TikTok took me to Blacks Beach for a hike and I had no idea what I signed up for. The hike itself was actually scary but so fun. We took the route that involved a little rock climbing, super slippery paths, and at one point we literally crossed a narrow plank with ropes and I was questioning my life choices lol. But once we finally got down to the beach... wow. I was SO excited. All that hard work actually paid off. The beach was beautiful and it felt so rewarding getting there. Then we started walking further down and suddenly... I realized there were a bunch of completely naked people everywhere. I had NO idea Blacks Beach was a nude beach. I was shocked for like 2 seconds and then started laughing because out of all the things I expected after surviving that hike... that was not one of them. 10/10 experience. Scary, fun, unexpected, and definitely memorable. read more

Black's Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Diego, California

A great place to be on a sunny day. The hike down the cliff is a bit of a hike but well worth it and actually its a fantastic leg workout. The beach is really clean with most beach goers carrying there picnic trash back up. Volley ball games usually take place in the summer. The views are not to be missed. The sun reflecting on the water in the late afternoons is mesmerizing so bring your best sun glasses & suntan lotions. For the shy person the RIGHT side as you climb down the cliff facing the water is for those who prefer bathing suits, Speedos & bikinis. To the LEFT side of the beach facing the water is clothing optional. Usually its a bit farther. Great that nobody bothers you & its a safe space for that all over tan. Sometimes beverages are sold on the beach discreetly, however, I'd recommend bringing your own & lots of water. Its a good idea toto bring food, snacks, fruit and sandwiches... insect repellant if needed. *True, sometimes it is a bit overcast so its best to check the weather report before leaving. *Free parking is available above the beach. Please be considerate while parking in an organized fashion in consideration of others. Thanks. Enjoy the beach & surf!! read more

If you know me, I like a nice challenge of a hike and usually enjoy some elevation gain or something a bit strenuous. I wanted to be in this area but knew that the parking down by Torrey Pines Beach can sometimes be a hit or miss so I looked on the map and found Black's Beach trailhead and took a gamble. I had about 2 hours before it was going to rain, so this trail seemed doable in the time I had. I parked at the farther end of the gravel lot, not many cars parked here. And where I saw the danger sign, I started my hike down. It was a little steep going down, and if it was a wet day, I wouldn't venture down this path. Wear sturdy shoes, but I can tell you the views are so worth doing this short, steep hike down and back up. Once you get down to the beach, its just endless sand and beach and just gorgeous. I wish I had had more time to spend here, Ill definitely come back on a summer's day. I really enjoyed randomly discovering this trail, its about 45min down and up, definitely worth it for the views! read more

Black's Beach - Danger sign - go right of sign to go down - Beaches Near Me - San Diego, California

Did NOT know this was a nude beach and neither did the 10 different families with children coming to the beach throughout the day

First time visiting Black's Beach. This spot was highly recommended by many. The hike down is incredibly steep, so pack light and wear sturdy shoes. We packed lunch, snacks and drinks for a Friday afternoon tanning session. Unfortunately it was overcast the who time we were there but the temperature was comfortable. We went to the right by the volleyball poles. It's clothing optional on this side so we stripped down to our birthday suits. Almost everyone around us were nude. My friend went for a dip, I was not brave enough. I only went need deep, water was not warm enough for me yet. It was very relaxing and comfortable. Will be back again with friends. read more

Black's Beach - Cold dip - Beaches Near Me - San Diego, California

this is a very cool and pretty beach. Lots and lots of surfers! for me tho, getting down to it by having to walk down a mountain is just a little much. i found out afterwards there's a clothing optional area, which i thankfully i didn't have the displeasure of having to see for myself. To each his or her own, im just a little more private and can't even imagine walking down all those stairs in my clothing optional best. if you're adventurous and don't mind hiking down the hill and bluffs, seeing a few things you'd maybe rather not and some rattlesnakes on the way too -- this would be the place for you! Def recommend for all you adventure and thrill seekers! have fun! read more

