First responders rescued eight people who were trapped inside a cave at a Santa Cruz County beach Sunday evening as the tide was rising, and some were unable to swim.

Responders from several agencies were called around 8 pm Sunday to Panther State Beach in northern Santa Cruz County to assist a group of people trapped inside a cave, according to a social media post by Cal Fire.

The tide had begun rising as the sun went down, and several people in the group reportedly did not know how to swim. The two routes for escaping the cave reportedly involved swimming to a nearby beach and exiting through some bluffs or via a pocket beach with a trail that was too steep.  

Once responders arrived, five people managed to wade to safety with help from lifeguards. The three who couldn’t swim were hoisted up a cliff by a US Coast Guard rescue helicopter. KSBW reports that a pregnant woman who had unspecified injuries was among the people rescued.

The initial 911 call reported that 11 people were trapped in the cave, but it’s unclear whether the number was inaccurate or if some people escaped prior to rescuers’ arrival.

Cal Fire advises to always check the tide before heading to the coast, as water levels can change drastically within hours, cutting off access points.

The agency also says stranded beachgoers should move to the highest safety point and call 911 immediately rather than trying to swim through heavy surf or climb dangerous cliffs.

Related: Man Rescued From Cliffside By Helicopter Near Marin Headlands

Image: John M/Yelp

There is now a lawsuit in San Mateo County seeking to stop the county from taking down a controversial fence surrounding some long-vacant property, and the man who put up the fence remains defiant.

The 26-year-old girlfriend of 62-year-old Luke Brugnara — the man who has been causing a stir in Daly City over a hastily erected fence surrounding some long-vacant property, part of which was used for public access to a beach — has filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order to preserve the fence. Yitong Emily Wen made the filing in state Superior Court on Monday, claiming ownership of the property, and saying that the six-foot-high chainlink fence was code compliant" as the Chronicle reports.

The fence appeared last month around the property that sits next to Thornton State Beach, with a handwritten note attached near a popular beach trail threatening violence against trespassers.

It appears that Brugnara and Wen may be living in an RV on the property — which consists of four parcels — and Brugnara apparently struck an agreement last fall with one of the property's seven owners to purchase that owner's share of the land. The ownership structure is fairly complicated, involving multiple parties, some of whom are siblings, and all of whom are elderly, as the Chronicle has reported.

Brugnara now asserts full ownership, however, telling ABC 7 this week, "Dude, it doesn't matter whether I own 1% or 20%. I have a right to protect my interests, and I have a right to protect the property."

It's unclear why Wen's name is on the lawsuit and not Brugnara's, but Brugnara claims to have made his purchase under an LLC called Olympic Way, and perhaps the girlfriend is also linked to that.

The Chronicle's reporting suggested that this property has been in a sort of limbo, with the seven owners previously seeking to sell it — though a previous development deal ran into complications and fell through. They also suggested that any sale of the land would require the approval of the largest shareholder of the property, Utah resident Bruce Norton. Norton reportedly owns 10/24ths of three of the parcels, and an attorney for Norton has told the Chronicle that whatever deed appeared to have granted Brugnara ownership of a small share of the land would be null and void without Norton's express approval.

Meanwhile, Brugnara was arrested last month by Daly City police for allegedly making criminal threats against a couple walking their dog near the fence. Brugnara and Wen insist that they have not threatened anyone, and Wen further told the Chronicle that the man who filed the police report actually assaulted her.

Brugnara was previously known to SFist as the owner of a Sea Cliff mansion where he was accused of receiving $11 million worth of artwork from a gallery, for which he then refused to pay, claiming the works were gifts and he was intending to open a museum. He ended up being convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to seven years in prison in 2015, and he was let out on supervised release in November 2020.

The Chronicle notes that Brugnara had another run-in in federal court in July 2023, after a firearm that was registered to his girlfriend was found to have his DNA on it — which got him a revocation of his supervised release, and another 456 days in jail.

The entire fence controversy is strange on its face, and it's baffling why Brugnara would want to court so much drama and law enforcement attention, given his other legal troubles.

