San Gregorio nude beach, Clothing-optional beach on the California coast, United States

San Gregorio is a clothing-optional beach north of San Gregorio State Beach, with two miles of soft sand and tide pools, a lagoon, a lava tube, and the remains of a railroad on the cliffs.

San Gregorio has been a clothing-optional beach at least since 1966, when beachgoers were already choosing whether or not to wear clothes at their own discretion. The beach itself is public property subject to local law, while the parking lot and access road are privately owned and charge an admission fee.

The beach naturally divides into separate sections where different groups of visitors gather and form their own social spaces along the shore. This arrangement happens without planning, simply through how people choose to use the space.

The parking lot and access road are privately owned, and an admission fee is charged there; the beach itself is public property under local law. The sand runs about two miles north of San Gregorio State Beach, with tide pools, a lagoon and a lava tube along the way.

The cliffs above the sand hold the remains of a railroad, a detail many visitors miss while watching the water. The beach also has a lagoon and a lava tube, and the sand runs for two miles north of San Gregorio State Beach.