Best Clothing-Optional Resorts in California

California has fewer clothing-optional resorts than Florida but a wider geographic range. The state’s resorts cluster into three main regions: the desert south (Coachella Valley and around), the coastal central California stretch, and the mountains and hot-spring areas inland. Each region has a different character, and the property choices reflect that variety. Where Florida resorts compete on full-service hospitality, California resorts compete on setting — hot springs, redwoods, desert hills. This is the considered ranking organized by region and trip style.

The California C/O Tradition

California’s naturist tradition runs back to the 1930s, paralleling Florida’s. The state’s body-freedom culture, the early hot-springs naturism that developed at properties like Esalen Institute, and the West Coast counterculture of the 1960s and 70s all contributed to a more philosophy-forward naturism than the AANR mainstream. Many California properties identify as “naturist” rather than “nudist” — see our terminology guide for what that distinction means in practice.

The result is a state where the property options skew toward setting and experience rather than infrastructure. A California weekend at a clothing-optional resort more often involves trails, natural hot springs, or coastal walks than pool decks and full-service restaurants. Laguna del Sol is the one exception that operates at full hospitality scale, but the median California property emphasizes nature.

The Big Coastal/Central Resorts

These are the largest and most accessible California properties, with hotel-style amenities and easy first-time visitor access.

Lupin Lodge Naturist Resort

Lupin Lodge Naturist Resort sits on 110 wooded acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 15 minutes from Los Gatos and 45 minutes from San Jose. The property includes a swimming pool, hot tub, tennis and volleyball courts, hiking trails, and an on-site restaurant. Cabins, lodge rooms, RV sites, and tent camping are all available.

The setting is the draw: redwood and sequoia forest, cooler air than the valley below, and a strong community atmosphere. Lupin runs a busy calendar of yoga, art workshops, and naturist events. Family-friendly. The most beginner-friendly Bay Area option.

Laguna del Sol

Laguna del Sol is in Wilton, east of Sacramento. It’s a 250-acre resort with a lake, multiple pools, an on-site restaurant and bar, RV sites, cabins, yurts, and full hotel-style rooms. The property hosts large weekend events, themed parties, and regular activities.

Laguna del Sol is the Northern California equivalent of a Florida flagship — full hospitality, energetic atmosphere, easy to book. Family-friendly, though weekends can skew adult-party. Best for travelers wanting the full-service resort experience in the Sacramento area.

Glen Eden Sun Club

Glen Eden Sun Club is in Temescal Valley, near Lake Elsinore in Riverside County. It’s a 154-acre member-owned property with a swimming pool, hot tub, clubhouse, restaurant, and a mix of accommodations.

Glen Eden has been operating since the 1930s and has the most established community of any California co-op. The atmosphere is friendly and traditional. Day visitors are accepted with advance notice; full-time membership has a waiting list.

The Hot Springs Specialists

California has the largest concentration of clothing-optional natural hot springs in the country. Several properties operate as combined resort-and-hot-springs destinations.

Harbin Hot Springs

Harbin Hot Springs is the legendary clothing-optional retreat in Middletown, north of Napa Valley. The original property burned down in the 2015 Valley Fire; the rebuilt property reopened gradually and now operates as a smaller naturist retreat focused on the natural mineral springs and the meditative atmosphere that made the original famous.

Harbin operates as a day-use and overnight retreat. The vibe is philosophical naturism — yoga, meditation, healing arts, quiet. Day passes available; overnight requires advance booking. Verify current status and capacity before traveling.

Mi Kasa Hot Springs

Mi Kasa Hot Springs in Desert Hot Springs is a small adults-only clothing-optional resort with natural mineral water pools. Compact, quiet, suited to couples and solo travelers wanting a low-key soaking weekend. Day-use available.

Deep Creek Hot Springs

Deep Creek Hot Springs is a wild natural hot springs in the Mojave Desert, accessed via a hike. Not a resort but worth mentioning because it’s the most famous wild clothing-optional hot springs in California. The hike is moderate, the soaking pools are natural, and the culture is dedicated naturist hikers.

Mountain and Northern California

The Sequoians

The Sequoians, A Clothes Free Club is a member-owned cooperative in the Bay Area hills. The property has a pool, hot tub, sauna, hiking trails, and a clubhouse. Day visits require prior arrangement; the Sequoians is more of a community than a resort.

For travelers wanting to experience the cooperative-club tradition rather than commercial hospitality, the Sequoians is a strong Bay Area option.

The Olympian Club

The Olympian Club is another Bay Area member club with a pool, hot tub, tennis courts, and camping. Accepts day visitors by arrangement.

