Beach · San Diego, California
Black's Beach
A dramatic, cliff-backed two-mile stretch of sand below the Torrey Pines bluffs in La Jolla.
About this place
A dramatic, cliff-backed two-mile stretch of sand below the Torrey Pines bluffs in La Jolla. The northern half — accessed via the Glider Port trail — has been a de facto clothing-optional beach since the 1970s. Wild, undeveloped, and physically demanding to reach: expect a steep, eroded descent and no facilities once you're down. Reward: world-class surf, sunsets, and one of the few truly unmanicured beaches left in Southern California.
Etiquette & ground rules
The clothing-optional stretch sits roughly between the Glider Port trail and the rock outcrops to the north — south of that is textile. There are no lifeguards on the northern section; rip currents are real and people drown here every year. No facilities means pack out your trash. Cliff erosion is active — do not sit directly under the bluff. Photography norms are stricter than on official nude beaches: assume cameras are unwelcome unless you've explicitly asked.
From the field