Gorgeous views here at this beach. Somewhat of a hike down to the actual beach itself, but once you're down, it's worth it. read more

Black's Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Really nice remote beach you could also hike Torrey pines then end up there. Not much around it tho so you would need to leave and drive places read more

This is the best beach to walk on and the scenery is great with the big waves, cliffs in the background, and secludedness of the beach. It is a bit of a challenge to get down and up. La Jolla Shores is too messy and dirty with a lot shells. Mission/Pacific Beach is too hot and your feet get cramped up after awhile. Coronado is way too hard and your feet hurt. Parking is easy for the most part. The sunsets here are great. La Jolla Shores has good ones too. Overall, I really like this beach and have been coming here for the better part of 7-8 years now. read more

The best beach ever! Clothing optional, free parking, you could camp out over night, have a fire and it's the cleanest beach I've ever scene. NEVER any litter, everybody takes any trash they create back up to the top. Oh yeah, the trek down is a bit challenging for some people, typically older or not in the best shape. Just take it show, you'll be fine. Everything you bring down must come back up in case you carry any trash. And plan on making one trip down, if you forget something in your car, you probably won't go back for it. The best sunsets, no tan line sun bathing and fun competitive volleyball games. Must be comfortable in your own skin! read more

Looking for a nice hike and a day at the beach all in one. Go for Blacks Beach located in Torrey Pines. Today was a nice busy day. Know what you're getting yourself into when you go, this is a nice beach. Great place for a full body tan. The hike down is worth it and the hike up will have your exercise rings closed for the day. Perfect for summer beach days. read more

Black's Beach - Final stretch of my hike down. - Beaches Near Me - San Diego, California

Great beach! Get there early for the best spots. I was a little intimidated about the hike down & up, it's been several years since I've been here, but the steps seem to be improved. I found it easier to navigate in flip flops instead of slip-on Vans. If you've trekked to Black Sands Beach in Sausalito, this is about the same & was easy for me down & up. Going up is a bit more strenuous, have your bottle of water with you to stop & indulge! Very enjoyable beach! read more

One of my favorite beaches! For many reasons: the hike is not totally easy up/down, which makes it more isolated; the views over the ocean over the cliffs are amazing; it's usually a little windy and cools one off (maybe I've just come on colder days? 4-5 times now I've visited; you don't need to wear anything if you are up for it!--very freeing and respectful; clean beach without too many people or things laying around, more adult; watching the hang-gliders from above. read more

The beach really does look dark in parts, just like the name suggests. It's a unique spot with beautiful views and a quieter, more rugged feel than nearby beaches. read more

Expect to pay 50$ for 2 hours . I got a ticket and payed 100$.! Creepy couple also started touching on themselves and weird things when they seen me and my partner kissing... they were both wearing sunglasses the guy had a mustache read more

A truly stunning stretch of coastline - this clothing‑optional spot is well‑known, but rest assured: beyond the nudity, it's a gorgeous and peaceful beach. Beautiful ocean views, clean sand, and plenty of space to unwind. read more

Man, this hike up gave us a run for our money. We were wondering why people were going up on their hands and knees and taking multiple breaks along the way. The hike down wasn't too bad but the hike up was terrible albeit we weren't in proper hiking attire either lol the views are great but be prepared to pack light and pack in what you pack out as there aren't any trash cans available. Also, I would bring an umbrella because there is virtually zero shade lol and I prob wouldn't bring my kids here knowing it's a nude beach lol. read more

I'm not going to post a rating here (yelp is making me do it), but parents, this is a CLOTHING OPTIONAL beach. Just a warning should you be on a college tour with your family. It is right across from UCSD. Watching the hang gliders take off from the edge of the cliff is beautiful. The steps/hike down to the beach are steep and uneven. The hike back up? I think I saw the face of God. Seriously, steep. And I was wearing sandals. My fault on the footwear decision. The beach is gorgeous and pristine. We saw a number of people fishing (yes, they were clothed). But, to my surprise (should have researched it -- again, my fault), the beach is clothing optional. I wasn't prepared for that. But, we do laugh about it now read more

