Black's Beach, Secluded beach beneath Torrey Pines in La Jolla, United States.
Black's Beach is a sand beach along the Pacific below cliffs that rise around 300 feet (90 meters). The shore extends for more than two miles, and the offshore seabed features the Scripps Canyon.
The beach takes its name from the Black family, who had a horse ranch overlooking the shore. They sold the land, which was subdivided into La Jolla Farms lots, and the residents kept the family's private road down to the beach. In the mid-1970s it was the country's first and only public nude beach for several years; in 1977 the city portion was posted as swimsuit optional until nudity was banned there.
The northern part serves as a clothing-optional area, a practice accepted here for decades. Many surfers favor this stretch of coast because the powerful swells attract experienced wave riders.
Four access routes reach the sand: the trail from Torrey Pines Gliderport, the gated Salk Canyon Road from UC San Diego, a 2-mile walk south from Torrey Pines State Beach, and a 3-mile walk north from La Jolla Shores at low tide. The Gliderport trail descends 300 feet and carries a city "Do Not Use" sign because the cliffs are unstable; the path around Flatrock Point collapsed in summer 2024. Set up away from the cliff base.
A private funicular connects a clifftop property with a round tower at the shore, known locally as the Mushroom House. The structure stands right at the waterline and rises in a circular shape.
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