SCOTT CREEK BEACH

Scott Creek is a fun place, where surfers of many stripes -- ranging from board riders to windsurfers to kite surfers -- share the sand and water of pristine Scott Creek Beach near Davenport with both nature lovers (who explore its lagoon for birds and nearby Ano Nuevo State Reserve for elephant seals) and naturists. The surfers usually leave their towels on the north side of the beach, from October to May. But before you swim, check for possible riptides just offshore.

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 turnouts, 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

Two years ago, we added a beach that's so remote that you have to lower yourself down a cliff while hanging onto a rope to reach its beautiful and nearly always uncrowded shore. "The rope is still there," reports beach regular Russ, who loves to visit this little-known treasure. "You use it to hold yourself close to the side of the cliff while placing your feet on footholds. The rope just helps you steady yourself. Usually, I'll go down first and then my wife will hand stuff to me as she's coming."

"The rope has been there for years," adds Russ, who prefers to visit on Sundays or Mondays. "Last time, when we arrived, another nude person was there. When they left, yet another naturist arrived. It's a decent-sized beach and almost everyone goes nude."

A round, one-inch diameter steel stake pounded into the cliff holds the rope next to a cliffside between Davenport Cove and the town of Davenport. It can be hard to spot -- the north end of the site borders Davenport -- but if you keep looking, you will find this local treasure.

Rumored to be destined to become a state beach. The Nature Conservancy reportedly bought the land on the cliffs above the beach, used in the past to grow artichokes, from the Packard Foundation.

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. Russ likes to sit near but not directly next to the cliff, "which will give you some shelter from the wind. The beach is big enough so that you can spread out on it without being near someone. People aren't planted five feet away from each other. If somebody is uncomfortable (with someone being nude), they could move to another part of the beach." 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 eight-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 the greenery has been mowed down.

DAVENPORT COVE

Often left with a washed-out, nearly sandless look after winter and spring storms, a clothing-optional shore known as Davenport Cove and Shark's Tooth Beach is favored by some nudists for summer retreats. "We went twice last year," says Russ, who prefers Rope Beach (see above). The beach, off Highway 1, is just south of Davenport's public beach. Swimming isn't recommended, due to dangerous waves and cold water, but some locals paddle around anyway. However, the wind-sheltered cove is good for suitless sunbathing. A steep trail takes you to a cave you can explore (some water pours into it) and some interesting rock formations. Speaking of rocks, a group of them offshore resemble a shark's tooth, which gives the beach its name. Use caution when exploring the cove in high tide; it often washes out. Also, "avoid the area at night," warns Russ, who has heard stories of partiers harassing people who remained after dark in defiance of the beach's official closure past dusk. Former problems included car robberies and gawkers in bushes.

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 counted six other visitors.

Beach erosion, especially in spring and winter; 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; signs urge visitors not to leave valuables in their vehicles.

BONNY DOON BEACH

Recommended! Still not listed on the official state parks web site, one of the state's oldest nude beaches has been under the domain of the California State Parks Department since July 14, 2006, when it took control of the five miles of coastline including Bonny Doon.

Threats to begin ranger patrols of the two coves that form the beach -- naturists usually stick to the north end, though a few diehards have been spotted on the other side too -- have been made since 2007, but they have not yet materialized. Nor has the beach's promised listing on the state parks Web site.

"There still was the same pleasant coexistence of nudists and textiles and a family-friendly atmosphere we've had in earlier years," reports an April 2009 message board poster who visited the beach "quite a bit ... this year."

The beach usually attracts more women and couples than many nude beaches. "Minuses" include occasional auto burglaries (so lock your car) and gawkers on the bluffs or in the bushes.

The beach was frequently used by nudists in the 1960s, following the formation of the so-called Experimental Beach 1958 (XB-58), popularized by Sol Stern, Stan Stohler, and Ed Lange, to bring nudist club members together on the sand and develop the concept of a nude public beach. Formerly privately owned but 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.

PANTHER BEACH

Tired of summer fog and gloom? Then perhaps you should visit picturesque Panther, some 10 miles north of Santa Cruz. By afternoon, it's often so sunny here that naturists erect umbrellas to keep their bare bodies from burning. Other popular activities include reading, picnicking, rock climbing, bird watching, swimming, exploring the shore, or -- a personal favorite -- simply giving in to "sand gravity" by doing nothing at all. You can even watch whales as they pass the shoreline, which has tall rock towers, natural arching bridges, and a wall of rocks with 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 and nearby Bonny Doon, into its system. According to State Parks spokesman Roy Stearns, rangers were supposed to start patrolling about two years ago, but nothing yet has happened.