Awesome beautiful beach only place to be free. Nice hike I usually stay at the volleyball courts because more couples and friendly families can be found there read more

I'll forgo the pictures, because as I'm now aware,... this is a clothing optional beach. Which means... gonna be like the men's locker room at your local YMCA (aka: old men aggressively air-drying). Yep, the ratio leans heavy to guys. Plenty of clothed folks but just as many in the buff. Other views include, gliders up above. Feels like a hot air balloon launch site. The hike down isn't bad, just lots of stairs if you come from the glider port lot and down citizens trail. The beach otherwise is nice and well placed for sunsets read more

Summer Nights in Blacks Beach, be prepared to enjoy your evening with a beautiful sunset. Definitely worth the hike back up to the parking lot. read more

See all

Black's Beach is one of the nicest beaches. It is clothing optional!!! It's a place to be free and letting it all hangout- I love this beach. It is quite a hike down , but be prepared to be tired by the time you get back to your car. People are friendly, the waves are beautiful and it's a clean beach. I have never noticed anyone leaving their trash behind. There is free parking , keep in mind the road for the parking lot is not even so don't speed through. read more

See all

Black's Beach is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. There are a few very steep trails that will lead you down to the beach. Think about packing light as it's an uphill trek getting back. The beach and it's surroundings are unreal. It sits under the cliffs of La Jolla Farms and Torrey Pines Golf Course. Pictures do no justice at all. The beach is huge so you have a ton of space to spread out with nobody close by. *The south end of the beach is clothing optional. read more

See all

I'm so glad I found this beach and asked questions to prepare. A fellow yelper was extremely helpful and thoughtful so I'm hoping to pay it forward. To get here: input Torrey Pines Gliderport into your GPS. It's across from one of the UCSD entrances. Drive to the very end where you will see hang gliders. There is street parking and also a dirt/gravel lot at the end near the "cliff." Don't panic, car isn't close to the actual edge. We came by on a Saturday while visiting UCSD and it was crowded. Today (Thu), plenty of parking spaces at 1pm. Once you park, walk towards the "cliff" but stay to the left where you will find the start of the trek down. We took the stairs version. It's not bad at all. We wore running shoes on the way down. If your shoes don't have great traction, just go slow and step down sideways to help. The view is beautiful. I'm 45 and in decent but not the best shape. Going on hilly walks can render my thighs kinda sore the next day :). I'm slightly afraid of heights but this wasn't bad. My 14, 16 year olds had no problems. We all had backpacks. You could bring down a light popup tent that you can sling on your back. Saw people walk down with surfboards and coolers although I think the cooler would be a pain to manage. The hike up was not bad. I thought it was a little easier. We wore our flip flops going up. As long as the flip flops have traction, you'll be fine. Just be mindful. Most people wore masks and very courteous. We swung left at the bottom of the steps. There were clothing optional people to the right but everyone was chill. My kids were among the few kids who were there. They were mature and nudity isn't a big deal to them. Plenty of space for everyone. The water was warm and nice. My kids said they saw sting rays and some fish in the water. My kids are great swimmers so got far out. As a non swimmer, it was fine for me, too. Shallow for a while. Sand was very soft! I'm glad we came here. It was a manageable hike down and up. From time to time, the lifeguards-patrols drove their trucks along the beach to keep an eye out. I hope this beach stays the way it is for the next time we visit SD. read more

See all

We were looking for a good "family hike" and due to traffic and limited parking, we ended up at Glider Point. Yeap, no clue that after a little of roaming around that we were on the path to the nude beach. The same area gives a view of Torrey Pines Golf Course where we were initially planning to go until we saw the "rattlesnake" signage and other folks familiar with the area said it was the prime season for them. Wandering around we found the cliffs and a trailhead. The hike down was perfect for the exercise we were looking for but when we got about 80% down, the youngsters were tired and made their way back up (unknowing :-)). I ventured down more and that's when I was like, wow this is great. Nude beach and it's optional. There is a natural beach divider that helps separate the beach area. I thought everyone was respectful during the time and are respectful to each other. Clothing optional is the keyword here for Blacks Beach. After some time, I decided to make my way to the water "trunkless" and I felt comfortable in myself and around others. I'm not much of an exhibitionist but again, I was comfortable with the environment. The walk back up the stairs/rocks is no joke! It's work, so make sure you bring some water or have something waiting in the car. read more