As ABC 7 reports, there is now a bench warrant for Brugnara's arrest, and legal action pending in a separate federal case against him. Brugnara is accused of defrauding a pandemic-era relief program, getting a PPP loan for $422,000 by lying about the size of his company its number of employees. Federal prosecutors say that his recent arrest in Daly City, for allegedly threatening someone, show that he is a potential danger to the public.

Brugnara claimed this week to be ignorant of the bench warrant, saying, "That's the surprise, I guess, of the day."

Last weekend, some members of the public knocked down several sections of the fence near the beach trail, and this has now reportedly happened three times. Daly City officials told ABC 7 that they would removing the fence as of Thursday (today), though it's not clear if that is still going forward.

Previously: Legal Drama Likely to Heat Up Over Fence Installed on Coastal Property in Daly City

Top image via David Canepa

A character who had been linked to a Sea Cliff mansion with an illegal cliffside staircase, who was convicted over a decade ago in a bizarre fraud case involving $11 million in fine art paintings, is back in the news.

Luke Brugnara, the San Francisco real estate investor with a notably checkered past, has reportedly put up an illegal chain-link fence around a piece of oceanfront property in Daly City that has long been used for its hiking and equestrian trail, and as a path to Thornton State Beach. Local residents are upset, and the Daly City Council is looking to get it removed.

And, as the Chronicle reports, this isn't even Brugnara's property, though he appears to be disputing that. A woman named Donna Pope tells the Chronicle that the property has been owned by her family for generations, and it appears that Brugnara has been squatting on it — though it's not clear where?

The photo below, snapped by San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, who lives nearby, shows the handwritten sign that was attached to the fence last week, and appears to show a mobile home in the distance.

The sign also has a hand-drawn image of a gun, and says that trespassers will be "shot on site." [sic]

Canepa seemed to be under the impression when he spoke to SFGate last week that the property had changed hands in November, and the New York Post subsequently reported that a trust linked to Brugnara had purchased the property in December.

But now that seems to be false.

"It was egregious if he was the owner, but now we have a squatter,” said Canepa, speaking to the Chronicle. “To have the audacity to squat and then, if you could imagine, build a fence is probably in my 19 years of politics the sickest thing I have ever seen."

Pope, the property owner, says she wants the fence removed, and adds, of the whole situation, "It’s just bizarre."

But with Brugnara, bizarro stuff seems to happen.

Brugnara appears to have become wealthy through real estate investments a couple of decades back, but has also run afoul of the law several times. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, and to violating the Endangered Species Act, for apparently poaching steelhead trout and blocking a dam on property that he owned in Gilroy.

Back in 2002, he purchased a mansion in Sea Cliff once owned by the actor Cheech Marin, and proceeded to construct an illegal staircase down the cliff from the house to a small private beach. When a lender subsequently attempted to sell the property in the last decade, its sale price was repeatedly reduced, and it came with the caveat that any new owner would have to pay to have the staircase removed. The property ultimately sold in 2024 for $7 million, about $10 million less than it had been listed for in 2021.

It was in that house's garage that Brugnara stored $11 million in fine art, including works by Willem de Kooning and Edgar Degas, which had been shipped from a New York Gallery — and which Brugnara proceeded to claim was a gift. He was charged and convicted for mail fraud in 2015 after failing to pay for the purchases — he represented himself at trial and, as ABC 7 reported, made repeated scenes in the courtroom that landed him in contempt.

Brugnara continued denying any wrongdoing, but it appears that one of his appeal efforts centerd on his mental competence to stand trial or represent himself. As the Chronicle reports, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately ruled that there was no evidence to suggest Brugnara was mentally incompetent.

Still, a defense psychologist testified that Brugnara suffered from delusions, and "narcissistic personality disorder."

In a jailhouse interview with ABC 7 in 2015, Brugnara said he was known as "Lucky Luke" after making some good real estate investments, including the purchase of an office building at 939 Market Street when he was just 28 years old.

As for the fence, Canepa has written to the California Coastal Commission seeking its removal, noting that public access to the beach and trails have been available for decades — and the case is reminiscent of the notorious Vinod Khosla debacle concerning Martins Beach, also in San Mateo County.

But the commission's help may not be needed if Brugnara isn't even the property owner, so we'll see what comes next.

It’s sea lion breeding season, but hundreds of dead sea lion pups have shown up at Bay Area beaches this month, part of a worrying trend across the entire West Coast. And scientists don’t know why.

