36 locations · United States
California
Every clothing-optional place we've verified in California. Tap any entry for full visit notes, etiquette, access and seasonal advice.
California, USA
Baker Beach (North End)
Baker Beach is a half-mile of Pacific shoreline tucked under the Presidio cliffs in northwest San Francisco, with one of the most famous postcard views in the United States: the Golden Gate Bridge framed against the Marin headlands. The northern end of the beach — closest to the bridge itself — is the long-established clothing-optional section, and has been for decades. The southern end is the textile family-beach part; nudity convention shifts as you walk north toward the rocky cove below Battery Chamberlin. Public nudity is technically prohibited under San Francisco municipal code, but Baker Beach is administered by the National Park Service (Presidio/Golden Gate National Recreation Area) rather than by the city, and the NPS doesn't enforce the prohibition. The result is a tolerated, decades-old C/O zone with no signs but a clear local convention. Visitors who stay in the northern third — past the rocky outcrop, in the direction of the Sand Ladder Trail — are operating within the established norm. The crowd is genuinely diverse Bay Area: San Francisco locals on a weekend, tech-industry expats, the long-standing queer community that has used the northern end as a meeting spot for decades, and curious tourists who heard about it. Cold Pacific water (typically 12-15°C even in summer) and the afternoon fog mean Baker Beach is a sunbathing-and-walking beach more than a swimming beach. Practical notes: free parking at several lots along Bowley Street and at the Battery Chamberlin lot at the north end; the Sand Ladder Trail from Lincoln Boulevard is the steep alternate entry. Parking fills early on warm weekends. Bus access via the 29-Sunset route to Lincoln/25th Avenue.
California, USA
Beeks Bight
Beeks Bight is an informal clothing-optional area along the Sacramento River near Folsom, California — a stretch of river bank in the American River Parkway system of the Sacramento Valley. The spot takes its name from an old Sacramento River landmark and has been used by Sacramento area naturists as a river skinny-dipping spot for generations. The Sacramento River here is wide, warm in summer, and flanked by riparian forest of cottonwood, willow, and Valley oak — the characteristic landscape of California's Central Valley rivers. Unlike the cold Pacific coast, the Sacramento Valley runs hot in summer (100°F+ regularly), and the river water warms to genuinely pleasant swimming temperatures of 72–78°F from late June through September. Sacramento is in the center of California's inland valley network, and river access near the city fills a recreational niche that the ocean or mountain lakes can't serve for people who want a same-day outing. The American River Parkway trails and the Folsom Lake recreation area are the backbone of Sacramento's outdoor recreation system.
California, USA
Black Sands Beach
Black Sands Beach is a dark-sand beach in the Marin Headlands portion of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, named for the distinctive dark volcanic and serpentine rock that erodes into the sand. The beach is reached via a short but steep trail from the Conzelman Road / Battery Spencer area and is a different location from Rodeo Beach (about 2 miles to the west) — both are in the Marin Headlands, but serve different communities of regulars. Black Sands has an informal C/O tradition with deep roots in the San Francisco gay community — the Marin Headlands above are on the Golden Gate Bridge north approach, and the beach below has long been a clothing-optional destination for Bay Area LGBTQ+ outdoor visitors. The setting is dramatic: sheer cliffs, cold Pacific surf, the Golden Gate visible to the south, container ships passing at close range through the strait. The GGNRA technically prohibits nudity, but enforcement at Black Sands has been consistently minimal due to the beach's self-selecting access and its established community character. The crowd tends to be male-dominated and LGBTQ+-friendly — a San Francisco institution that has persisted across decades of changing policy environments.
California, USA
Black's Beach
Black's Beach is the two-mile stretch of sand at the base of the Torrey Pines cliffs in La Jolla, San Diego. Access is from above — there's no road in. The trailhead most clothing-optional visitors use is at the Torrey Pines Gliderport, where you walk through the parking lot, past the gliderport shop, and follow the path down the cliff face. The hike has sporadic stairs and uneven sandy switchbacks; it's a moderate descent and a more honest climb back up, especially in summer. Wear shoes you can actually walk in. Important distinction: only the section of beach reached from the Gliderport trail is clothing-optional. South Black's Beach — accessed via the Saigon Trail near Torrey Pines State Beach — is clothing-enforced. Newcomers regularly confuse the two and end up on the wrong stretch. If you're aiming for the nude section, navigate to the Gliderport, not the state park. The vibe at Black's is famously easygoing. The community skews welcoming and conversational, with longtime regulars, couples, solo visitors, and a small number of families spread along the sand. San Diego lifeguards patrol regularly and are quick to manage anyone making others uncomfortable, which keeps the atmosphere relaxed without feeling policed. Paragliders from the Torrey Pines Gliderport drift overhead almost continuously when conditions are good — it's part of the scene. If you want food before or after the beach, the CliffHanger Cafe sits right at the parking lot next to the gliderport. Pack water for the hike; there are no facilities once you're down on the sand.
