Black's Beach

Black's Beach is about one mile north of the popular La Jolla Shores beach in La Jolla, below the bluffs of Torrey Pines, which extend up to above the sandy beach. On the bluffs above Black's Beach are Torrey Pines Gliderport, Torrey Pines Golf Course, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. To the north of Black's Beach lies the rest of Torrey Pines State Beach, which altogether stretches from Del Mar, California, past Los Peñasquitos Lagoon toward Scripps Beach. To the east of Black's Beach is the campus of the University of California, San Diego. ==Nude beach==

Black's Beach is one of the largest nude beaches in the United States, and is popular with Southern Californian nudists and naturists. Originally including the current Torrey Pines State Beach, Black's Beach was the first and only public nude beach in the country for several years in the mid-1970s. Until 1977, the city portion of Black's Beach was posted as "swimsuit optional"; in that year, nudity was prohibited on that part of the beach. The clothing-optional portion of Black's Beach begins about south of the trail head leading to Torrey Pines Gliderport, and runs north for approximately to the beached steel buoy south of Flatrock Point. The northern portion of the beach is frequented by the local LGBTQ+ community. ==Surfing==

The southern portion of Black's Beach is known to surfers as one of the most powerful surf breaks in Southern California. The waves gain their power due to the focusing effects of Scripps Canyon, an underwater canyon just offshore in the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park. Due to 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 Torrey Pines Gliderport and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. This steep rugged trail down the cliffs is usually well maintained by local nudists 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. Salk Canyon Road from UCSD – Students from the University of California, San Diego have access to this steep, 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 north of this access point. Torrey Pines State Beach – A walk south from the parking lot at the base of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, along the steep cliffs, and past Flatrock arrives at Black's Beach. As of summer 2024, the hiking path around Flatrock Point has collapsed, and anyone wishing to get to Black's from Torrey Pines must climb the rocks or wade through waist-deep water. La Jolla Shores – If the tide is low, a walk north from La Jolla Shores beach, past Scripps Pier and the rocky tidepools of Scripps Beach takvisitors to Black's Beach. The route is blocked at high tides. During low tide, it is also possible to walk from Torrey Pines State beach to Black's Beach. File:Blacks Beach.JPG|Black's Beach File:Black's beach.jpg|The cliffs at Black's Beach File:Blacks-Beach-View-South-La-Jolla.jpg|Black's Beach, view south toward La Jolla File:blacks surfer.jpg|A surfer at Black's, with cliffs in background File:TorreyPinesBeach2008.jpg|Paragliders drifting from Torrey Pines Gliderport File:Black's Beach.webm|360° panorama view of the beach File:Black's Beach glider port trail.jpg|Black's Beach Trail from Gliderport File:Blacks-Beach-Road-From-UCSD.jpg|Black's Beach access from Salk Canyon Road, UCSD File:Blacks-Beach-View-North-High-Tide.jpg|Black's Beach access from the North (Torrey Pines Beach) File:Blacks-Beach-South Access-From-Scripps-Beach.jpg|Black's Beach Access from South (Scripps Beach/La Jolla Shores) ==See also==