Patrick Robinson, the director of UC Santa Cruz’s Año Nuevo Reserve, told the Chronicle that a survey of Año Nuevo Island’s coasts in San Mateo County found over 300 stillborn or aborted sea lion fetuses in early May — an “abnormal event,” he said.

Similarly, more dead or stillborn pups, aborted fetuses, malnourished pups, and underweight adult females with dystocia — difficult births — were found at common sea lion colony breeding hotspots along the coast, from San Miguel Island in the Channel Islands all the way down to Mexico, per the LA Times.

Researchers are reportedly conducting tests on the fetuses for several factors including domoic acid, a toxin that has poisoned sea lion populations in the past, and bird flu, which has hit sea lion and elephant seal populations in South America. They haven’t received the results yet.

Another potential explanation could be the El Niño phenomenon, which brings warming waters and geographic shifts in schools of anchovies, sea lions’ principal food source. That could compel pregnant sea lions to swim farther for food and leave them malnourished, prompting premature births. Sharon Melin, a research biologist with NOAA, told the LA Times that up to 20%-30% of the approximately 25,000 pups born annually in the Channel Islands might be born prematurely during El Niño years.

As scientists continue to search for the cause of these deaths, animal rescue organizations like Sausalito’s Marine Mammal Center, which treats sick and injured sea lions, among other marine mammals, are gearing up for an increase in sea lion strandings. The center has reportedly admitted over 160 sea lions since the start of the year, slightly above the historical average.

Luckily, California’s sea lion population is still robust, scientists say. NOAA estimates it to be about 250,000 strong. Robinson said that “one bad year is not going to dramatically impact that,” but added that “the concern is if this is an environmental event that could affect other life as well.”

The public is advised not to intervene if they see a distressed marine mammal but to contact local marine life centers for trained rescuers.

Feature image via Unsplash/Joss Woodhead.

Heavy winter rains have taken a toll on the water quality of the hundreds of beaches across California, according to a recent report from the nonprofit organization Heal the Bay.

The major concern: The level of poop in the water.

“An alarming 45 million gallons of sewage were spilled into the ocean and coastal waterways, in part due to the increased rainfall. Sewage lines are commonly flooded with rainwater causing them to overflow,” the report, released this week, said.

Storm drains often overflowed during the rains, releasing contamination and sewage into creeks or rivers that empty out to these beaches.

San Mateo County, in particular, has many of these — and five of the state’s ten dirtiest beaches are listed among the report's worst offenders, on the "Beach Bummers" part of the list, according to KNTV. That includes popular spots like Redwood City’s Marlin Park, Foster City’s Gull Park and Erckenbrack Park, and Half Moon Bay’s Pillar Point.

Even the home of the prettiest Taco Bell in the world, Pacifica's Linda Mar Beach, made the list. KTVU dubbed it “Poo-cifica” because of its high levels of the bacteria enterococcus.

Heal the Bay determines these A-plus to F grades by evaluating the water quality, based on water samples tested for bacteria and pollution, including fecal matter. It assigns those grades to 500 beaches from Tijuana, Mexico, all the way up to the Canadian border, according to the SF Examiner. A higher grade indicates a lower risk of individuals contracting illnesses while using the ocean.

The report differentiated grades for the recent wet months and summer dry months — when water is at lower risk of exposure to pollutants. All 16 beaches in San Francisco received high marks for water quality, during these dry months. But nine of these received a C, D, or F during wet months.

The report attributes these poor grades to one spill over the winter that apparently sent 2.3 million gallons of sewage into the Bay near Crissy Field and Aquatic Park, closing both for many days. Luckily, SF has a combined sewer system, which means that rain runoff flows into that and gets treated instead of flowing into the ocean.

Bean Hollow State Beach in San Mateo County was one of only two California beaches to receive an A-plus rating for water quality in both dry and wet conditions throughout the year, earning a spot on the cleanliness "Honor Roll."

Beaches north of the Golden Gate also got generally good ratings — only 25% of Alameda County's beaches for C, D, or F grades during the wet weather, and only 4% of Marin County's did. Still, Marin County just announced that the central section of Stinson Beach has high levels of enterococcus bacteria and shouldn’t be used for water recreation, per the Chronicle.

