from view.

Probably just you, and maybe a few other visitors.

Water sometimes washes over the nude area; fog; wind; cold water; day use parking fee; except for the part around the point, Natural Bridges is a clothed, family beach.

ITS BEACH

Is the surfing spot and nude enclave known as Its Beach going to the dogs?

For the last few years, pro and anti-dog local residents have wrangled over whether pooches should be allowed to run leash-free on the beach, which is located next to a lighthouse that contains a surfing museum. The famous landmark at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive, near Santa Cruz's Municipal Wharf, is also just around the point from Steamer Lane, where surfers ride some of the West Coast's best waves.

On June 16, Santa Cruz city leaders announced a deal to buy Its Beach for nearly $103,000 -- but only on the condition that they know for sure that dogs will be allowed to run loose. If not, which is what's required by state law, the deal won't happen, according to Mayor Ryan Coonerty. The decision to purchase around 2.5 acres of Its Beach came after Santa Cruz tried to buy all 37 acres of Lighthouse Field State Beach, which includes the field above Its Beach - a deal that fell through when the state refused the city's offer of $1 million. The new plan, which is part of a bill by Assemblyman John Laird, would let Santa Cruz buy the rest of the field in the future. The sale would allow the city to permit dogs to be off-leash, which is banned at all state beaches.

Sand is usually best in late summer and early fall; the beach nearly evaporates in late winter, leaving just a thin band of sand next to the cliffs and, sometimes, just water. Nearby attractions include the butterfly refuge at Natural Bridges State Beach, just to the east on West Cliff; the Municipal Wharf to the west; and the surfing museum in the lighthouse. B&Bs dot the West Cliff Drive area.

Lighthouse Field State Beach, also known as Its Beach and Point Santa Cruz.

Take Highway 1 to Swift Street in Santa Cruz. Follow Swift to the sea, then turn right on West Cliff Drive. Follow West Cliff until you see the lighthouse. Starting from the wharf, take West Cliff Drive north to the lighthouse, which will be on the left (beach) side of the street. Park at the lighthouse and walk down to the little, pebble-strewn shore.

Small with a mix of sand and rocks.

Visitors are mostly suited, but the site gets occasional use by nude sunbathers. Members of yelp.com seem to love the nudists. "My favorite beach in Santa Cruz by far," says Gretchen P., of San Francisco. " ... I got accustomed to the naked people and deadheads ... The cozy enclave feeling of this little crescent moon of a beach made me feel safe and I could sleep and read and roast for hours without being bothered." Andrew B. writes: "The best beach in Santa Cruz. It has lots of cool dogs, a few naked hippies, and a fun little beach ... to play in."

Unleashed dogs may soon come romping onto the sand; cold water; wind; fog; hazardous swimming conditions; beach open to view.

2222

America's smallest coastal nude beach only gets 5-to-20 visitors and could hold 30 at the most. But that doesn't stop 2222 -- which is across from 2222 West Cliff Drive -- from being a really great site. Most users are young adults, especially locals and students at nearby colleges. Neal the Juggler, said to live nearby, often practices on the sand with his juggling balls, pins, and beanbags. Some users are so engrossed in their solitude that they hardly notice him. Tip: Don't visit unless you're agile enough to handle the steep climb down and up the cliff. Hikers must climb over some concrete blocks on the way down to the sand (so leave children and heavy gear at home). The beach can be seen from above, but tourists walking on a path above the cliffs rarely stop to look down.

Santa Cruz city property.

The beach is a few blocks west of Natural Bridges State park beach and about 2.5 miles north of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. From either north or south of Santa Cruz, take Highway 1 to Swift Street. Drive .8 miles to the sea, then turn right on West Cliff Drive. 2222 is five blocks away. Past Auburn Avenue, look for 2222 West Cliff on the inland side of the street. Park in the nine-car lot next to the cliff. If it's full, continue straight and park along Chico Avenue. Bay Area Naturists leader Rich Pasco suggests visitors use care and then follow the path on the side of the beach closest to downtown Santa Cruz and the Municipal Wharf.

As Pasco puts it, "It's a small, delicate, baby beach."

On a warm Sunday, we counted five nudists. Pasco found "maybe 10-to-15 people" at the beach. Almost everyone goes nude.

Parking; proximity to residences; lack of privacy; cold water; flies; steep trail with concrete blocks.

COWELL STATE BEACH

On those rare 90 and 100 degree days in Santa Cruz, even surfers sometimes need to cool off. Though it's not a beach in the usual sense, on the hottest summer days we've noticed a few visitors drop their swimsuits on the deck next to the ocean at Cowell State Beach, and instead of putting on wetsuits to go surfing -- the favorite activity here -- either sunbathe without a stich on right on the deck or go skinny-dipping in the water next to the pier. Yes, we've seen it happen. Nude use, though, isn't the norm.

State beach.