Smaller B&Bs and Boutique Options

For travelers wanting an intimate, smaller-scale experience.

Meadowlark Country House

Meadowlark Country House is a B&B in the wine country with six guest rooms and a cottage, breakfast included. The property is clothing-optional throughout the grounds. Small, quiet, ideal for couples wanting a romantic naturist weekend rather than a resort experience.

What to Know Before Booking Any California Resort

Geography is everything. Northern California, the Central Coast, and Southern California have completely different climates and resort cultures. A Bay Area resort in February is dramatically different from a desert resort in February. Verify weather and season for the specific region.

Hot springs require advance research. The Harbin Hot Springs operation has changed since the 2015 fire; verify current status. Hot springs in general often require timed entry, day passes, or advance reservations for soaking, even at properties that take day visitors.

Wildfires affect some properties. The 2015, 2018, and 2020 fire seasons damaged or temporarily closed several clothing-optional properties in northern California. Check current operating status for any property in fire-prone areas.

Drought conditions affect water amenities. Some California properties have reduced their pool operations or implemented water restrictions during drought years. Pool availability shouldn’t be assumed.

Coastal resorts are limited. The bulk of California’s clothing-optional properties are inland — desert, mountain, valley. Coastal naturism is mostly a beach experience rather than a resort experience. For coastal naturism, see our list of California beaches — Black’s, San Onofre, Bonny Doon, Davenport Landing.

Day passes are common. Most California resorts accept day-pass visitors for $20-$50. This is the easiest way to evaluate a property before committing to overnight stays.

Choosing the Right Property for Your Trip

A simple guide:

First-time California resort visit: Lupin Lodge (Bay Area) or Glen Eden Sun Club (LA area). Full amenities, easy day-pass access, good first-timer culture.

Family-friendly: Lupin Lodge or Laguna del Sol. Both accept families with kids and have appropriate amenities.

Romantic couples weekend: Meadowlark Country House (wine country B&B) or Mi Kasa Hot Springs (Desert Hot Springs).

Philosophical retreat: Harbin Hot Springs. The atmosphere is deliberate and focused on healing/wellness rather than recreation.

Cooperative club experience: The Sequoians or Glen Eden. Both have established communities and welcome day visitors.

Large-scale resort: Laguna del Sol. Full hospitality scale with restaurants, multiple pools, and organized activities — the one true full-service flagship in California.

Combined with beach day: Stay at Lupin Lodge or any Bay Area property and combine with Black’s Beach, Bonny Doon, or Davenport Landing.

FAQ

What’s California’s best resort for first-timers? Lupin Lodge Naturist Resort in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Full amenities, beginner-friendly culture, easy to reach from San Francisco or San Jose.

Are any California resorts on the coast? Very few. California’s clothing-optional resort tradition is mostly inland. For coastal naturism, the established option is beach day-trips to Black’s Beach, Bonny Doon, or San Onofre. Meadowlark Country House is the closest you’ll get to a coastal C/O property in California.

Which resorts allow families with kids? Lupin Lodge and Laguna del Sol are explicitly family-friendly. Others vary; verify before booking.

What’s the deal with Harbin Hot Springs after the fire? Harbin Hot Springs burned down in 2015. The rebuilt property operates at a smaller scale than the original and offers day passes and limited overnight accommodations. The full retreat experience is being rebuilt over time. Check current status before planning a visit.

Is the California C/O resort scene as developed as Florida’s? No, but it has more variety. California has fewer total resorts than Florida but a wider range of types — natural hot springs, desert, mountain forest, wine country B&B. Where Florida competes on hospitality infrastructure, California competes on setting.

Are there nude hiking groups in California? Yes, several. The state’s body-freedom culture and varied terrain make it a natural fit. See our hiking groups guide for how to find them, and Naturists in the OC and Southern California Naturist Association as starting points.

Related Guides

• How to Choose Your First Clothing-Optional Resort — the property-selection framework.
• Clothing-Optional Hot Springs in the American West — California’s hot-spring options expanded.
• Best Nude Beaches in the United States — California’s beach offerings for day-trip combinations.

Featured Locations

The California clothing-optional resort shortlist:

• Lupin Lodge Naturist Resort — Bay Area mountain.
• Laguna del Sol — Sacramento area flagship.
• Glen Eden Sun Club — Riverside County cooperative.
• Harbin Hot Springs — Lake County retreat.
• Mi Kasa Hot Springs — Desert Hot Springs adults-only.
• The Sequoians — Bay Area co-op.
• The Olympian Club — Bay Area member club.
• Meadowlark Country House — wine country B&B.