Feature Image via Wikimedia Commons/Bob n' Renee.

With Labor Day weekend (and an imminent heat wave) upon us, denizens of the Bay Area are ready to flood local beaches in droves — but many, however, have closed to thwart COVID-19 infections.

As reported by ABC7, a huge number of beaches in our neck of the woods are closed this long weekend in an attempt to drive down local COVD-19 infections, which have been trending slightly upward over the past week. Though medical experts say the risk of spreading COVID-19 is far greater indoors than it is outdoors.

In fact, in a recent study, scientists found that of the 380 outbreaks studied and observed — defined as an episode involving three or more COVID-19-positive cases — only one began outside. Another research study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that the virus can’t contend well with frequent shifts in temperature and humidity, meaning that climate-controlled indoor settings could pose a far greater risk of infection; communing with Mother Natures removes this replication cushion for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Nevertheless, according to Mercury News, parks officials are reminding people not to gather in large numbers — sans those in their immediate circles — and to keep a healthy distance from others to avoid spreading COVID-19 if they head to a shoreline this weekend.

“We understand people want to escape the heat wave but we all need to be responsible and do our part during the pandemic,” said Gloria Sandoval, a CA State Parks spokeswoman, to the local news outlet.

So, take Sandoval's advice to heart should you decide to sunbathe and picnic atop any one of the still-open Bay Area beaches, below:

• All of San Francisco County's beaches are open — but all picnic areas and the Ocean Beach fire pits are closed.
• All Marin County beaches are open... except for Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay State Park due to the Woodward Fire.
• All shorelines and beaches making up the East Bay Region Parks system are open.
• San Mateo's Half Moon Bay Beaches, Montara Beaches, and Pescadero Beaches are open; Pacifica Beaches are closed.
• All Sonoma County beaches are open, as well as the sandy patches along Russian River.

*If a beach you're looking to visit doesn’t  fall into any of the aforementioned areas with open beaches, assume it's closed or call to ensure that it's, in fact, not closed.

Some things to consider if you're planning on going to the beach this weekend: Wear your mask, slather on an SPF of 30 or greater, and keep at least six feet away from those not in your group. Pick up any trash you see, even if it's not yours. Don't pull any Karen or Ken shenanigans this weekend.

Related: Coyotes Carry On Roaming San Francisco's Empty Beaches and Streets Amid Shelter-In-Place

The 15 Best Beaches In The Bay Area, Nude And Otherwise

Image: Esther Cuan

If you have an urge to see the ocean this weekend and are planning to do so in a socially distanced manner, you had better walk or take a bike, because none of the beach parking lots in San Francisco will be open.

City and state officials announced Thursday that parking lots at all SF beaches will be closed through the weekend, from Friday through Sunday, July 3 to 5. Beaches remain open, but only for pedestrians (and their dogs, where allowed) and bicyclists — and parking along roadways near beaches is also prohibited.

"Due to COVID-19, we have to observe Fourth of July differently this year,” said California State Parks Director Lisa Mangat in a release. "That means avoiding large gatherings and road trips to state parks and beaches. Now more than ever, it’s up to all of us to recreate responsibly to protect our loved ones and our communities."

In other parts of Northern California, there will be no beach access at all, including in Monterey County. As the Mercury News reports, via a press release from the county, officials have made the "extraordinary move" of closing beaches and beach parking lots in Pacific Grove, Carmel and Monterey, and Pebble Beach, as well as the famous 17-Mile Drive.

The parking lot closures in San Francisco include all of the following:

• Baker Beach
• China Beach
• Crissy Field (West Bluff and East Beach)
• Fort Funston
• Fort Point (Parking Lot and Long Avenue)
• Golden Gate Bridge (Langdon Court and Battery East)
• Lands End (Merrie Way and Navy Memorial parking)
• Marina Green
• Ocean Beach

Additionally, the no-parking order from the state will be enforced along roadways near beaches in Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Sonoma counties.

Photo of Fort Funston via the Parks Conservancy

May is one of the finest times of year in California, but Governor Gavin Newsom is scolding Southern California in particular for overcrowding its beaches — particularly in Orange County — last weekend. And word went out that he was planning to order all state and local beaches closed down the entire coast.