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. Rock climbing opportunities range from easy boulders to challenges that are 25 feet. The area includes a beachside rock wall with a cave that extends inside for around 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 probably land 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. 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.

Patrols by rangers may eventually begin; rutted parking lot; eroded trail; poison oak; hazardous access to the south beach; auto vandalism.

HOLE IN THE WALL BEACH

Shut off from access during high tide, Hole In The Wall Beach is a great place to relax on a hot summer day, especially if you'd like to get away from crowds, noise, and the usual litter you find on a public beach. Once or twice a year, the site might draw 50 visitors, but you'll more likely find a few dozen persons spread out on its 200-yard long shoreline. The beach can only be reached through its namesake hole in a wall of rocks at the south end of Panther Beach. Even in low tide, access can be dangerous: the water in the passageway between the two beaches looks deceptively calm. Over the years, at least five drownings have been reported. In 2002, a wave swept two men through the tunnel-like hole and into the sea; one never returned.

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.

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

If you're searching for the perfect beach for tanning, reading, or some other quiet activity, then you'll probably love Laguna Creek, which is located just off Highway 1 between mileposts 25.96 and 26.01. Other pluses include coves that are good for beachcombing, and a lagoon that attracts both birds and birdwatchers. To find this delightful clothing-optional spot, drive 9.8 miles north of Santa Cruz to Laguna Road, which is adjacent to the beach.

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.

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

The south end of Wilder Ranch State Park, known locally as Four Mile Beach, has been visited by nude sunbathers for years. But they usually now only show up on weekdays when families are not present. Mike Oropeza, a former regular at Red, White and Blue Beach until it closed in 2006, says he has also gone nude at "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.

Part of Wilder Ranch State Park.

FFour 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

Improved directions!

Though beautiful and often filled with enough water for some old-fashioned skinny-dipping, not everything is peaceful at the Garden of Eden, in Henry Cowell State Park, between Santa Cruz and Felton. "We hate going down there on the trail because by the time we get there the problem we've heard about may be over," a longtime park ranger told me in June. "And you have to watch out for poison oak on the trail."

And not everyone likes the nudists who frequent the Garden. "When I thought it couldn't get any better, all the naked people started showing up," Labpuggleechi, of Cupertino, wrote in a May 15, 2009, post on Yelp. "Of course, the guys didn't mind the naked women, but the naked man pushed them over the edge. People started yelling and before I knew it, people were fighting."

Plus the path to Eden can be slippery, so be careful as you walk. In fact, Eden is just one of three clothing-optional swimming holes on the San Lorenzo River. To find these easy-to-miss 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. "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."

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 pullout, called the Ox Trail Turnout, leading to Garden of Eden. Park in the turnout and follow the dirt fire road downhill and across some railroad tracks. Head south, following the tracks, for around .5 miles. Look for a "Pack Your Trash" sign with park rules and hours and then proceed down the Eden Trail.

Ox Trail, which can be slippery, and Eden Trail both wind 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.

For a map showing the Garden of Eden, go to www.fernriver.com/hike.html

A trio of small skinny-dipping holes on the San Lorenzo River. The Garden of Eden features some fairly deep pools, especially after winters with heavy rain, scattered among large boulders. No bikes or dogs are allowed.

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.

Slippery and, at times, steep trails; poison oak; rowdy youths; threat of ranger patrols (nudity not allowed); parking turnouts may be hard to find so go slow and use your odometer to check for them.

NATURAL BRIDGES BEACH

Better known for its stunning butterfly refuge, Natural Bridges, at the north end of Cliff Drive, in Santa Cruz, also has a cove that gets scattered nude use on hot summer days. Several decades ago, small numbers of free beachers frequented Natural Bridges Beach. The site has tide pools and a shoreline (bring binoculars) 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.

Most likely you, and perhaps 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

To leash or not to leash is the question at Its Beach, in front of a lighthouse at Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive, near Santa Cruz's Municipal Wharf.

For years, dog lovers and haters have been arguing over whether pooches should be permitted to use the beach without being on leashes. In 2008, the city of Santa Cruz announced a deal to buy 2.5 acres of Its Beach for $103,000 on the condition that they know for sure that dogs will be allowed to run loose and won't be violating environmental laws. The plan, which is part of a bill by Assemblyman John Laird, would let Santa Cruz buy Its Beach and, sometime in the future, the rest of Lighthouse Field State Beach, while permitting dogs to be off-leash, which is not allowed at other state beaches.

