Bonny Doon Beach

Tucked away just off Highway 1 about ten miles north of downtown Santa Cruz, Bonny Doon Beach is a striking, cliff-rimmed cove that has served as a sanctuary for clothing-optional sunbathers for decades. Unlike manicured city beaches, it feels beautifully wild and exposed, flanked by high, sheer sandstone bluffs that offer solid protection from the prevailing coastal winds while creating a natural sense of isolation from the highway above.

Getting to Bonny Doon Beach is pretty straightforward, but because the parking lot blends right into the side of the highway, it’s easy to miss on your first pass. Here is exactly how to spot the lot and make the trek down to the sand:

Finding the Parking Lot

The beach is located right off Highway 1 (Cabrillo Highway), almost exactly 10 miles north of downtown Santa Cruz and just a couple of miles past the tiny coastal enclave of Davenport.

• The Landmark: You want to keep an eye out for the intersection of Highway 1 and Bonny Doon Road.

• Where to Pull Over: The parking area is a long, unpaved dirt and gravel pullout on the west (ocean) side of Highway 1, situated directly across the highway from where Bonny Doon Road dead-ends into it. It is entirely free to park here, but because it’s a dirt lot, expect some deep potholes and dust.