More Mesa Beach is so named for the flat, undeveloped, 300-acre bluff-top mesa above the beach. Along the walk across the mesa to reach the beach, you'll be amidst a spectacular panorama with the Santa Ynez Mountains behind you and the Channel Islands floating in the distance. Although worth a visit for the scenery, a dark cloud remains cast over the tradition of nudity here.

More Mesa has fared better than Santa Barbara County's other traditionally clothing-optional beaches in the wake of the county's anti-nudity efforts of the past two decades. That is certainly not to say it has survived unscathed.

Peak crowds at More Mesa circa 1990 numbered 200 or so, and the beach was a social, lively place with nude volleyball. That has changed. The beach now gets just a few dozen visitors on weekends, but these beachgoers still tend to shed there suits. Although the reasons are unclear, authorities seem to have been less vigilant here and reportedly just tell nudists to suit up when they patrol, but that is not to say an officer could not decide to impose a penalty. If you see a cop, by all means put something on. To help prevent complaints from nearby homeowners, absolutely do not be naked outside the traditional nude zone, which is a stretch of about 1/2 mile where there are no houses on the cliffs above the beach. When you reach the beach via the long staircase, remember that nudity occurs to the west of the base of the stairs (to the right when facing the water) but not to the east. Nudity is possible over a span of about 1/2 mile.

Before you visit, you may want to check for up-to-date information about More Mesa Beach and current anti-nudity activity at the Nudebeachalliance.com website.

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GPS: 34.4178N, 119.7913W

city, county, state, country  Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, U.S.A.

classification  3 (discretion recommended)

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