California, USA
Bonny Doon Beach
Bonny Doon Beach sits along Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz, a rugged stretch of California coastline known more for its natural beauty than organized naturism. This is clothing-optional by tolerance rather than designation—nude use happens informally at the north end of the cove, away from the main trail access. The beach itself is about a half-mile of sand and rock backed by eroding coastal bluffs. You'll reach it via a steep, loose-dirt trail that can be slippery, especially after rain. It's raw California coast: cold water year-round, strong currents, frequent summer fog, and absolutely no facilities. No restrooms, no lifeguards, no trash cans. You're on your own. Most visitors sunbathe rather than swim—the Pacific here is unforgiving. Driftwood and rock outcrops offer some windbreak, but this isn't a manicured beach experience. Parking is informal pullouts along the highway shoulder. The clothing-optional zone is self-policing; look for other bare beachgoers to gauge where the tolerant section begins. Bonny Doon draws a low-key crowd who appreciate solitude and don't mind a bit of effort. It's not a destination resort—it's a slice of wild coastline where naturism happens quietly, away from the road.
California, USA
Carmel Meadows Beach
Carmel Meadows Beach is a semi-secluded stretch south of the main Carmel-by-the-Sea beach access, where the Carmel River meets the Pacific and the beach transitions from the more visited tourist zone into quieter territory. The beach sits at the southern end of Carmel Bay, backed by the Carmel Meadows residential neighborhood, and has a long-standing informal clothing-optional tradition at its less-accessible southern end. The Northern California coastal experience here is quintessential: dramatic rocky headlands, cold Pacific water (55–62°F year-round), morning fog burning off to afternoon sun, and the cypress and pine of Point Lobos visible to the south. The Carmel River lagoon creates a transitional wetland habitat between the beach and residential area that further limits casual foot traffic to the more remote southern stretches. This is not a warm-water beach — the California Current keeps Monterey Bay cold year-round. C/O sunbathing on the sheltered sections on calm, warm-weather days is the primary activity, with swimming as an occasional pursuit for those comfortable with cold Pacific water.
California, USA
College Cove Beach
College Cove Beach is a small, protected cove just south of Trinidad Head in Humboldt County — one of the most consistently used clothing-optional beaches on the Northern California coast. The cove is sheltered by Trinidad Head and the surrounding coastal headlands, giving it calmer conditions than the exposed beaches to the north and south, and a scenic backdrop of old-growth redwood forest coming almost to the bluff edge. The clothing-optional tradition is well-established and community-maintained. The beach is reached via a trail from Trinidad State Beach's parking area — about a 10-minute walk through coastal forest to the cove overlook, then down a path to the sand. The route is clear and not technically difficult, but the access keeps the beach much quieter than Trinidad State Beach itself. Trinidad is about 25 miles north of Eureka and 145 miles south of the Oregon border on US 101. The area is known for exceptional tidepooling, Dungeness crab fishing off the pier, and the scale of the surrounding coastal redwood country. Humboldt State University is in nearby Arcata — hence the 'College Cove' name, though the beach draws a broader crowd than students.
California, USA
Davenport Landing Beach
Davenport Landing Beach is a small Santa Cruz County beach on Highway 1, about 10 miles north of Santa Cruz proper. The main section is a textile beach used by surfers and families. The north end, separated from the main beach by a stretch of cliffs and rocks, has a long-standing informal clothing-optional reputation. The C/O status is by tradition, not by official designation — visitors who use the north section quietly do so, and the area's relative inaccessibility from the main entrance keeps the textile and naturist communities respectfully separate. The setting is classic Northern California coast: dramatic cliffs, cool Pacific water, a small protected beach pocket flanked by rock formations. The water temperature stays in the 50s°F most of the year — colder than Southern California, and unforgiving even in summer. Surfers regularly use the main break. Parking is on the highway side with a short trail down to the sand. The walk to the north C/O area requires either a low-tide scramble around the rocks or a more involved walk along the bluffs above. Time your visit around the tides; the route around the rocks is impassable at high tide. Davenport Landing is best treated as a quieter alternative to nearby Bonny Doon Beach, which has a more established C/O culture and a more straightforward layout. Both beaches operate within the same Santa Cruz County tradition of tolerated clothing-optional use at certain cove sections.
California, USA
El Matador State Beach
El Matador State Beach is the northernmost of the three Malibu state beaches (El Matador, La Piedra, El Pescador) managed as Point Mugu State Park. The beach is known for its sea caves, rock arches, and offshore sea stacks — coastal geology that makes it one of the most photographed stretches of the Malibu coast. The sand is isolated below tall bluffs, accessible via a steep staircase from the PCH parking area. The clothing-optional tradition is informal and occupies sections of the beach away from the main staircase access, particularly toward the caves and rock formations at the north end. The beach attracts a mix of photographers, general beachgoers, and naturists who appreciate the combination of visual drama, relative isolation, and Malibu proximity without the crowding of the more accessible beaches closer to Santa Monica. El Matador is about 35 miles northwest of Santa Monica on Pacific Coast Highway. The parking lot is small and charges a fee — it fills quickly on clear weekends. Arrive by 9am to guarantee a spot. The staircase down to the beach is steep; the tide matters here, as high tide can cut off access to the cave formations.
