SMUGGLER'S COVE

From: richard@West.Sun.COM (Richard M. Mathews)

  SMUGGLER'S COVE, also known as Sacred Beach, is located near Los Angeles
  on the Palos Verdes peninsula between Abalone Beach and Portugese Bend.

  The city of Rancho Palos Verdes has passed a law which goes into effect
  in October, 1994, which prohibits nudity (or even thongs) at this beach
  or elsewhere in the city.  This beach appears to be dead now.  The
  remaining information is here for historical reasons only (and maybe
  the hope that we might get this beach back some day).

  Take the Harbor Freeway south to its end.  Continue straight ahead (on
  Gaffey Street).  Turn right on 25th St.  This becomes Palos Verdes Drive
  South in about 2 miles.  Park at the Abalone Cove County Beach parking
  lot ($5 in 1993) and walk east (15 minutes), or park on Paseo Del Mar
  and walk 1.5 miles west.

  The beach is rocky and small (though there are nice stretches of sand),
  and the water is full of sea-scum.  Watch out for rocks that are thrown
  around in the water.  Wind can also dislodge rocks from the cliffs
  above, so set yourself up a little bit away from the cliffs.  One has
  to negotiate rather nasty rocks to go into the water, and there is a
  dangerous undertow; so be *super* cautious if you want to swim.  The
  cliffs and magnificent beauty of the place make up for it, though.
  Also, some have said they expected worse from reading this FAQ entry.
  There are some neat tidepools and caves.  Various layers of sediments
  on the cliffs have different colors.  At the bottom the beach, there is
  a layer of black lava rocks, and consequently the beach has black sand.
  On the whole, a nice beach.

  The usually small attendance, in the dozens, at the beach makes it nice
  as well.  Folks are friendly.  The east side is coed and family-oriented
  (though mostly single men) while the west side is reported to be mostly
  gay.
  	[Original from Bob Larson <blarson@usc.edu>,
  	Niels Catsimpoolas <niels@pure.com>,
  	and David Brahm <brahm@theory3.caltech.edu>]