See all

Im not one to write a review but I had such an experience here, I just need to share. I decided for my birthday I wanted to go to a nude beach (spend my birthday in my birthday suit). Me and my friends camped somewhere in San Marcos and drove about 30 mins to the beach. It is literally right next to a part of the UCSD campus. Parking is basically this dirt lot which we luckily got a spot. Okay so the beach. There is actually no signs around that say that its a nude beach but if you park where they do the gliders then you are at the "nude" beach area. Going down to this beach is a hike! I read reviews that said it wasn't too bad but if you aren't use to hikes and are afraid of heights I would be careful. There are wood stairs and dirt zig zags basically going down the mountain. I would definitely not recommend bringing anything too heavy or on wheels because you have to carry that up and down that hike. The beach itself is nice. They do have a section with cones heading towards the left side of the beach which I think is kind of an indicator that the nude beach ends there because I did see more family with kids on that side. I did get fully naked, the stereotype that old men go to these beaches is true. Lots of naked older men and men in general. The women generally just took their tops off but I did see other fully naked women too, I tried to be brave and went full nude but I definitely got some stares and a random naked older man did come up to me at one point in the water which was strange. The beach is very calm, no one is really blasting music and running around like another beach. Would be a nice time to read or listen to a book. Go for a walk along the water, or get a good tan in (wear SPF!) Overall I would go back, pack just enough and I would wear good shoes and just take my sandals in hand. read more

Black's Beach - part of the hike closest to the top (we are heading back up) - Beaches Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Very calm Beach, BUT MEN ARE VERY DISRESPECTFUL. I was in a bikini and a man (old men) was recording me everytime I stand up or turn myself to tan. I felt very uncomfortable and there was no security or someone I could ask for help. I FELT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. read more

Had a good time, nice beach, clothing optional in parts, peaceful but a bit of a walk, depending on if you come from Torrey pines park or from blacks beach parking lot. read more

Oh. My. Gara. If you've never been here before, or heard what it's like, GOOD LUCK TO YOU on that hike down LOL!! This was the craziest, most intense experience I've ever had at a beach. I'm still cackling even as I'm typing this! Lol. The view from the top of the cliff is AMAZING, but, I warn you, DO NOT look down if you're afraid of heights hahaha. My friends drug me here when I was in San Diego visiting, and I'm actually not mad at them haha. What a beautiful beach!! And another perk: once you get down to the bottom, you can get naked! LOL Can't wait to go back! Just a heads up: beach access for dogs is limited, so be sure to check the times that they are allowed before visiting. read more

See all

THE sunset spot. or a sunset spot. Gorgeous, glorious, go see for yourself! Go after work for a pick me up. read more

See all

Black's Beach Trail Head 1.1m Intersection of 9600 Blackgold Rd n La Jolla Farms Rd We went early around 7:30 a.m. Plenty of parking. Pleasant weather. Nice stroll. Right place to get a good workout for your legs! Note: Hike up backwards. I find that to be much easier. - 2 hrs street parking - moderate - kid friendly - dogs on leash - partially paved Enjoy the hike and the view! read more

See all

Blacks beach is a wonderful place, if you want to do cardio it is the right place, if you want a full tan or just want to relax the way you were born, it is the right place ... recommendations:lots of sunscreen, put modesty aside and enjoy the beauty of the human body in all its forms read more

Greatest day ever at gay beach under the cliffs with my boyfriend who lived in San Diego.