California, USA
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Gray Whale Cove State Beach — known locally as Devil's Slide Beach — sits tucked below the famous Devil's Slide coastal bluffs on Highway 1, about 4 miles south of Pacifica. The beach is officially clothing-optional, one of very few California state beaches with that formal designation. The state park status and the clothing-optional rule together make this one of the most legitimate naturist beaches on the California coast. The cove is small — roughly 300 meters of sand — enclosed by steep coastal bluffs that provide shelter from wind and strong visual privacy from the highway above. The water is cold (Pacific Coast temperatures typically run 55–60°F) but the beach itself warms well in summer. The combination of protected location, bluff backdrop, and accessible parking makes this a reliable choice for Bay Area naturists who don't want to drive to Point Reyes. Access is from a small parking lot on the seaward side of Highway 1. A moderately steep trail descends to the beach — about 5 minutes of walking. The lot fills on warm weekends, and midweek is noticeably quieter. The beach is about 20 miles south of San Francisco via Highway 1 through Pacifica — the coastal drive along Devil's Slide is itself spectacular.
California, USA
Little Beach at Muir Beach
Little Beach is a small rocky cove north of the main Muir Beach parking area in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County. The cove is separated from the main Muir Beach by a rocky headland and accessed via a short but rugged trail through coastal scrub — the terrain and the off-the-beaten-path location have made it a clothing-optional destination for Marin County residents and San Francisco Bay Area naturists for many years. The beach itself is small — perhaps 200 feet of sand and rock at low tide — with the dramatic Northern California coastal scenery that defines this stretch of the GGNRA: sheer cliffs, cold Pacific water, rolling fog, and the kind of sublime emptiness that you don't expect to find 45 minutes from downtown San Francisco. Muir Beach's main parking area is a short drive from the trailhead, making this one of the more accessible informal C/O spots in the Bay Area. Not to be confused with Little Beach on Maui, Hawaii — this is Marin County's quieter, foggier, Pacific Northwest-adjacent version.
California, USA
More Mesa Beach
More Mesa is a 300-acre undeveloped open-space preserve on the Santa Barbara coast, with a long stretch of cliff-protected beach below it. The beach has been a known clothing-optional spot for decades — informal, unsigned, tolerated by Santa Barbara County, and preserved by the lack of formal infrastructure that would draw casual day-trippers. The access defines the experience. There's no developed parking lot. Visitors park on residential streets at the southern ends of Mockingbird Lane or Patterson Avenue, then walk across the mesa — a flat 10-15 minute walk through coastal grassland and bluffs — to reach the beach access stairs. The descent is a long wooden staircase down the bluff face; the climb back is the honest workout. The clothing-optional convention is to head right (west) along the beach from the bottom of the stairs; the left/east stretch is treated as textile. The crowd is genuinely Santa Barbara — a mix of locals, UC Santa Barbara students, and longtime regulars. The naturist tradition here is multi-decade and quietly maintained by the community. The setting is the draw: bluffs thick with coastal sage and lemonadeberry, dolphins regularly visible offshore, the Santa Ynez Mountains rising inland, and an empty beach most weekdays. Local context worth noting: More Mesa is privately owned and has been the subject of multiple development proposals over the decades. The More Mesa Preservation Coalition has organized to keep it open and undeveloped. The current access depends on continued community advocacy and ongoing negotiation with the landowner.
California, USA
Pirate's Cove (Cave Landing)
Pirate's Cove is a small protected cove tucked into the cliffs between Avila Beach and Shell Beach on California's Central Coast, accessed via a short steep trail from the end of Cave Landing Road. It's been a known clothing-optional beach since at least the 1970s — informally, since nudity is technically prohibited but tolerated, and the cliff-protected geography keeps the casual textile crowd out. The cove is named for the rock tunnel — Pirate's Cave — at the top of the trail, where Prohibition-era smugglers reportedly landed liquor bound for the Port San Luis Harbor. The cave itself is worth the walk regardless of naturist plans; it overlooks San Luis Bay and is a popular sunset vista. From the cave landing, the trail down to the beach is short but steep, with about 100 feet of elevation change and uneven footing. The beach itself is roughly 300 metres of sand and pebbles at the base of tall sandstone cliffs. The cove's enclosed geometry keeps the wind down and the water relatively calm — better swimming than most exposed Central Coast beaches. The clothing-optional convention is well-established along the central and northern stretches of the cove; the southernmost section near the trail bottom mixes textile and naturist visitors. Crowd is mostly San Luis Obispo County locals, Cal Poly students, and Central Coast weekenders. The cove gets busy on summer weekends but is almost empty on weekday mornings. No facilities, no lifeguards, no amenities — bring everything for the day.