Head to West Cliff Drive but park when you first turn onto it from the Municipal Wharf area. Parking is often easy to find. Walk to the beach stairway at West Cliff and Monterey, on the west side of West Cliff. Leave your clothes on the deck, where water access begins (there's no beach per se).

A deck and the water near it. Watch out for frequent rough waves. Skinny-dippers prefer to stay near the shore.

Mostly surfers, but on particularly hot days a few naturists sometimes show up.

Not a beach; mainly used by suited surfers; heavy undertow; cold water; fog; proximity to residences; lack of privacy.

PRIVATES BEACH

Welcome to one of Northern California's best nude beaches, where the sand is pure and clean, wind usually isn't a problem, nobody hassles you for not wearing anything, and you may get a free surfing show from frequent visitors like Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, one of the two "principal surfers" who starred in Endless Summer II; standup surfer Dave King, general manager of a beach and park restoration project by the Opal Cliff Recreation District, which manages the site; or Dave Cook, one of five directors of Opal Cliff. "It's a really great place," says Hunter Young, a worker at nearby Freeline Design Surfboards.

Known mainly as a spot for the increasingly popular sport of standup surfing, in which riders use special carbon composite boards that are 3-to-4 inches thick, Privates, also called Opal Cliff Beach, attracts up to 50 visitors at a time, including families and, in the southernmost of the three pocket beaches that comprise the site, nudists.

Called the "best nude Frisbee beach" by the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Privates is off Opal Cliff Drive, north of the Capitola Pier.

The name of the area came from a train stop and lumberyard called Opal, run by the Loma Prieta Lumber Company, a century ago. Lumber was brought to Opal to be hauled by the Southern Pacific Railroad to San Francisco. After landowner Frederick Hiln left the property to grandson Eulice Hiln, Eulice left it to his wife, Kathryn, who married developer J.T. McGeoghegan. In 1923, the land became known as the Opal Subdivision of the Fairview Tract. By the 1950s, streets like Diamond, Topaz, Jade, Garnet, and Crystal had sprung up around Opal. (The nickname "Privates" refers to the gate at the entrance, as well as the high school security guard at the top of the path, both intended to keep the site "private.")

There are at least four ways to get to Privates. Some visitors walk north from Capitola Pier in low tide. Others reach it in low tide via the stairs at the end of 41st Avenue, which lead to a surf spot known as The Hook at the southern tip of a rocky shoreline called Pleasure Point. Surfers paddle on boards for a few minutes to Privates from Capitola or The Hook.

Recently, four people walked from Capitola Beach to a beach just east of Privates, only to become trapped by rising water. They were rescued by swimmers who assisted them onto a harbor patrol boat, where they were treated for hypothermia and cuts.

Still others enter the beach from little Opal Cliff Park, on the cliffs, via a key entry gate at the top of a staircase. The park is between two houses, near 4524 Opal Cliff Drive.

Most users buy a key for $100 at Freeline Design Surfboards, 821 41st Ave., Santa Cruz - call (831) 476-2950 -- at the corner of 41st and Portola, approximately 1.5 blocks west of the beach. The keys, which are changed yearly, are good June 1 through May 31. You can also pay just $50 in winter, good through May 31, or $30 per month in summer, with credit given if you decide to buy a yearlong rate later. Local residents who are listed on a roll of taxpayers (kept at Freeline), who pay property taxes to support the park and gate, can get a yearlong key for $50.

Another option is to go through the gate for free. "The few times I've been there, I've either gone along with someone with a key, or waited outside the gate until someone with a key goes in and then followed them," says Pasco. "Most beach goers will gladly hold the gate open for someone behind them whose hands are full." Lately, though, teenaged security guards have been hired to monitor the gate.

In Santa Cruz, park in the five-vehicle lot next to Opal Cliff Park, in front of the gate near 4524 Opal Cliff Drive or, from Freeline, at 821 41st Ave., walk 1.5 blocks (roughly five minutes) east to the park, which the size of an average house lot. Go down the staircase. The nude area is to the left of the bottom of the stairs.

A beautiful, gently curving, sandy site that's reported to be in good shape this summer. Clothing-optional users usually gather at a separate cove on the south part of the beach (to the left of the entrance, when facing the ocean); two other coves are to the right. The beach is backed by slowly eroding sandstone and siltstone cliffs.

"I was just down there with a friend who was babysitting a bunch of little kids," says Young, who's also an emergency medical technician instructor aiming for a career in firefighting. "There were families there having a really good time. Then there were all these people surfing. And to the far left, as you face the ocean, there were the nudists." Expect a mix of nudists and surfers, including locals and out-of-towners. Depending on when you arrive, you may be alone or one of several dozen visitors. "Usually, you'll see 5-to-10 nudists at the most," adds Young. "They act cool and mostly sunbathe. It's not like they are walking around with their stuff hanging out. On a really hot weekend day, there will be maybe 6-to-15 families on the beach and 8-to-12 surfers when the waves are small, or up to 15 during big waves."

Entrance fee; small parking lot; cold water; fog; sometimes a few sticks on the beach.

