Whether you swim or surf, be careful as Ocean Beach has very strong rip currents. Black’s is located about 1km north of the Scripps Pier and just to the South of the Torrey Pines Glider Port (port or park I am not really sure…I just know they fly big kites there). Most of the Black’s beach stretch faces almost due west…which exposes the beach to both WNW and SW swells. Even though swimming is prohibited, it is worth a trip to down just to see the seals basking on the shore. High tide is often extremely high, rip currents are common, and the cliffs of Black’s Beach occasionally experience slides. Lifeguards are often on duty from April through October, but there is no permanent lifeguard station on site. It is set at the base of the high bluffs between Scripps Pier and Los Penasquitos Lagoon, and is as controversial as it is hard to reach. It is so out of the way we wonder why anyone would bother to get uptight about people enjoying the sun, surf, and sand au nature.
The clothed/unclothed population is at best a 50/50 split . Most nudists lay quietly areas well away from passing foot traffic. Not for the shy though, my experience has been that more than half the people are in bathing suits or fully clothed, strolling through. There’s a wide stretch of sand and normally the nudists will dominate the area to the extreme north, creating a bit of a safe pocket. Black’s is owned by the state of California, so any clothes-free activity is illegal in certain areas--check before disrobing. Room rates start at $295 for a room without an ocean view in the area.
It is a hot spot for spa goers, surfers, tourists, and nature lovers alike. Treat yourself to a massage and facial at a day spa or stroll the coast and take in the stunning emerald blue beaches and coves. The all new SanDiegoSurfers.com has many new features and we are working on obtaining every surf spot in the San Diego County to add to our Surf Guide. We have also been participants in the building of www.Surf-Chat.com which is the only social network for surfers, that was made by surfers.
Also accessed from this spot is Fiesta Island , where the annual Over the Line Tournament is held to raucous enthusiasm in July; a 4-mile road loops around the island. Parts of the bay have been subject to closure over the years due to high levels of bacteria, so check for posted warnings. It can be accessed by a rail car from a house at the top. Unfortunately, it is private. Best access is from adjacent beaches which can often be obstructed by surf and high tides. Watch for soaring hang-gliders and paragliders launched from atop the cliffs.
Note: Unimproved parking is also available at the Glider Port above Black’s Beach, but the only access to the beach is via unimproved natural paths which can be very hazardous. Take great care to avoid false trails. One commodity afforded by the inaccessibility of Black’s Beach is privacy. You have to earn your way down. Public beach access to the stretch of beach behind the Hotel Del Coronado lets you live the life of the rich and famous. Pick up a sandwich at one of the cafes nearby and walk along the landscaped boardwalk until you find the perfect patch of white sand for your picnic.
Tags: Bathing Suits, Blacks Beach San Diego, Coves, Day Spa, Extreme North, Foot Traffic, High Tide, Lifeguard Station, Lifeguards, Nature Lovers, Ocean Beach, Ocean View, Rip Currents, Safe Pocket, Scripps Pier, Surf Guide, Surf Spot, Torrey Pines, Unclothed, Wnw
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