Location
United States
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Mixed
Best season
September to October (least fog)
About Privates Beach
Privates Beach is a small cove below the Opal Cliffs neighbourhood between Pleasure Point and Capitola in Santa Cruz County. For decades it lived up to its name: the Opal Cliffs Recreation District kept it behind a tall locked gate from 1941 and sold keys, latterly for $100 a year, which kept numbers low and gave it a local, insider feel. After a long fight with the California Coastal Commission over the fee and gate, a new permit required a retractable gate with an open entry, and the beach is now free to everyone from sunrise to sunset. The beach itself is narrow sand and rock at the base of unstable sandstone cliffs, with a concrete slab near the bottom of the stairs where families and regulars sunbathe, rocky reef sections and a well-known surf break offshore that draws Pleasure Point surfers. Nude sunbathing has a long tradition here among local naturists; it happens mainly in a more hidden stretch to the left (east) of the stairs rather than in front of them. The beach shrinks dramatically at high tide, and walking along the shoreline is only possible at low tide. Wave erosion causes regular cliff collapses and several old stairways are closed.
Getting there
From Highway 1 take 41st Avenue south toward Pleasure Point and turn left onto Opal Cliff Drive; park on the street near Opal Cliffs Park, where the gate is. The gate is open free of charge from sunrise to sunset year-round (since the Coastal Commission permit; confirmed 2024). A steep stairway with a handrail descends the cliff, and the last step onto the beach involves scrambling over a rocky ledge. Not wheelchair accessible. Dogs are allowed.
What visitors say
Locals describe Privates as a calm, scenic cove with a mix of surfers, families on the concrete slab and nude regulars further along, and say the vibe is respectful. Since the fee ended it has become busier on sunny weekends. Common warnings: the stairs are steep and awkward, the last step onto the sand is a scramble, high tide leaves very little beach, and the cliffs are unstable. Older reviews from the key era praise its exclusivity, while some long-time users note it feels less private now.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
There is no designated clothing-optional area; nudity is tolerated by custom on this district-managed beach, and California law only penalises nudity combined with lewd intent. Access disputes ended after the Coastal Commission's enforcement (fines of up to $11,250 a day were threatened in 2016-2018) led to a permit for free daytime access, in place by 2024.
Naturism at Privates Beach sits under United States's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: United States public nudity guide.
Researched 24 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 36.9652, -121.9602
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
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Frequently asked questions
Do you still need a key for Privates Beach?
No. Since the Coastal Commission permit, the gate is open free to everyone from sunrise to sunset.
Is Privates Beach clothing-optional?
Informally. Local naturists sunbathe nude mostly in the more hidden area to the left of the stairs; the area by the stairs is mostly clothed.
Where do I park?
On the street near Opal Cliffs Park on Opal Cliff Drive, off 41st Avenue. Spaces are limited on sunny weekends.
When is the best time to go?
At low tide, when there is much more sand and you can walk the shoreline. At high tide the beach nearly disappears.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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