California, USA
Privates Beach
Privates Beach — the name makes the purpose clear — is an informal clothing-optional beach south of Santa Cruz in the Aptos and La Selva Beach area of Santa Cruz County. The beach sits below high bluffs accessible via a trail down the cliff face, with the natural access barrier keeping casual visitors away and creating the secluded atmosphere that has given the spot its character and reputation. The Santa Cruz coast has a strong naturist history — just up the road, Bonny Doon Beach is one of the most well-established C/O beaches in Northern California. Privates Beach extends that culture southward into a stretch of coast that's quieter, less documented, and more reliant on word-of-mouth. The beach is sand and pebble, backed by the characteristic Santa Cruz sandstone bluffs, with cold Pacific water and the offshore kelp beds that characterize this section of Monterey Bay. The bluff trail is unmaintained and can be steep and slippery, particularly after rain. The beach is narrow at high tide. These are not deal-breakers for regulars who know the spot, but they explain why it's not on most visitor itineraries.
California, USA
RCA Beach
RCA Beach is an informal clothing-optional spot in the Bolinas Lagoon / Stinson Beach area of Marin County, within or adjacent to Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The name references the former RCA radio transmitter towers that once stood in this part of Marin, and it's been used as a local navigation reference for naturist spots in the area. The beach sits in a stretch of open Pacific coast between Stinson Beach and Bolinas — a section of shoreline with limited public parking and road access, which keeps it relatively uncrowded. The C/O tradition is informal and has been maintained by Marin County outdoor regulars for decades. The water is cold, the scenery is characteristically Northern California coast — dune grass, fog, distant views south toward the Farallon Islands — and the crowd is the low-key outdoor type. Access requires local knowledge — there's no marked trailhead or parking. Most visitors come from the Stinson Beach area or via coastal hiking trails in the GGNRA. The Bolinas area is famously reluctant to publicize its location; the road sign for the Bolinas turnoff from Highway 1 is regularly removed by locals. That spirit of deliberate obscurity carries over to the beach.
California, USA
Rodeo Beach
Rodeo Beach, also known as Black Sands Beach, sits in the Marin Headlands section of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, about 5 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The beach takes its informal nickname from its distinctive dark sand — the result of serpentinite and greenstone eroding from the surrounding headlands, giving the shoreline a dramatic black-and-grey color unlike any other Bay Area beach. The clothing-optional tradition is established and locally known, occupying the southern portion of the beach near the lagoon outflow. The beach is exposed to Pacific swell and the water is cold, but the surrounding headlands create some wind shelter, and the landscape — rocky outcrops, dark sand, rolling NPS-protected hills, no commercial development in sight — is among the most striking in the Bay Area. Rodeo Lagoon behind the beach supports significant bird life. Access is from the Rodeo Beach parking area in Fort Cronkhite, reached via Bunker Road through the Alexander Avenue tunnel from the Sausalito side of the bridge. The parking area is free and usually has capacity even on weekends. Public transit from San Francisco via Golden Gate Transit is possible on weekends.
California, USA
San Gregorio Private Beach
San Gregorio Private Beach claims a singular distinction in American naturist history: it's often cited as the first nude beach in the United States, with clothing-optional use established in the 1960s. It sits on the Pacific coast of San Mateo County, immediately north of the state-owned San Gregorio State Beach. The 'private' designation refers to the access — a privately-owned parking lot and driveway on the ocean side of Highway 1 — rather than to the beach itself, which is public California shoreline under standard state law. The standard arrangement: drive in via the unmarked driveway just north of La Honda Road, park in the dirt lot, pay the attendant a cash fee (currently around $10), and walk down to the beach. The owners maintain the access road and parking, which is what the fee covers. Once on the sand the public-beach rules apply, but the access pricing keeps casual textile beachgoers out and the C/O convention has held continuously for sixty years. The beach itself is a wide Pacific coastal stretch — sand, dunes, sea cliffs, and the cold ocean. The naturist section traditionally runs north from the access point. Visitors are typically Bay Area locals (the drive is about an hour from San Francisco), longtime regulars who've been coming for decades, and the occasional curious newcomer. The crowd is friendly, low-key, and tilted toward older demographics — significantly so compared to Baker Beach. Important note: in April 2026 the Peninsula Open Space Trust announced a planned $10 million purchase of the 195-acre San Gregorio Ranch, which includes the private-beach access. The implications for the C/O access model are not yet clear; visitors should check current conditions before a trip.
California, USA
San Onofre Beach
San Onofre Beach occupies a dramatic stretch of Southern California coastline between San Clemente and Camp Pendleton Marine Base, managed as part of San Onofre State Beach. Trail 6 has been the traditional clothing-optional section for decades, though naturism here exists in legal limbo — technically prohibited under state park regulations but historically tolerated with wildly inconsistent enforcement. You'll find a blend of surfers catching waves, conventional beachgoers, and naturists, mostly concentrated at the southern end of Trail 6 where acceptance runs highest. The setting is classic SoCal: sandy beach backed by eroding sandstone bluffs, views of the distinctive containment domes from the now-decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station visible to the south. Rangers do patrol and citations happen, particularly on busy summer weekends when the beach draws larger crowds. The clothing-optional culture here relies on community self-policing and a sort of unspoken détente with authorities. Access requires paying the state park day-use fee. This isn't a designated naturist beach in any official sense — it's a public beach with a long informal tradition that could shift with enforcement priorities or policy changes at any time.
