Land trust buys iconic nude beach

A $10 million conservation deal safeguards San Gregorio—but the fate of its nude tradition is unclear

San Gregorio State Beach | Shutterstock

For decades, San Gregorio has been one of California’s worst-kept secrets: a windswept crescent of sand nestled along Highway 1, just south of Half Moon Bay, where the driftwood shelters are handmade, the company is casual, and clothing has long been optional. Now, thanks to a newly announced $10 million land deal, the beach’s future may be more secure than ever.

On April 22, the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) revealed it has reached an agreement to acquire the 195-acre San Gregorio Ranch, a rugged coastal parcel that includes the unofficially clothing-optional beach and its surrounding bluffs, grasslands, and wetlands. The move marks a significant conservation milestone—but for the state’s nudist community, it’s something more: a rare institutional nod to a stretch of shoreline that has quietly served as a haven of body freedom since at least the 1960s.

San Gregorio’s nudist history

San Gregorio’s naturist roots stretch back to at least 1966, when the beach was first documented as clothing-optional. In the decades that followed, it became one of the most consistently attended nude beaches in the state, second only to San Onofre and Black’s in its enduring popularity. It also became a cultural touchstone. Photographers captured images of nude sunbathers on its shores in the 1970s, while Baxandall’s popular World Guide to Nude Beaches from the same era often pointed it out as “the best kept nude secret on the coast.”

In the 1960s, the “Committee for Free Beaches” was formed to promote clothing-optional use at San Gregorio. This group was instrumental in bringing attention to the beach's status and advocating for the rights of naturists.

Today, no formal “friends of” or beach support group exists with a focue on the preservation of nude recreation at San Gregorio. Online communities have continued to serve as informal support networks for the beach. For instance, the Reddit community r/SanGregorioNudeBeach provides a platform for enthusiasts to share information, updates, and discussions related to the beach.

While these informal networks have been effective in fostering community and sharing information, the absence of a formal advocacy group means that there is no centralized organization to represent the interests of naturists in official discussions or negotiations regarding the beach’s future.

Protected by vibe

Unlike more prominent nude beaches such as Black’s in San Diego or Baker in San Francisco, San Gregorio has always existed in a kind of liminal space: neither fully sanctioned nor seriously policed. The land’s previous owners were known to take a tolerant stance, and over time, the beach developed a reputation not just for nudity, but for community. It became a particularly popular destination for LGBTQ+ Bay Area residents, especially during the 1970s and ’80s, when other public spaces felt less welcoming. As noted by Jesse Monteagudo in Out South Florida, “San Gregorio Beach is America’s oldest nude beach... It is also the gayest, especially the northern end.”¹

That vibe—defined by a mix of solitude, social openness, and the occasional elaborate driftwood structure—has proved remarkably durable, even as coastal access has become more contested statewide. While San Gregorio’s clothing-optional status has never been formally recognized by the state, its distance from main park entrances, combined with its topography, helped it fly under the radar. Most notably, the beach is located just north of San Gregorio State Beach, but is technically reachable only through private property—meaning visitors have always been reliant on the goodwill of landowners to reach it.

That precarious arrangement had become a growing concern among naturists and conservationists alike. Any change in ownership could have meant restricted access—or full closure. POST’s acquisition offers the promise of long-term protection. But with any major shift, there’s room for healthy skepticism. Even well-intentioned stewardship can carry its own complications.

Sussing out the new owners

Still, the beach’s nudist history raises an open question: long term, will POST preserve that legacy, or will ecological concerns overshadow recreational ones?

POST presents itself as committed to both ecological protection and public access, often highlighting trail expansion and open space preservation in its messaging. Still, its core mission is environmental, and in past acquisitions, the organization has restricted visitor use to protect sensitive habitats or prevent erosion. It remains to be seen how such priorities will translate at San Gregorio. Even low-impact recreation—especially clothing-optional use, which can invite heightened scrutiny—could face new limitations under cautious or risk-averse stewardship. Increased access, meanwhile, could feasibly alter the quiet, communal culture that has long defined the beach.

When asked directly about the future of clothing-optional use, POST offered a limited but clear response. “POST will not take ownership of the property until May 2026,” said Marti Tedesco, Senior Manager of Media & Communications. “Until then, the current system of beach access at San Gregorio Ranch will remain unchanged.” In the longer term, Tedesco told Planet Nude, POST is “committed to a future where public parking and access to this property and its beach remain available,” and expects to establish a stewardship lease with a land manager who will ensure continued access.

In their public announcement, POST president Gordon Clark also hinted at continuity: “San Gregorio Ranch is a stunning and beloved coastal property, with incredible ocean views, important native grasslands and beach access. It is a great example of a multi-benefit landscape that will provide people and nature with so much in the decades to come. Purchasing it outright means that POST can protect it from development and ensure continuous, safe public access.”²

These statements stop short of directly addressing the beach’s longstanding clothing-optional tradition. While they haven’t explicitly mentioned nude recreation, POST also hasn’t shied away from acknowledging the site’s unusual legacy. In its April statement, the organization referred to the area as a “well-kept secret” beloved by generations of beachgoers, and noted that the acquisition would protect not only wildlife habitat but also “low-key recreational use.”³

For those in the know, it seems fairly clear what that is supposed to mean.

So what DOES it mean?

For now, following the tone of other press outlets reporting on this story, I’m cautiously optimistic about this beach. I would consider this a continuation of what has so far been a decades-long lucky streak for naturists enjoying San Gregorio in its natural state. In recent years, the beach has retained its low-key character even as the broader landscape of naturist spaces has shifted. California’s nudist clubs have seen a steep decline, and many formerly clothing-optional beaches have faced mounting pressure from development, law enforcement, or environmental regulation. In that context, San Gregorio’s endurance feels almost miraculous.

And now, it may get a second life. POST’s long-term plans for the property are still developing, but early signs suggest the organization is taking a measured approach. Rather than impose immediate infrastructure or regulations, POST intends to conduct outreach and environmental assessments while keeping existing use patterns intact. A public planning process is expected in the coming years.

For naturists, the hope is that this process will include them. While official clothing-optional designation may be unlikely under state stewardship, preserving the beach’s accessibility—and its cultural identity—will depend on ongoing collaboration between stakeholders, users, and land managers. Advocacy may be needed to ensure that nudity isn’t quietly discouraged in future phases of planning.

In the meantime, regulars can breathe a sigh of relief. What’s changed is that now, the possibility of its impending loss feels a little more remote. 🪐

1. Monteagudo, J. (n.d.). Gay nude beaches: The best of the best | Opinion. Out South Florida. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://outsfl.com/jesses-journal/gay-nude-beaches-the-best-of-the-best-opinion

2. Peninsula Open Space Trust. (2025, April 22). POST to preserve San Gregorio Ranch. Peninsula Open Space Trust. https://openspacetrust.org/post-news/post-to-preserve-san-gregorio-ranch/

3. Ibid.