Black's Beach
Encyclopedia
Black's Beach is a secluded section of beach beneath the bluffs of Torrey Pines
on the Pacific Ocean
in La Jolla, San Diego
, California
, United States
. It is officially part of Torrey Pines State Beach
. The northern portion of Black's Beach is owned and managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation
, while the southern portion of the beach, officially known as Torrey Pines City Beach, is jointly owned by the city of San Diego and the state park, but is managed by the city of San Diego. This distinction is important as Black’s Beach is most known as a nude beach
, a practice that is no longer permitted in the southern portion managed by the city of San Diego. There is no trash collection here, visitors should pack out what they bring in.
Black's Beach was named for the Black family who had a horse farm overlooking the beach. They sold the land, and then it was subdivided into La Jolla Farms lots. The Farm's residents retained the Black family’s private road to the beach. Many mansions can be seen in the southern portion of the beach, including the Salk Mansion. There is an funicular
that goes all the way down to the beach into a structure known by locals as the mushroom house.
A submarine canyon
funnels swells into Black's Beach, making it appealing to surfers but dangerous for inexperienced swimmers.
Usually, lifeguards are at the beach until 6pm, from spring break until October.
Due to budget cuts, lifeguard patrols were limited but have increased because of funding by UCSD. Dolphins can be spotted swiming along the coast. Stingrays can be found along the coast line when the water gets above 50 degrees. The best way to avoid being stung is to shuffle your feet when exiting the water.
beach in La Jolla, San Diego
, California
, below the bluffs of Torrey Pines, which extend up to 300 feet (91.4 m) above the sandy beach. On the bluffs above Black’s Beach are the Torrey Pines Gliderport
, Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
, and Torrey Pines State Reserve
. To the north of Black’s Beach lies the rest of Torrey Pines State Beach
, which altogether stretches 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from Del Mar, California
, past the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon
toward Scripps Beach in the south. The beach is near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
and the University of California, San Diego
. Many students walk from the UCSD to Black's for sunbathing and surfing.
in the United States and is popular with Southern Californian nudists and naturists
. Because Black's Beach was traditionally recognized as a clothing optional beach, nudity is tolerated for the portion of the beach that is managed by the state park.
Nudity has been prohibited on the city portion of Black's Beach since 1977. Prior to 1977 the city posted it as a "swimsuit optional" area.
The clothing optional portion of Black's Beach begins about 100 yards (91.4 m) south of the trail head leading to the Torrey Pines Gliderport
, and runs north for approximately 1.1 miles (1.8 km) to the steel buoy south of Flatrock.
gain their power due to the focusing effects of Scripps Canyon, an underwater canyon just offshore in the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park
.
Because of the sometimes large surf, fast breaking waves, and aggressive crowds, Black's is a dangerous surfing location, advisable for advanced surfers only.
There are four access routes to Black’s Beach.
Torrey Pines Gliderport Trail – the most popular route to Black’s Beach is via the trail from the Gliderport, located between the Torrey Pines Gliderport
and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
. This steep rugged trail down the 300 feet (91.4 m) cliffs is usually well maintained by advocates of the beach, but the city of San Diego posted a “Do Not Use” sign there, as the Torrey Pines cliffs are unstable. Visitors are advised to stay on the designated trails since many people have gotten stuck or even fallen to their deaths on the cliffs.
There is free parking in the dirt lot surrounding the glider port as well as porta-potties.
Salk Canyon Road from UCSD – Students from the University of California, San Diego
have access to this steep, 1/2 mi long gated paved road at the southern end of Black’s Beach, which is popular with surfers. The clothing optional portion of the beach begins 1/2 mi north of this access point. The nearby streets are primarily residential with limited public parking, most of which have 2 hr parking limits. Signs identify 2 hr parking Monday through Friday, 8am to 6 pm.
Torrey Pines State Beach – If the tide is low, a 2 miles (3.2 km) walk south from the parking lot at the base of Torrey Pines State Reserve, along the steep cliffs, and past Flatrock will get you to Black’s Beach. The route is blocked at high tides. Paid parking is available here. There is also free parking along Pacific Coast 101.
La Jolla Shores – If the tide is low, a 3 miles (4.8 km) walk north from La Jolla Shores beach, past Scripps Pier and the rocky tidepools of Scripps Beach will get you to Black’s Beach. The route is blocked at high tides.
Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines can refer to:*Torrey Pine, a broad, open-crowned pine.*Torrey Pines Golf Course, a municipal public golf course owned by the city of San Diego, California....
on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in La Jolla, San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is officially part of Torrey Pines State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach is a coastal beach located in the San Diego, California community of Torrey Pines, and is located south of Del Mar and north of La Jolla. Coastal erosion from the adjacent Torrey Pines State Reserve makes for a picturesque landscape. It is a local favorite among surfers and...