California, USA
Sculptured Beach
Sculptured Beach is an isolated beach within Point Reyes National Seashore, reachable only by hiking — roughly 5.5 miles from the Bear Valley Visitor Center via the Coast Trail, or 1.5 miles from the Coast Camp backpacking campground. The beach takes its name from the rock formations: sea stacks, arches, and wave-carved sandstone sculptures line the beach and the bluffs above it, making it one of the most visually extraordinary beaches on the California coast. The commitment required to reach Sculptured Beach keeps it almost entirely free of casual visitors. The C/O tradition here is informal and long-standing — hikers who reach the beach after the long walk typically have it to themselves or share it with a handful of others. The water is cold and the surf is strong (Point Reyes is one of the foggiest and windiest points on the California coast), but on clear days the landscape is unforgettable. The nearest trailhead is Bear Valley (free parking, year-round). Coast Camp is bookable through recreation.gov and places you 1.5 miles from the beach — making a two-day trip the most rewarding way to experience Sculptured Beach, particularly at low tide when the full rock formations are exposed.
California, USA
The Crater Beach
The Crater Beach gets its name from the distinctive bowl-shaped depression in the dunes above it — a feature of the former Fort Ord military base terrain that is now managed as part of the Fort Ord Dunes State Park and adjacent open space in the Sand City and Seaside area of Monterey Bay. The beach is backed by extensive sand dunes and former military land, creating a remote-feeling stretch despite its proximity to the Monterey-Salinas corridor. The informal clothing-optional tradition here developed among CSUMB (Cal State Monterey Bay) students and Monterey Peninsula locals who explored the more remote stretches of the Fort Ord coastal lands. The dune system provides natural wind protection and visual screening, contributing to the C/O character of the spot. Cold Monterey Bay water and morning fog are constants; afternoon wind pickup is common. Access requires navigating the sand dunes — no paved path leads directly to the beach. The Fort Ord area has restricted zones related to unexploded ordnance (UXO) that remain from the military period; stay on established paths and do not explore inland beyond the dune system.
California, USA
Zmudowski State Beach
Zmudowski State Beach is a long, flat beach at the mouth of the Pajaro River in northern Monterey County — one of the more remote and undervisited state beaches in the Monterey Bay area. The beach sits at the northern edge of Monterey Bay, where the agricultural Pajaro Valley meets the coast, with open dunes and a wide sand flat stretching south toward Moss Landing. The clothing-optional tradition here is informal and low-key, established in the less-trafficked northern sections of the beach. Zmudowski gets a fraction of the visitors that nearby Moss Landing or Monterey beaches see, partly because the access road (Struve Road off Highway 1) is easy to miss and the parking area is small. That low profile makes it a consistent option for naturists who want a Monterey Bay beach without the crowds. The beach is about 20 miles north of Monterey and 15 miles south of Santa Cruz on Highway 1. The surrounding area is working farmland — artichokes and strawberries are grown almost to the dune line. The fog pattern is typical of the central coast: frequent morning fog that burns off by early afternoon in summer.
California, USA
Buckeye Hot Spring
Buckeye Hot Spring sits along Buckeye Creek in the Eastern Sierra, about seven miles north of Bridgeport off Highway 395. This is classic Eastern Sierra soaking: a natural hot spring on public land where clothing-optional use has become the norm over decades, though there's no official designation. Hot mineral water bubbles up at the creek's edge and mixes with cold snowmelt, so you adjust the temperature by shifting your position—scalding near the source, comfortable where spring and creek blend. The main pool sits right at water level in a rocky canyon lined with aspens, with high desert air and big sky overhead. You'll find no facilities here—it's entirely undeveloped, which is part of the appeal for people who want a soak without the infrastructure of a resort. Weekends and summer evenings draw crowds from Reno, Tahoe, and up and down the 395 corridor. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter. Access requires a short walk of about a third of a mile from the parking area along a relatively flat trail. This is one of several popular soaking spots in Mono County, part of the Eastern Sierra's loose network of informal naturist-friendly hot springs that operate more on local custom than posted rules.
California, USA
Deep Creek Hot Springs
Deep Creek Hot Springs sits in a rugged canyon along Deep Creek in the San Bernardino National Forest, about two hours northeast of Los Angeles. It's one of Southern California's most famous clothing-optional hot springs, drawing hundreds of visitors on busy weekends. The springs themselves are a series of natural pools where mineral water emerges at around 100-110°F and mixes with the cold creek water. Pool temperatures vary dramatically — you can adjust where you sit to find your comfort zone, or move between scalding and tepid pools. Clothing-optional use has been the cultural norm here for decades, though it's technically public land with no official designation. Access requires a 2.5-mile hike down a steep, rocky trail with about 900 feet of elevation loss. The trailhead is at Bowen Ranch, a private inholding where you pay a day-use fee (roughly $10 per person in recent years). The trail is demanding: loose rock, full sun exposure, minimal shade. Many people underestimate it. The hike out — 900 feet uphill in desert heat — is genuinely strenuous. Bring far more water than you think you need. The springs attract a broad cross-section: LA weekenders, hardcore hot spring enthusiasts, naturists, and curious first-timers. Expect crowds on weekends and a party atmosphere on holiday weekends. Midweek visits are quieter.
