San Luis Obispo County, California
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.
- Central Coast
- Hike Required
- Cliff Protected
About this place
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.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
San Luis Obispo County locals, Cal Poly students, Central Coast weekenders. The crowd skews younger than at Black's Beach to the south. LGBTQ+ presence is established. Weekday mornings are quiet; summer weekends are busy.
How to find it
From US-101, take the Avila Beach Drive exit (about 7 miles south of San Luis Obispo) and head west. Cave Landing Road is on the left about 1.5 miles down — turn up the hill and follow Cave Landing for about half a mile to the large dirt parking lot at the end. From the lot, take the trail in the southeast corner; the descent to the beach is about 10 minutes and steep.
Things to watch out for
The descent trail is steep and the footing is uneven — water shoes or hiking-style sandals make sense. The cliffs above the beach are unstable; stay back from rock falls and don't climb on the lower cliff faces. Tides can narrow the usable beach significantly — check tables before a long stay. No lifeguards. No water at the beach or the lot.
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Etiquette & ground rules
Nudity is technically prohibited but the convention is well-established and rarely enforced. Stay in the central and northern stretches of the cove for nude sunbathing; the southern end near the trail bottom is mixed. No photography. Pack out everything — no trash service at the beach or the parking area. Stay on the marked trail; the cliffs above are unstable and erosion has caused closures of side paths. Don't drink alcohol openly; SLO County does enforce that.
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