. The northern portion of Black's Beach is owned and managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Department of Parks and Recreation
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, also known as California State Parks, manages the California state parks system. The system administers 278 parks and 1.4 million acres , with over of coastline; of lake and river frontage; nearly 15,000 campsites; and of hiking, biking, and...
, while the southern portion of the beach, officially known as Torrey Pines City Beach, is jointly owned by the city of San Diego and the state park, but is managed by the city of San Diego. This distinction is important as Black’s Beach is most known as a nude beach
Nude beach
A nude beach is a beach where users are legally at liberty to be nude. Sometimes the terms clothing-optional beach or free beach are used. Nude bathing is one of the most common forms of nudity in public. As beaches are usually on public lands, any member of the public is entitled to use the...
, a practice that is no longer permitted in the southern portion managed by the city of San Diego. There is no trash collection here, visitors should pack out what they bring in.
Black's Beach was named for the Black family who had a horse farm overlooking the beach. They sold the land, and then it was subdivided into La Jolla Farms lots. The Farm's residents retained the Black family’s private road to the beach. Many mansions can be seen in the southern portion of the beach, including the Salk Mansion. There is an funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
that goes all the way down to the beach into a structure known by locals as the mushroom house.
A submarine canyon
Submarine canyon
A submarine canyon is a steep-sided valley on the sea floor of the continental slope. Many submarine canyons are found as extensions to large rivers; however there are some that have no such association. Canyons cutting the continental slopes have been found at depths greater than 2 km below sea...
funnels swells into Black's Beach, making it appealing to surfers but dangerous for inexperienced swimmers.
Usually, lifeguards are at the beach until 6pm, from spring break until October.
Due to budget cuts, lifeguard patrols were limited but have increased because of funding by UCSD. Dolphins can be spotted swiming along the coast. Stingrays can be found along the coast line when the water gets above 50 degrees. The best way to avoid being stung is to shuffle your feet when exiting the water.
Location
Black’s Beach is located about three miles north of the popular La Jolla ShoresLa Jolla Shores
La Jolla Shores is a beach and popular vacation/residential community of the same name in La Jolla, San Diego, California. The quaint La Jolla Shores business district is a relaxed, mixed-use village encircling Laureate Park,on Avenida de la Playa in the village of La Jolla Shores.The beach is...
beach in La Jolla, San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, below the bluffs of Torrey Pines, which extend up to 300 feet (91.4 m) above the sandy beach. On the bluffs above Black’s Beach are the Torrey Pines Gliderport
Torrey Pines Gliderport
The Torrey Pines Gliderport is a city-owned private-use glider airport located 11 nautical miles northwest of the central business district of San Diego, a city in San Diego County, California, United States....
, Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is a premier independent, non-profit, scientific research institute located in La Jolla, California. It was founded in 1960 by Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine; among the founding consultants were Jacob Bronowski and Francis Crick. Building...
, and Torrey Pines State Reserve
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a coastal state park located in the California community of La Jolla, San Diego, California, off North Torrey Pines Road . Although it is located within San Diego city limits, it remains one of the wildest stretches of land on the Southern California coast...
. To the north of Black’s Beach lies the rest of Torrey Pines State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach
Torrey Pines State Beach is a coastal beach located in the San Diego, California community of Torrey Pines, and is located south of Del Mar and north of La Jolla. Coastal erosion from the adjacent Torrey Pines State Reserve makes for a picturesque landscape. It is a local favorite among surfers and...
, which altogether stretches 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from Del Mar, California
Del Mar, California
Del Mar is an upscale beach town in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,161 at the 2010 census, down from 4,389 at the 2000 census. The San Diego County Fair is hosted on the Del Mar Fairgrounds every summer. Del Mar is Spanish for "of the sea" or "by the sea", because it is located...
, past the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon
Los Peñasquitos Lagoon
Los Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve and Lagoon is a coastal marsh in San Diego County, California, USA situated at the northern edge of the City of San Diego, forming the natural border with Del Mar, California. The lagoon, previously called The Soledad Lagoon, divides a colony of the endangered...
toward Scripps Beach in the south. The beach is near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, is one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and earth science research, graduate training, and public service in the world...
and the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
. Many students walk from the UCSD to Black's for sunbathing and surfing.
Nude beach
Black's Beach in San Diego is perhaps the largest nude beachNude beach
A nude beach is a beach where users are legally at liberty to be nude. Sometimes the terms clothing-optional beach or free beach are used. Nude bathing is one of the most common forms of nudity in public. As beaches are usually on public lands, any member of the public is entitled to use the...
in the United States and is popular with Southern Californian nudists and naturists
Naturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
. Because Black's Beach was traditionally recognized as a clothing optional beach, nudity is tolerated for the portion of the beach that is managed by the state park.
Nudity has been prohibited on the city portion of Black's Beach since 1977. Prior to 1977 the city posted it as a "swimsuit optional" area.