California, USA
Keough Hot Springs
Keough Hot Springs is a commercial hot spring resort south of Bishop, California, in the Owens Valley — operating since 1919, making it one of the longest-running hot spring facilities in the Eastern Sierra. The main pool uses natural geothermal water and has a historic outdoor setting in the sagebrush desert between the Sierra Nevada and the Inyo Mountains. Clothing-optional sessions are offered in the evenings, when the outdoor pool becomes C/O by schedule. The water comes from a spring at approximately 128°F, cooled to pool temperature. The evening C/O schedule has been a Keough fixture for decades — it's not informal convention but a programmed part of the facility's operation. This makes Keough one of the few commercial C/O facilities in the Eastern Sierra rather than a wild spring. Bishop is 4 hours north of Los Angeles on US 395 and serves as the main town for the southern Eastern Sierra region, including access to Mammoth Lakes, the White Mountains, and the Owens Valley hot springs cluster. The valley's geothermal resources extend from Mono Lake in the north to Keough in the south — about 40 miles of accessible hot spring terrain.
California, USA
Saline Valley Warm Springs
Saline Valley Warm Springs is one of the most remote and celebrated backcountry hot spring destinations in the western United States — three developed pool areas in the Saline Valley, within Death Valley National Park, accessible only by 30+ miles of rough dirt road. The springs consist of Lower Warm Springs, Palm Springs (with a natural palm oasis), and Wizard Springs further up the valley, each with stone and concrete pools developed over decades by volunteer stewards who have maintained the site as a communal resource. Clothing-optional nudity is not just the norm at Saline Valley — it's so universal that textile visitors stand out. The spring community has developed its own culture over the 70+ years people have been making the difficult journey to reach it: a strong leave-no-trace ethic, a volunteer-maintained infrastructure (solar lighting, outdoor kitchen, shade structures), and a community that treats the springs as shared land worth protecting. Access requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle or equivalent — the roads through Saline Valley are genuine backcountry and impassable in wet conditions or for standard passenger cars. Summer is dangerously hot (Death Valley temperatures exceed 110°F); the ideal seasons are November through April. Many visitors camp for multiple days.
California, USA
Sespe Hot Springs
Sespe Hot Springs is one of the more difficult clothing-optional hot springs to reach in the lower 48 — a backcountry destination deep in the Sespe Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest, roughly 16 miles each way from the nearest trailhead. The route involves a serious multi-day backpacking effort across exposed terrain in Southern California's mountains, with limited water sources and significant elevation changes. Visitors are nearly always dedicated backpackers who came specifically for the springs. The reward is a series of natural mineral pools at temperatures from very hot near the source to comfortable downstream. The setting is a remote canyon with no facilities, no services, and no other humans for miles outside the small naturist community that maintains the place by tradition. Cell service is nonexistent. The closest road is hours of walking away. Clothing-optional use at Sespe is by long convention rather than formal designation. The community is tight-knit and deeply protective of the area's wild character. Visitors who pack out their trash, respect the springs' chemistry by not using soap or sunscreen in the pools, and behave with backcountry courtesy are welcomed. Visitors who don't aren't, and word travels. This is not a casual visit. The Sespe Wilderness requires real backpacking skill, water-management planning, and serious physical fitness. Wildfire risk has periodically closed access — check Los Padres National Forest's current status before planning a trip. For most travelers, simpler hot springs like Deep Creek or Buckeye Hot Spring are more realistic destinations.
California, USA
Sykes Hot Springs
Sykes Hot Springs is the legendary backcountry hot spring of the Ventana Wilderness in Big Sur. For decades it has been one of California's most romanticized hike-in soaks — a series of small natural mineral pools along the Big Sur River, reached by a roughly 10-mile each-way hike along the Pine Ridge Trail. Generations of California backpackers have made the trip, and the C/O culture at the springs is well-established by tradition. Access has been complicated since the 2016 Soberanes Fire and again after the 2020 Dolan Fire, both of which severely damaged the Pine Ridge Trail and the Ventana Wilderness more broadly. The Forest Service closed and reopened portions of the route multiple times during recovery work. The springs themselves were less affected than the access trail; the bigger issue has been getting there. Current trail status should be verified with the Monterey Ranger District before any trip — closures, detours, and seasonal restrictions have all been recent factors. The pools sit along the river, ranging from comfortably warm to genuinely hot at the source. The setting is classic Big Sur — coastal redwoods, river canyon, the ocean somewhere over the ridge. The community at Sykes is a mix of through-hikers, weekend backpackers, and dedicated naturist soakers who time their visits to avoid the worst of the trail's seasonal demands. This is a real backpacking trip, not a casual hike. The Pine Ridge Trail is moderately strenuous in good condition and much harder when damaged by fire and storm. For travelers wanting easier California hot springs, the American West hot springs guide lists alternatives that require less commitment.
