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Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- No
8 reviews for Gray Whale Cove State Beach
Great alternative to Santa Cruz. This is my fav beach north of Santa Cruz. Way better than Ocean beach but slightly cooler and more crowded than the beaches that are sprinkled around SC.
The stairway that goes down towards the beach is very windy and dramatic as are the cliffs.
The sand is kinda gritty and the beach is a cove so there isn't that much land to cover if you want privacy or to just go for a long walk.
Good for chizillin for an hour or two but I wouldn't make a day trip out of this beach.
PS- Thank you California for keeping these beaches free!
Small and remote (-ish), nice alternative to Baker. Not crowded on a hot weekday.
Cliffs block the wind well, helps keep the beach warm; water is still very cold.
Love having the freedom to swim and sun in the nude. Natural feels good.
I don't love the creeps: the guy staring at us while masturbating; the guy with a camera. Seriously, what is wrong with you people?!?!?!
But overall, relatively (for the US) a very welcoming place. Gender balance among the nudists fairly balanced.
Well, I'm glad I didn't read these reviews before I went to the beach because had I known it was a nude beach, I likely would have kept my distance.
This beach is absolutely amazing. The cove protects from the wind, and since it's so far down off the Highway, it's very quiet and relaxing...but that doesn't change the fact that it IS a nude beach. I was alarmed at first (I walked down onto the sand and saw a naked woman laying on a towel), but I got used to it after a bit.
That being said, I recommend this place to anyone without children- unless you're in the mood to explain "what that is" :).
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
Nothing finer than hiking down from Highway 1 with your board, catching some breaks, taking off your wetsuit and drying off in the buff.
Nothing.
Until it gets cold.
Then that last part kinda sucks.
People thought this was:
- Funny (2)
- Cool (1)
Well, I had no idea this was a nude beach. I guess I should be thankful I have not discovered this on site. Then again, I am used to Korean bathhouses, where naked bodies of every shape, color, and age congregate. 'Course they are all female... Moving on...
Sans nudists, this beach is nothing short of breathtaking. Words cannot describe how alive yet serene, natural yet postcard-perfect, and magical yet ruggedly real this place is. It is simply stunning and makes me worshipful of nature, life, and beauty. I do not come here often, as it is a place that holds special meaning for me. But, when I return, I try to come here with people that I know will especially appreciate all that this place has to offer. It is just too beautiful, an alcove in this world that breaks your heart with its spellbinding magnificence.
A serpentine steep stairwell leads you down to the beach, aka "Devil's Slide." As you make your way down, you catch glimpses of the turquoise ocean. Your ears perk up to the harmonious tune of crashing waves and a few squawking seagulls. You reach the bottom and, if you luck out like I do (as well as time it just right) by coming exactly when the sun is about to set, you witness the meeting of a heavenly blue sky with deeply azured, foaming waters linked by a most gloriously resplendent sun. It is sights like this that makes words superfluous, nature becomes larger than anything humankind can dream up. Nothing manufactured can replicate this feeling of pure, unadulturated awe, admiration, and radiant wonder that governs and imbues you, as you look into the horizon and think of absolutely nothing. Monstrous wave after monstrous wave thunders and thrashes against bruised and abused, heavily beaten rocks, creating a new rhythm to which you adjust. A sense of peace and harmony centers you and your mental acuity is clearer than ever. This is when you dare to dream.
People thought this was:
- Useful (16)
- Funny (11)
- Cool (17)
If you are looking for some blue sky in the midsts of all this smoke we have all been breathing, you can head down to Gray Whale Cove and hope to get lucky like I did today. It was not completely clear but there was actual blue sky above and nice sea breeze, which has to be good, even if it does have particulate matter in it.
I also headed that way for the clean sand and water, and compared to Ocean Beach it was really nice. I love how its in a small cove and the waves crash really loud on the beach, it reminds me of a favorite secret place in Hawaii. I had not been to Gray Whale Cove for a while because of the random naked weird men with pot bellies strolling back and forth on the shoreline. Why is it that most people who are nudists are people you really do not want to see nude? I was only visually violated one time today by an old man so for this beach, that's something I guess can handle.
As soon as all the ugly old penises stay on the north side of the beach, that's when I give this beautiful cove the 5th star.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (5)
Love this beach! Keep an eye on the nude beach part of it though if you're not used to seeing naked guys. Great sand, lots of sun, a little shielded away from the fog, and boarded steps so you don't need to struggle with going up and down the hill on dirt. I also like the trees and all the greens around it. The parking is across the busy highway-1/Cabrillo Highway so you have to be really careful when crossing or pulling out of the parking lot. Keep your kids and pets safe and close to you. But, once you're down at the beach, it's all fun - fun - fun! Across the street (by the parking area) is the McNee Ranch park where there seems to be endless nice trails to hike and it's all green with shrubs and trees, awesome!
Great nude beach. Great place for adults. More people clothed than naked. Unfortunately, more naked dude than chicks, but a few naked chicks. Its very clean. Good place to surf, boogie board, or skim. Not too windy. Great for playing with a frisbee. I'll definitely be hitting this place more often. The parking lot is located on the right before Devl's slide, heading north on highway 1.