The move seemed primarily directed at scofflaws flouting social distancing orders in Ventura and Orange counties. During a Monday press conference, Newsom called out Newport Beach in particular, and images of crowds that reportedly numbered around 40,000 gathered there last weekend. "Those images," Newsom said, "are an example of what not to see, people, what not to do if we're going to make meaningful progress."

Newsom was expected to issue a broad closure order for all beaches and state parks during his Thursday pandemic address, but just after noon he clarified that it was never his intention to close beaches across the entire state.

During his news conference, Newsom said Orange County had been "on our list" for concerns with beach crowding, and he ordered the county's to "hard close" all beaches. The move he said, per the Chronicle, was for the "same reason we are not reopening arenas with tens of thousands of people — we don’t want to have beaches with tens of thousands of people either."

Multiple outlets including the Chronicle reported on Newsom's plan to close all state beaches and parks, but Newsom says that was never the case. The misunderstanding of the new order seems to stem from a memo sent by the California Police Chiefs Association Wednesday night which stated that all beaches, regardless of jurisdiction, should be closed. "After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newsom's Shelter in Place Order, the Governor will be announcing tomorrow that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1^st," the memo reads.

And this came just a day after Newport Beach city authorities chose not to close its beach or impose new restrictions, as NPR reports.

By contrast, when revised sheltering orders went out for six Bay Area counties on Wednesday, "sunbathing" was specifically mentioned as something that would now be condoned, in city parks at least. "Examples of permissible outdoor activities include sunbathing, hiking, golf, skateboarding, and fishing," reads San Francisco's order.

It would seem that a beach as spacious as Ocean Beach would allow for adequate social distancing unless the whole city showed up there at once. And the Golden Gate National Recreation Area website, run by the National Park Service, has a notice now that says, "Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local public health authorities, we are increasing access and services in a phased approach across all units of the National Park System. Before visiting a park, please check the park website to determine its operating status."

And according to the GGNRA website, only the Ocean Beach fire pits are closed, as well as the parking lots at Baker Beach and Fort Funston.

*This post has been updated throughout to reflect Newsom's latest comments about Orange County.

The long, long legal battle over Martins Beach might finally be over, and the state of California is looking to make sure it doesn't come up ever again.

Signs and gates barring entrance to Martins Beach in Half Moon Bay have finally come down, and now there's nothing stopping surfers, hikers, and the general public from enjoying the coastline. CBS reports that this follows an order from the California Coastal Commission, who threatened to fine the tech billionaire who purchased the property and tried to restrict access years ago. According to the report, the fine was something in the ballpark of "$11,250 per violation per day" — no tiny amount of money given how many people attempt to access the beach every day.

We've covered this story before, but just in case you weren't aware: Previously, the beach was at the center of a protracted legal battle after tech billionaire Vinod Khosla bought the beach and the surrounding areas for $32.5 million. For as long as most locals could remember, a publicly accessible path, via an easement, had allowed access to the beach, which is popular with surfers. After the purchase, Khosla put up signs declaring the beach and the lands private property, and threatened to charge people with trespassing if they disobeyed the signs telling people to keep out. Residents who already lived in beach houses nearby were allowed access to the beach, but the general public was not.

When the news first broke of the signs going up, the story was held up as an example of tech industry privilege and exclusivity, and Khosla became somewhat notorious for his attempts to try to restrict access to a public resource.

Earlier, in August, a panel of three judges ordered Khosla to immediately open up access to the beach or face punishment. Their 50-page ruling read, in part: "One of the basic goals of the state for the coastal zone is to maximize public access to and along the coast and maximize public recreational opportunities in the coastal zone. Maximizing access is the goal."

The state of California is also moving to take action on future attempts to privatize the beach. Legislation just passed through the California Senate earlier in September authorizing the state of California to place a right-of-way easement, allowing for public access to the shoreline. The bill, SB 42, also specifically includes the beach as part of that access. It only just needs a signature from Governor Jerry Brown before it can become full law, and he has until October 15th to take care of doing just that.

Previously: Party On The Beach! Billionaire Ordered To Open Martins Beach To The Public

Gazillionaire Vinod Khosla just can't catch a break.