A final decision on the deal is expected to be announced this year.

For the best sand, visit in late summer or early fall. Nearby attractions include the lighthouse's surfing museum; a butterfly refuge at Natural Bridges State Beach, just to the east on West Cliff; the Municipal Wharf to the west; and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, with an amusement park and various rides.

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 only nude beach with its own street address (it's across from 2222 West Cliff Drive) is also its smallest. It's not an exaggeration to say you can explore every inch of this beautiful little cove in less than an hour. After all, it's only the size of an average California backyard. You'll usually find fewer than 20 visitors on the sand, which might hold a dozen more. What 2222 lacks in size it more than makes up for in attributes: the beach is a great place to enjoy a little solitude or even watch a mime or other performer. Neal the Juggler sometimes practices on the sand with his juggling balls, pins, and beanbags. But don't visit this site unless you're capable of handling a steep climb down and up a cliff. Hikers must climb over some concrete blocks on the way down to the sand (so leave kids and heavy gear at home). The beach can be seen from above, but tourists walking on a path above the cliffs almost never 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

The wooden deck at Santa Cruz's Cowell State Beach isn't considered clothing-optional -- or even a beach. But on the hottest summer days, we've observed a few people skinny-dipping right off the platform, which was definitely a surprising sight. The pier there is usually used by surfers to put on or take off their wetsuits.

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

Highly recommended! Life couldn't be better at Privates Beach, where there's almost no litter, wind, noise, or troublemakers -- a locked gate and security guards keep the latter out -- and world class surfers, such as those who starred in Endless Summer II, regularly put on a free show for the naked people who share the pristine sand with surfers.

"It's really nice," says Hunter Young, a former worker at nearby Freeline Design Surfboards, which sells beach passes. "Everyone gets along. Surfers love it because it has good waves. It's 100 percent standup surfing, with paddling. Anytime I go to Privates, I can expect a long ride on my longboard."

"There are two different coves on the beach," adds Young. "Clothed families who use the beach know which cove is nude and stay away from it. If you want to play naked Frisbee, at the bottom of the beach stairs you just walk to the left." During his most recent visit, Young found "a lot more families and dogs than before, and everything was real clean."

There are four main ways to get to Privates, which is off Opal Cliff Drive, north of the Capitola Pier, and takes its name from the gate at the entrance, as well as the young security guards at the top of the path ("They're usually 18-23 year old guys who give information on how to get a key or assist people in using theirs," says Young), both intended to keep the site "private":

1) Some visitors walk north from Capitola Pier in low tide (Four people recently walked from Capitola Beach to a beach just east of Privates, only to become trapped by rising water; they were rescued by swimmers and officers from a harbor patrol boat); 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.

2) Others reach it in low tide via the stairs at the end of 41st Avenue, which lead to a surf spot called The Hook at the south end of a rocky shoreline known as Pleasure Point;

3) Surfers paddle on boards for a few minutes to Privates from Capitola or The Hook;

4) And 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. 831-476-2950, some 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 try to go through the gate for free. "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 Bay Area Naturists leader Rich Pasco. "Most beachgoers will gladly hold the gate open for someone behind them whose hands are full."

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, walk 1.5 blocks (roughly five minutes) east to the park, which is 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); a cove used by clothed beachgoers, separated from the nude one by a rocky outcropping, is to the right. The beach is backed by slowly eroding sandstone and siltstone cliffs.

Expect a mix of nudists and surfers, including locals and out-of-towners. "I was down there with a friend who was babysitting a bunch of little kids," says Young, who's now an emergency medical technician dispatcher for a local fire department. "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." Depending on when you arrive, you may be alone or one of several dozen visitors. "Usually, you'll see five-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 six-to-15 families on the beach and eight-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

Full nudity isn't accepted, but on warm days, a dozen or more women usually sunbathe topless at both Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach and nearby Capitola Beach. For several decades, lifeguards and rangers at the sites have allowed the practice to continue. So far, they've received few complaints.

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), countercultural and law enforcement values have occasionally clashed on and off the sand in Santa Cruz and Capitola. Neither city has an antinudity statute, and attempts to pass them have been unsuccessful.

How to find it: 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

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. "The state police who patrol Manresa do drive beyond their assigned borders and down to this beach, but they've never bothered me."

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

Keep your swimsuit handy at La Selva Beach, in case a beach cop drives by the sand dunes to try to scare you and your naturist pals away. A few naked sunbathers 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. What little nudity occurs usually happens on weekdays or when there aren't many other people present. Use discretion.

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.