Decided to come out here alone last week. I'm in my early twenties and I'm a woman and I wanted a safe space to be able to get naked and be in nature. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had in general, ever. It was my first time getting nude in public outside and I loved every second of it. People were respectful for the most part. It was mainly seniors until it got a little later in the day and then I could see some guys that were probably early thirties to late twenties set up around me, each of them also alone and in different areas and could definitely tell I was getting stared at. It didn't make me uncomfortable, but I could see how it could make some people/women uncomfortable. My advice if this happens to my fellow ladies, just remember your intention and why you're there in the first place. If some random dude needs to hike down to blacks beach to stare at naked women and fantasize so he can sleep at night.. no sweat off your back. That's a sad life. Enjoy yourself, be free, be safe and bring water! read more

Another great mini vacay... this is definitely my goto spot.. get to Blacks beach... get naked... trust me it's liberating and relaxing...my beautiful wife and I love this spot... we find ourselves wondering why... we are NOT NAKED when at other beaches.. lol read more

First time in San Diego and wanted to visit a beach that has a lot of positive reviews, this place was very nice! The trail to reach the beach is not for the faint of heart however! read more

Blacks beach has always been a favorite for my little adventurous self to go to. It's a clothing optional beach and I participated in that option lol. However this time around going I don't remember the sand being as dirty/black as it was in the past. The one thing that will get you about this beach though is the hike that you have to do to get down to it. As long as you're not scared of heights you'll be fine. read more

Black's is a little bit of a local legend. Every San Diego local knows about the infamous clothing-optional beach, and I can't help but laugh at the moronic tourists who claim they "stumbled upon" naked people at the beach. Exactly n o b o d y "accidentally" gets to Black's Beach, or "stumbles upon" the locals. The beach is only accessible via two obscure, relatively well-hidden, cliff-diving trailheads, the first of which (on La Jolla Farms) is steep and the second (near the gliderport) is steeper. And scarier. Getting to the bottom (or rather back up ) is WORK. If you "ended up" at Black's Beach, you knew exactly what you were doing and where you were going - don't be obtuse. I recommend the La Jolla Farms Drive pathway - further from the northern clothing-optional section of the beach, but nice and paved, and there appear to be restrooms near the bottom (not sure if these are open during covid-19. They may be for local residents only?) The gliderport path (which I've never walked, but looks SCARY) is carved into the cliffside and, while probably shorter overall, looks a lot more difficult. In my opinion, a hike is worth it. The beach is quite a bit quieter than most of the others in San Diego. While not the enormous white-sand span of Coronado or Mission, it's passable enough for lounging and great for walking. Surfing and swimming might be meh. There aren't throngs of people here like at most beaches, probably owing to lack of access, and I'd much rather contend with chill naked locals than hordes of inconsiderate zonies like at any of the other beaches in the county. I didn't experience any weird smells as reported in some negative reviews - it smells naturally salty, like any beach. There is indeed seaweed along the beach, but that's because Black's is located near a massive kelp forest, and kelp is a common occurrence at any San Diego Beach. As a man, I can't speak to the existence of "creeps," but the people I saw were keeping to themselves and seemed to be pretty diversified. In any event, I doubt anybody is going to try anything super weird in broad daylight, since there are other people around. The beach is relaxed, but hardly deserted. Not to mention, there's also the frequent visual spectacle of gliders winding their way around the cliffs. Honestly? It's a neat place; great for regular beachgoing if you're okay to hike. EDIT: One last thing. Dogs are not allowed here, and the lifeguards will yell at you if they catch you. It seems they only patrol the southern part of the beach near La Jolla farms. read more

Black's Beach - Paragliders can frequently be seen on fair-weather days. - Beaches Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Absolute freedom kind people made new friends every time I visit no discrimination here all are welcome fun under the sun and several fun moments read more

We are from out of town and it was our first time going to this beach. I did not check the reviews prior to coming here so I wasn't ready for several things such as the steep hill going down and most definitely going back up. I am not fit so I was so exhausted going back up and took several stops as I was already tachycardic and short of breath. Next, its a nude beach. Lastly, my husband did see a rattlesnake but didn't mention it to us until after the hike because he knows we will freak out and back out. Nonetheless, it has the nicest view from the top of the glider point and from the hill. read more

See all