California, USA
Wild Willy's Hot Springs
Wild Willy's Hot Springs is a natural geothermal pool in the Long Valley Caldera near Mammoth Lakes, California — part of the cluster of hot springs along the Hot Creek geological area in the Eastern Sierra. The main pool sits in an open meadow with panoramic views of the volcanic landscape: the caldera rim, the Mammoth Lakes ski mountain, and the dry Owens Valley to the east. The setting is genuinely dramatic. The pool reaches about 104°F and is large enough for a dozen people to soak comfortably. Nudity is the de facto standard and has been for decades — management of Eastern Sierra hot springs has historically been permissive. The Inyo National Forest manages the area, and the informal C/O norm is widely known and broadly accepted. Access is via a dirt road off Benton Crossing Road, east of the Mammoth Lakes resort area, with a short walk (under half a mile) to the pool. The area is accessible year-round when snow conditions permit road access — soaking in the 104°F pool in winter, surrounded by snow, with the Sierra Nevada in the background, is a particular Mammoth experience. The nearby Hot Creek Geological Site (a different geothermal area) is closed to swimming due to extreme temperatures.
California, USA
Little Hot Creek
Little Hot Creek is a natural geothermal stream in the Long Valley Caldera near Mammoth Lakes, California — a narrow channel of warm-to-hot water flowing through a high desert meadow, forming a series of pools where visitors soak in the current. Unlike the static pools at nearby Wild Willy's, Little Hot Creek has a flowing creek character: the temperature varies dramatically along the channel, from scalding at the source springs to comfortable soaking pools a short distance downstream. The setting is Lower Eastern Sierra in character — sagebrush flats, volcanic ridgeline, no trees, wide views. The Inyo National Forest manages the area, and clothing-optional soaking has been the norm for decades. The creek is smaller and more intimate than the area's pool-style hot springs. Access requires a dirt road and short walk, similar to Wild Willy's — the trailhead is off Benton Crossing Road south of Mammoth Lakes. Little Hot Creek and Wild Willy's are about 3 miles apart, making a circuit of the area practical for a day trip.
California, USA
Mi Kasa Hot Springs (Adults Only and Clothing Optional)
Mi Kasa Hot Springs is a small adults-only resort in Desert Hot Springs, California, where clothing is optional throughout the property. It draws from the same underground aquifer that made this Coachella Valley town famous among hot spring enthusiasts—naturally warm mineral water with a high sulfur and mineral content. The resort keeps things simple: a handful of guest rooms for overnight stays, day-use access for those who just want to soak, and multiple pools at varying temperatures from cool plunge to hot soak. The grounds are compact and desert-landscaped, with sun exposure most of the day and little shade. Desert Hot Springs has a dense cluster of small hot spring resorts, many of them clothing-optional or nude, making it one of the more concentrated naturist regions in California. Mi Kasa is quieter and more low-key than some of the larger resorts nearby—expect a laid-back vibe, basic amenities, and a focus on the water rather than extensive facilities. Guests typically stay nude in the pool areas and may cover up elsewhere on the property, though clothing-optional policies apply throughout. This isn't a spa resort with full services; it's a soaking destination for people who want warm mineral water and minimal fuss.
California, USA
Laguna del Sol
Laguna del Sol sits on 250 acres about 30 minutes southeast of Sacramento. It's one of the larger clothing-optional resorts in California, with room to spread out and a full roster of activities. The grounds mix open lawn areas with wooded sections, so you get sun and shade without much effort. You'll find multiple pools, sports courts for tennis and volleyball, and hiking trails that loop through the property. There's also a clubhouse with a restaurant and bar, plus regular weekend entertainment. If you're staying overnight, you can pitch a tent, park an RV with full hookups, or rent a cabin or yurt. Day visits are allowed, but most people come for a weekend or longer. The vibe is social but not pushy. People play petanque by the courts, swim laps, or just read by the pool. It's a mix of ages and backgrounds, with a lot of regulars who've been coming for years. The grounds are well-maintained, and the facilities feel modern without being fancy. If you're nervous about your first visit, this is a good place to ease in—there's enough going on that you won't feel awkward, but it's low-key enough that you can just do your own thing.