The clothing optional portion of Black's Beach begins about 100 yards (91.4 m) south of the trail head leading to the Torrey Pines Gliderport
Torrey Pines Gliderport
The Torrey Pines Gliderport is a city-owned private-use glider airport located 11 nautical miles northwest of the central business district of San Diego, a city in San Diego County, California, United States....
, and runs north for approximately 1.1 miles (1.8 km) to the steel buoy south of Flatrock.
Surfing
The southern portion of Black's Beach is known to surfers as one of the most powerful surf breaks in Southern California.The wavesWAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
gain their power due to the focusing effects of Scripps Canyon, an underwater canyon just offshore in the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park
San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park
The San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park spans of ocean bottom and tidelands. The park has become a popular destination for snorkelers and scuba divers...
.
Because of the sometimes large surf, fast breaking waves, and aggressive crowds, Black's is a dangerous surfing location, advisable for advanced surfers only.
Access
Black’s Beach can be difficult to access due to its location beneath the Torrey Pines bluffs. Landslides can occur, with tragic results. Beachgoers are warned to avoid setting up beach sites too close to the cliffs.There are four access routes to Black’s Beach.
Torrey Pines Gliderport Trail – the most popular route to Black’s Beach is via the trail from the Gliderport, located between the Torrey Pines Gliderport
Torrey Pines Gliderport
The Torrey Pines Gliderport is a city-owned private-use glider airport located 11 nautical miles northwest of the central business district of San Diego, a city in San Diego County, California, United States....
and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is a premier independent, non-profit, scientific research institute located in La Jolla, California. It was founded in 1960 by Jonas Salk, the developer of the polio vaccine; among the founding consultants were Jacob Bronowski and Francis Crick. Building...
. This steep rugged trail down the 300 feet (91.4 m) cliffs is usually well maintained by advocates of the beach, but the city of San Diego posted a “Do Not Use” sign there, as the Torrey Pines cliffs are unstable. Visitors are advised to stay on the designated trails since many people have gotten stuck or even fallen to their deaths on the cliffs.
There is free parking in the dirt lot surrounding the glider port as well as porta-potties.
Salk Canyon Road from UCSD – Students from the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
have access to this steep, 1/2 mi long gated paved road at the southern end of Black’s Beach, which is popular with surfers. The clothing optional portion of the beach begins 1/2 mi north of this access point. The nearby streets are primarily residential with limited public parking, most of which have 2 hr parking limits. Signs identify 2 hr parking Monday through Friday, 8am to 6 pm.
Torrey Pines State Beach – If the tide is low, a 2 miles (3.2 km) walk south from the parking lot at the base of Torrey Pines State Reserve, along the steep cliffs, and past Flatrock will get you to Black’s Beach. The route is blocked at high tides. Paid parking is available here. There is also free parking along Pacific Coast 101.
La Jolla Shores – If the tide is low, a 3 miles (4.8 km) walk north from La Jolla Shores beach, past Scripps Pier and the rocky tidepools of Scripps Beach will get you to Black’s Beach. The route is blocked at high tides.
See also
- Beaches in San Diego, CaliforniaBeaches in San Diego, CaliforniaBeaches in San Diego, California, USA *Torrey Pines State Beach*Black's Beach*La Jolla Shores*La Jolla Cove*Children's Pool Beach *Windansea Beach*Marine Street Beach*North Pacific Beach*Pacific Beach*Mission Bay Beaches...
- Clothes free organizations
- List of public outdoor clothes free places
- NaturismNaturismNaturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
- Nude beachNude beachA nude beach is a beach where users are legally at liberty to be nude. Sometimes the terms clothing-optional beach or free beach are used. Nude bathing is one of the most common forms of nudity in public. As beaches are usually on public lands, any member of the public is entitled to use the...
- Public nudityPublic nudityPublic nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place. It also includes nudity in a semi-public place, where the general public is free to enter, such as a shopping mall...
| To the North: Torrey Pines State Beach Torrey Pines State Beach Torrey Pines State Beach is a coastal beach located in the San Diego, California community of Torrey Pines, and is located south of Del Mar and north of La Jolla. Coastal erosion from the adjacent Torrey Pines State Reserve makes for a picturesque landscape. It is a local favorite among surfers and... |
To the South La Jolla Shores La Jolla Shores La Jolla Shores is a beach and popular vacation/residential community of the same name in La Jolla, San Diego, California. The quaint La Jolla Shores business district is a relaxed, mixed-use village encircling Laureate Park,on Avenida de la Playa in the village of La Jolla Shores.The beach is... |
External links
- California State Parks - Torrey Pines Beach page
- City of San Diego - Black’s Beach page
- Cover story in the San Diego ReaderSan Diego ReaderThe San Diego Reader is the largest alternative press paper in the county of San Diego, distributed free in stands and private businesses throughout the county, funded by advertisements...
about Black's Beach - www.BlacksBeach.com