Gaviota Beach

map
CA Highway 101 around mile marker 44
West of Santa BarbaraCA  United States

Long stretch of sand with cliffs. You can walk all the way to the State Park Beach, but it's best to stop at the railroad trestle. Oil slicks on the beach - wear shoes. Mixed Crowd usually. Nudity Laws and Gaviota Beach In the past, complaints of nudity at Gaviota Beach have resulted in a...

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Gaviota Beach

CA Highway 101 around mile marker 44West Of Santa Barbara, CA United Stateshttp://gocalifornia.about.com/od/casexnudism/ss/sb-gaviota-nude-beach.htm

About Gaviota Beach

Long stretch of sand with cliffs. You can walk all the way to the State Park Beach, but it's best to stop at the railroad trestle. Oil slicks on the beach - wear shoes.
Mixed Crowd usually.

Nudity Laws and Gaviota Beach

In the past, complaints of nudity at Gaviota Beach have resulted in a minimum a citation of violating CCR 4322, and at most to arrests for PC 314 Indecent Exposure. PC 314 (Indecent Exposure) is listed as a sex crime in California, and carries with it upon conviction lifetime registration in their community as a sex offender.

We try to report the most current information, but ultimately, the responsibility for knowing the law enforcement status at Gaviota Beach is yours.

Nude or naturist beach neophytes, please be respectful of others and read the Nude Beach and Topless Beach Etiquette guidelines before you go to a nude beach.

Gaviota Beach Directions

North of Santa Barbara on US 101 before the refinery. Park along the road next to the Amtrak tracks, but don't leave your valuables in the car.

Driving Directions

https://gocalifornia.about.com/od/casexnudism/ss/sb-gaviota-nude-beach_3.htm

Near Santa Barbara, the California coastline runs east-west. It's one of the reasons for Santa Barbara's "banana belt" climate, but it can make giving directions confusing. According to the compass, Gaviota Beach is about 30 miles west of Santa Barbara, but according to the signs along the highway, you take US Hwy 101 north from Santa Barbara to get there.

If you're going north on US Hwy 101, it's a divided highway with no left turn to the parking area. You'll have to drive a few miles past it and make a u-turn. Exit at Mariposa Reina (exit #128) which is at the old refinery, follow the frontage road past the plant entrance, then turn left at the stop sign and left again to get back onto 101 going south.

About 3/4 mile after you get back on the highway, look for an informal, gravel-paved parking area. It's very shortly after you pass an emergency call box and mile marker 44. If you don't know how to read one, find out how to interpret a California milepost marker.

Walk across the railroad and down one of the paths. This is an active railroad, so it's a good idea to keep an eye out for trains.