ELSEWHERE IN THE SANTA CRUZ AREA

While full nudity isn't tolerated there, on warm days, small numbers of women sunbathe topless at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach and Capitola Beach, continuing a tradition that's lasted for several decades. Each site has a long history of permissive attitudes by lifeguards and rangers.

Since at least 1981, when activist Nikki Craft was arrested on a Capitola beach for topless sunbathing (she then co-founded the Cross Your Heart Support Committee, whose members were arrested nine times in Santa Cruz for nudity), counter-cultural and law enforcement values have occasionally clashed on and off the sand in Santa Cruz and Capitola. Neither city has an anti-nudity statute, and attempts to pass them have been unsuccessful.

Boardwalk Beach: from downtown Santa Cruz, go west on Front Street until it ends at Beach Street, across from the Santa Cruz Municipal Pier. Park on the pier or turn left onto Beach and find parking on a side street. Capitola: take Highway 1 south of Santa Cruz to the Capitola Avenue exit. Follow Capitola west to Capitola State Beach.

Backed by a large amusement park, Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach is wide, expansive, and very flat and sandy. Capitola Beach is enclosed between two bluffs and is bordered by the Esplanade, an area lined with shops, galleries, and dozens of restaurants.

A mix of locals and tourists.

At both beaches, wind, fog, and cold water;' For Boardwalk Beach, add noise from the amusement park.

RIO DEL MAR BEACH

Located near the town of Aptos, Rio Del Mar is part of a string of four beaches in south Santa Cruz County and north Monterey County where nudity isn't permitted, but happens anyway. Naturists occasionally seek shelter from the wind and the prying eyes of rangers in sand dunes at the beaches. Most of the time, the sites are used only by non-nudists. If you see law enforcers, put your swimsuit on quickly. "The state police who patrol Manresa do drive beyond their assigned borders and down to this beach, but they've never bothered me," one reader says. "And I like the safety factor of having them there." Most of the nudists are gay men, though straight folks also sunbathe without swimsuits there.

Look for the beach .8 of a mile north of Manresa State Beach and 2.1 miles south of Aptos Beach State Park, just south of Aptos. Take Highway 1 to the Rio del Mar exit. Go all the way to the coast (about a mile or two), then turn left (south) on Sumner Avenue. Follow Sumner, continuing past Seascape Boulevard, for about two miles until it ends. The nude beach is just south of the Seascape condominiums and inn. Park near the end of the road, walk toward the condos, cross over the train tracks, and follow a nearby wooden staircase down to a path leading through greenery to the sand. Or, at the end of the road, look for a security fence over a gully and take either of the well-worn trails on each side of the fence to the dunes near the gully. The nude area is about 800 feet south of where you'll enter the beach.

Sand, dunes, and grassy knolls. Nudists usually stick to the dune areas.

"I feel very safe here because of the family beaches on both sides and also because of the people walking by regularly," says a visitor.

Unknown legal status; rangers; proximity to condos.

LA SELVA BEACH

If you decide to work on your tan without togs at La Selva, be sure to keep a swim suit handy. Beach cops sometimes drive by the sand dunes of this south county site to try to frighten away the half dozen or so naturists who show up here on a periodic basis. "It's duney, but also so wide open in places that rangers can drive up and down and harass people," a regular says. But when the law enforcers leave, the disrobing often begins again. Although the site is mostly a clothed, family beach, a few naturists tend to visit on weekdays or when there aren't many other people. Use with caution.

Unknown.

Just south of Rio del Mar, look for La Selva. Drive to Manresa State Beach (see next entry), then walk north along the sand.

Various dunes before and after homes overlooking the ocean.

Use with discretion; this is mostly a family beach.

Riptides; undertow; cold water; increased law enforcement; proximity of homes.

MANRESA STATE BEACH

Families often like to visit Manresa State Beach because of its nice views and good, dependable, mostly flat sand. But in the sand dunes of the north end, it sometimes feels like a different world because of the small numbers of nude sunbathers who've been attracted to it for years. Those who stay in the dune area seem to have few problems. Remembers Ron Schafer, former head of the state parks for the Bay Area region and a staffer at Manresa State Beach: "In some of the more remote areas, there were people who would sunbathe without clothing." Adds Schafer, who is now superintendent of the state parks' Angeles district, "It was a plain old non-issue (to rangers)."

Part of Manresa Beach State Park. In areas of the beach frequently used by families and other visitors, rangers will probably ask naturists to put their suits on. Elsewhere, enforcement of the park's nudity policy seems to be left up to the individual ranger.

From Santa Cruz, follow Highway 1 south past Watsonville to the Larkin Valley Road exit and look for the town of La Selva Beach. Turn right on San Andreas Road and follow it to its terminus near the beach. Walk north to the dunes near the beach property, just south of La Selva Beach.

Sandy and beautiful. Many naturists prefer the dunes north of the main public beach.

Same as at La Selva. Manressa only draws occasional nudity.

Same as at La Selva.