California, USA
Meadowlark Country House
Meadowlark Country House sits on five acres in Calistoga, surrounded by Napa Valley wine country. It's a small, quiet retreat with a clothing-optional pool, hot tub, and garden areas. You'll find six guest rooms in the main house and a separate cottage, all decorated with a mix of antique and comfortable furnishings. This is not a party resort. It's more like staying at a friend's peaceful country home where clothes happen to be optional outdoors. The property attracts an older, mellow crowd who come for the wine tasting, hot springs nearby, and a chance to relax without the resort scene. You can stay clothed or not—your call. The pool area gets sun most of the day and has loungers scattered under trees. The hot tub is clothing-optional after dark, and some guests use it year-round. Breakfast is included, usually served on the patio when weather permits. Calistoga's downtown restaurants and famous mud baths are about ten minutes away by car. You're essentially renting a room in someone's home, so expect inn-style service rather than resort amenities. There's no restaurant on-site, no organized activities, and no gym. If you want a low-key base for exploring Napa while having the option to sunbathe nude by a pool, this works. If you want a full-service naturist resort with lots of social programming, look elsewhere.
California, USA
Glen Eden Sun Club
Glen Eden Sun Club is one of Southern California's oldest family-oriented naturist clubs, operating continuously since 1958 on 55 acres of rolling hillside in Temescal Valley. It's a member-owned cooperative affiliated with AANR (American Association for Nude Recreation), which means you'll need membership or a guest pass arranged in advance to visit—this isn't a drop-in resort. The property includes a large swimming pool, hot tub, volleyball and tennis courts, a clubhouse for gatherings, plus RV hookup sites and tent camping areas for overnighters. Weekend barbecues, holiday celebrations, and seasonal events draw the regular community together. The vibe is decidedly casual and community-focused—think potlucks, horseshoe tournaments, and Saturday morning yoga, not spa services or resort amenities. Most visitors are couples and longtime families who've been coming for years, creating a welcoming but insular atmosphere. Kids run freely around the grounds in summer. The facilities are well-maintained but not luxurious; you're here for the people and the simple normalcy of clothing-optional recreation in a safe, private setting. Glen Eden represents the backbone of the American naturist movement: grassroots, cooperative, and built around sustained membership rather than transient tourism.
California, USA
The Sequoians, A Clothes Free Club
The Sequoians sits on 17 acres of wooded hillside in Castro Valley, about 30 miles southeast of San Francisco in the East Bay. Founded in 1939, it's one of California's oldest continuously operating nudist clubs, giving it a long-established, tradition-minded feel. The property mixes old-growth trees with open sunny clearings, and trails wind through the terrain. This is a membership club, not a drop-in resort, so you'll need to reach out ahead of time if you're interested in visiting. The atmosphere is cooperative and community-focused—think potlucks, volunteer work days, and multi-generational gatherings rather than polished amenities or resort services. Facilities include a heated pool, hot tub, sauna, and volleyball court. There's a clubhouse with a kitchen where members organize meals and social events. Overnight stays are possible via RV hookups or tent camping, and day visits can sometimes be arranged for prospective members or guests of current members. The vibe is decidedly low-key and family-oriented. Weekends in warm weather see the most activity. The Sequoians represents the older model of American naturism—member-owned, volunteer-run, and rooted in a specific local community rather than catering to a transient tourist crowd.
California, USA
Northern California Exposure
Northern California Exposure is a private membership resort located in the Elk Grove area, about 15 miles south of Sacramento. The property sits on several acres of flat terrain typical of California's Central Valley, with open lawns, scattered shade trees, and basic resort amenities. You'll find a pool, hot tub, and volleyball court, plus a clubhouse for social gatherings. The climate here is hot and dry in summer—expect temperatures over 95°F from June through September—and mild but sometimes rainy in winter. This is a smaller, locally-focused club rather than a big commercial resort. Most visitors are regulars from the Sacramento region, and the atmosphere leans social and informal. You're not walking into a polished destination spa. It's more like a backyard hangout where people happen to be nude. Facilities are functional but not fancy. First-timers should know this is members-only with a guest policy. You'll need to contact them in advance through their website or by mail (they use a PO Box, not a street address for initial contact). Expect a brief phone conversation or email exchange before your first visit. The club vets new visitors to maintain a comfortable environment for existing members, which is standard practice at private naturist venues.
California, USA
The Olympian Club
The Olympian Club sits in the hills east of Riverside, California, and has been hosting clothing-optional recreation since the 1960s. This is a member-owned, member-focused club in the traditional AANR mold—think cooperative rather than commercial resort. Day visits are possible with advance arrangement, but the place operates primarily for its membership base. You'll find core amenities like a pool, hot tub, tennis courts, and hiking trails that wind through the property's hilly terrain. Overnight options include RV sites, cabins, and tent camping areas, so you can extend your visit if you want more than a day trip. The atmosphere is decidedly low-key and community-oriented. People come to swim, play tennis, hike, or simply spend time outdoors without clothes in a relaxed setting. Don't expect polish or resort-style service—the facilities are functional and maintained, but they carry the lived-in character of a place that's been serving the same community for decades. In California's naturist landscape, the Olympian Club represents the older co-op tradition: less transient than a hot spring, more structured than a public beach, and far more intimate than the larger commercial resorts in Southern California. If you're curious about visiting, contact them well in advance to understand current membership requirements and day-use policies.