Black's Beach

2 Reviews
Tags: California, North America, and USA
None. Use the port-o-potties at the top of the trail.
None at the beach. The Cliffhanger Cafe at the start of the trail has great sandwiches and is about a 15min walk from the beach.
Parking is shared with UCSD students, Glideport lot. Street parking on La Jolla Farms Road.
Nudity is optional

The Good

  • Perfect weather year round
  • Soft, hot sand and clear water
  • Intimate, quiet beach vibes
  • Amazing views and beautiful walking trail
  • Welcoming and approachable beach for nude first timers

The Bad

  • Strenuous walk down to the water
  • Difficult to carry much down the walking trail/steps
  • The northern (nude) section can be busy on weekends. If you want more privacy a weekday visit is more the play
  • Police often break up bonfire gatherings

The Naked Truth

Black’s Beach is a laid back destination that boasts the world’s best ocean views. Notorious for having perfect weather almost all year long, Black’s is worshipped by surfers, nature photographers, and nude beach connoisseurs, alike.

Black’s waters glisten on the coast of La Jolla, an affluent city in San Diego and a community that sure cares for their beaches! Black’s Beach is as meticulous as nude beaches come and arguable the best in the US.

Black’s Beach isn’t accessible by street— you’ll actually have to go on a mini hike to find it! This makes this beach desirable for those who like some exclusivity.

Insider Tip

Grab lunch at The Cliffhanger Cafe and head down to the beach. Late afternoon here with the sun sinking into the Pacific Ocean is absolutely magic and not to be missed.

Who's Here

Younger couples in their 30's, old hippies and nearby UCSD students are all regulars here.

Beach Surface

Black sand

Access Difficulty

Medium to hard. A decent level of fitness is required to scale the steep cliffs on the 15min walk down to the beach.
Booking.com
Booking.com

Photos

Our Visit

Contributor Review – Amanda Mansoorbakht
Local Expert. Visited 2023

You’ve braved the hike down to Black’s Beach. What can you expect, next?

San Diego’s laidback vibes and warm weather make Black’s Beach one of the best beaches in the US. On a hot sunny weekend the northern end of the beach is normally packed with hundreds of people enjoying the warm weather. Weekdays are the go if you want a bit more breathing room.

Clothes are optional at Black’s, and you’ll see a blend of friendly nude and suited beach-goers. Black’s is partially named from the colour of the sand which can get really hot. The sand is soft and just falls off as you dry.  Because Black’s is near one of the most popular surfer beaches in SoCal (Scripps Beach) expect to see surfers zipping up their wet suits in the morning fog. UC San Diego (UCSD) is also walking distance away— Black’s will be full of enthusiastic college students on any given day.

Click to see more Nudity is usually reserved for the 30+ year old crowd but every now and then the college students will go completely nude. Many UCSD sports teams, like the Cross Country teams, are known to do initiation rituals on Black’s — including a nude jog down to the water. The hilly trek down to the coast also invites many bikers, sprinters, or fitness enthusiasts looking to get a brutal workout. Beware of Southern California’s unofficial slogan that ‘May is gray and June is glum’ – there are exceptions to the rule but sometimes the spring or even winter days can be warmer than these months.

The night is when Black’s comes alive. Expect naked bonfires in early September— where hundreds of students and in-the-know locals gather for a festival of nude dancing under the stars, a sensuous ode to the body led by thumping drums.

The water is fresh and clear. The weather is great too and can be a comfortable mid 70s in December. Every four years, Black’s Beach experiences bioluminescence— firefly-like organisms that illuminate the dark sea during night. If you’re lucky enough to be at Black’s during this time, jump into the sea to watch your nude body illuminate with an otherworldly hue of neon blue.

If you’re looking for some fun in the sun, Black’s Beach in La Jolla is the quintessential California nude beach destination

Questions? Comments? Add your thoughts or photos below!

Map

Nearby Accommodation

Non-nude:

Estanica La Jolla Hotel & Spa  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The closest accommodation to Black's Beach and reasonably priced for a lush 4 star resort hotel. You'll be able to walk to the beach from here.

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Residence Inn LaJolla ⭐⭐⭐
Friendly staff, a beer deck and rooms with small kitchenettes. 25min walk to the trailhead but hotel in a great location and well off the highway.

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California Dreams Hotel ⭐
This hostel gets amazing reviews for a 1 star budget option. There are private rooms and dorm rooms, the location in the buzzing surf suburb of Pacific Beach also can't be beat. It is a 20min drive to the trailhead from Black's Beach.

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Getting There

Black’s Beach isn’t accessible by street— you’ll actually have to go on a mini hike to find it! This makes this beach desirable for those who like some exclusivity. There are several ways to access Black’s Beach. Regardless of the route you choose, get ready for a killer leg work out!

You can get to Black’s Beach through a gate at the intersection of Blackgold Road and La Jolla Farms Road. You can park anywhere on the street and there’s usually ample parking! Avoid red-painted no parking zones and driveways.  The closest tram stop is a 2o minute walk away -  UCSD Health La Jolla Station which is accessible from downtown San Diego. Be sure to pack a pair of lace up shoes or durable hiking sandals for the trek down to the water.

The most popular route is via the staircase trail next to the glider port building. Enjoy the panoramic views with colorful para gliders, drifting above sky and sea. If you decide on this path, be mindful of parking— the glider port lot is shared with surrounding science labs and students attending UC San Diego. At the trailhead, you can go left to where all the surfers hangout, or turn north to where most nude people have setup little camps. The whole beach is nude tolerant but the majority of people settle to the north.

Just south of the glider port building, is another rough trail that is maintained by beach lovers. Whatever route you choose it is around a 10-15min hike down for most people.

Nearby Attractions + Events

Non-nude:

Cliffhanger Cafe is on the trail to beach and they sell tasty sandwiches. It is a 15min walk from the cafe the beach.
Everyday California have paddleboards where you can explore the amazing sea caves off the world-famous La Jolla Cove.
Whale-watching is EPIC in this part of the world and highly recommended.

Explore more attractions in nearby San Diego here.

Socials

User Comments

2 Reviews on “Black's Beach”

Overall rating
  • chad Cruz

    Great place to let the sun kiss your body. The southern section is managed by the City of San Diego and nudity is generally not allowed. The Northern half (section north of Torrey Pines Gliderport trail is managed by the California State Parks and nudity is generally allowed. Once you are in that area of the beach you’ll begin to see other nude folks. Thats your cue to drop trowel. There are three ways to get there that are generally safest. The southern end you can enter at La Jolla Farms Road and take the paved road to the bottom of the cliffs. There are bathrooms at the end of the road but no other services. This area is the southern most part of the beach and you’ll have to walk north to get to the nude section of the beach. The Gliderport trail is accessible from the parking lot and is generally safe to traverse. Beware, it’s a steep climb down and up. There are stairs and the trail was maintained by a group called “Blacks Beach Bares”. Not sure if the group is still around. Their website is no longer up. At the northern side of the beach (gay side) there are some boulders and a large flat rock that stick out of the water. I have seen people come from that side to access the beach at low tide. This is by far my favorite beach and I go every chance I get.

    Reply
  • Mike

    It was my first nude beach and I had a blast. Be warned: it is a tough hike up and down the cliff to get to the beach and there are no public restrooms on the beach itself as the porta potty’s are at the top of the cliff.

    Reply
    1. Frank

      Are there signs that tell you were you can go nude

      Reply
      1. Ethel

        You’re the man Frank!

        Reply
      2. Donald

        no you just put your clothes in your bag and let is hang out.

        Reply

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