With arguably some of San Diego’s best waves, Black’s Beach can be found in the vicinity of the University of California San Diego campus, at the southern end of Torrey Pines State Beach and north of La Jolla Shores.
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Stately eight-figure mansions and state-of-the-art medical research labs now line the bluffs where pastures and the Black family horse farm once lay. Hence the name, Black’s Beach.
Black’s Beach
Black’s is famous among surfers for big winter swells, however it is better known to the rest of the world as San Diego’s nude beach. Although nudism is unlawful in San Diego, it has persisted at Black’s for decades with the only real deterrent being the hike to get there.
Nudists
The nudists (or ‘nakes’ as surfers call them) tend to hang out north of the Glider Port Trail, while surfers head south to the main peaks. For the most part, surfers and nakes are the only people motivated enough to make the hike to Black’s, so if these aren’t your motives, you might want to think about heading to La Jolla Shores instead.
Distance
Black’s Beach is a two mile long, sandy strip of beach located at the base of the majestic cliffs that can be up to 300 foot high. Formally known as Torrey Pines City Beach, it’s jointly owned by the City of San Diego and the State of California.There is also a glider port atop the cliff that overlooks the beach where hang gliders and even remote control gliders can be seen soaring.
lack of stairways
Gaining access to Black’s Beach isn’t easy due to the high cliffs and lack of stairways. The safest access is from the adjacent beaches to the north and south, although this way may be obstructed by high tides or surf.
cliffs
The cliffs here are unstable as well, and slides can occur anytime, so it’s always best to stay away from them. There’s no permanent lifeguard station at this beach either. There are some on duty mid day from Spring Break through the end of the October. Keep in mind, most California beaches experience very strong rip currents. Black’s Beach is no exception, as the rip currents can get very strong here. To be on the safe side, always swim near shore or near a lifeguard.
activity
The water activity at Black’s Beach is virtually unregulated. Surfers and swimmers may mix, but they are all required to employ care and avoiding hurting each other.
Black’s Beach is also an excellent beach for surfing, especially at the south end. Scuba diving isn’t recommended here, due to access problems and surf conditions.
Even though access can be hard, Black’s Beach is still an excellent beach. It offers plenty of seclusion, views, and sand for the kids. If you’ve never been here, this beach can easily prove to be one of your favorites in the entire area of San Diego.