PFEIFFER BEACH

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

  PFEIFFER BEACH is in the Big Sur area, approximately 30 miles south of
  Monterey on CA Hwy 1.  Unfortunately, it's difficult to find and difficult
  to give directions to.  The best I can do is to tell you that the turnoff
  from Hwy 1 is approximately 1 to 2 miles south of Pfeiffer-Big Sur State
  Park, that the turnoff is on the west side of Hwy 1, and it is just south
  of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge.  The turnoff is called Sycamore Canyon
  Road.  Your best bet, though, is to stop in Big Sur at a gas station or
  restaurant and ask for directions to Pfeiffer Beach (the majority of it
  is textile, and most locals are familiar with it).

  From the Hwy 1 turnoff, there is a single lane road that goes 2 to 3
  miles to a parking lot.  Park your car in the lot, and follow the
  (obvious) path approximately 100 yards to the beach.  The first thing
  you'll notice is an absolutely beautiful rock formation, 3 or 4 stories
  tall, with large holes cut by wave action.  This part of the beach is
  textile.  Turn right, and walk down the beach about 100 yards.  There's
  a smaller rock formation that, at high tide, almost occludes the portion
  of the beach behind it.  Beyond this rock is the unofficial CO section.
  Swimming is not recommended due to the hazardous surf.

  This beach can get *very* windy, and at times very cold.  On windy and/or
  cold days, you'll likely not see anyone with less than two or three layers
  of clothes, much less nude.  However, on warm, sunny days, when the wind
  isn't blowing too hard, it's an absolutely breathtaking nude beach.

  If you want a serious hike, start at the U.S. Forest Service office
  about 1/2 mile south of the State Park and hike the Pine Ridge Trail
  about 11 miles east until it encounters the river again at Sykes Hot
  Springs.  These natural hot springs feed user-built redwood tubs
  (carved from redwood tree stumps) and are always clothing optional.
  To go in and out in one day is a grueling undertaking; you may want
  to back-pack a sleeping bag and make it two days.  Maps available at
  USFS office.
  	[Original from Bob Herlien <hebo@mbari.org>
  	and South Bay Naturists, P.O. Box 23781, San Jose CA  95153]