We've covered this ongoing saga before, but let's catch you up:

In 2008, the Sun Microsystems co-founder bought Martins Beach and the surrounding land for a whopping $32.5 million. The beach is located near Half Moon Bay and is surrounded by a gated community of weathered old beach cabins, the occupants of which have still been allowed to use the beach. The public, however, has not.

Khosla claims, among many other legal maneuvering, that the beach was subject to the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and therefore didn't need to adhere to the 1976 California Coastal Act that gives everyone rights to access the entire state's shore. It's been drama like this, folks, that's been going on for nine years.

Last year, Khosla said he'd open the beach if the state paid him $30 million, claiming that opening the beach would be a "taking" of property without compensation. Keep in mind, the beach had been open to the public since 1918 via a path and public easement that goes through the property he now owns.

Anyway, the Chronicle reports now that a three-judge panel at the state appeals court announced yesterday that Khosla better open up that beach right now. "One of the basic goals of the state for the coastal zone is to maximize public access to and along the coast and maximize public recreational opportunities in the coastal zone. Maximizing access is the goal," said the judges in their 50-page ruling.

According to KQED, the order states that Khosla's not-so-private gate "must be unlocked and open to the same extent that it was unlocked and open at the time defendants purchased the property."

"The courts said exactly what the Legislature said: The public has the right to access the coast. It's their ocean. It's their coast. It is not some private billionaire's," said Surfrider Foundation attorney Joseph Cotchett, who's been battling Kholsa on behalf of the organization. Both the Surfrider Foundation and a group called Friends of Martins Beach have filed lawsuits trying to get public access to the beach restored.

A post shared by Tianyu Song (@tianyu.s) on Jul 14, 2017 at 12:08am PDT

"He's attacking the California Coastal Act, is what he's doing. Everyone knows this is not the end of the line. ... This is the little guy versus the big guy," said Cotchett.

Khosla, meanwhile, plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Cotchett will give Kholsa until today to open up the gate. Then he's calling the San Mateo County Sheriff and busting that road wide open.

American hero and beach cabin renter Greta Waterman has some brilliant opinions on the beach access argument, saying "They (Khosla's team) are making a mountain out of a molehill. If they open it, they have to have facilities, put up a friggin' porta-potty, hire a lifeguard so nobody gets drowned - and don't knock on my door to go to the bathroom."

Related: Sun Microsystems Cutting Up To 3,000 Jobs

Video taken by surfers at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica on Sunday morning shows a shark, very close to shore, making breakfast of a seal. KRON 4 picked up the news, and got requisitely dramatic about the fact that this was happening so close to where people were surfing. No one was injured, but it is a reminder that sharks do sometimes come near our beaches, and that surfing is not without its hazards.

The video shows the shark flailing around a bit as it attacks the seal, and bits of reddish water appearing.

The surfing family with three kids shown in KRON 4's video spoke to the Examiner as well, with mom Stephani Ebinger reporting that everyone started paddling quickly into shore as soon as one surfer spotted the shark's fin. A shark, possibly the same one, was also spotted at the same beach, roughly 80 yards offshore, last Thursday.

Bringing a bit of cheer to our Monday morning is the fact that today is the summer solstice — the longest day of the year and the first official day of summer. What's more, atypically for a summer day in San Francisco, the National Weather Service predicts that today will hit almost 80 degrees in the city.

That's the kind of one-two punch that means you can lounge the evening away at the park or the beach, basking in the sunlight and remarking out loud that life sure is grand.

To get down to details, the sun is expected to set at 8:35 p.m. tonight, giving us just under 15 hours of daylight (here's a handy map that shows how much light different parts of the US are getting today), and the predicted high is 78 degrees. (The Weather Channel conservatively puts the high today at 70.)

The warm weather should stick with us all week, with temperatures remaining in the 70s all week. So take off work a little early, grab a local beer, and head to the beach (or one of the best hills in SF) — after all, the days only get shorter from here on out.

Related: The 16 Coolest Outdoor And Patio Bars In SF

This weekend, at least in some parts of the Bay Area, is going to be a scorcher — and hopefully it won't be the last of the season, because we all know how summer goes in and around SF proper. So, it's time for SFist to bring you our definitive list of the finest and best in beach destinations up and down our lovely coast. These are all great places to spend a day, bring a picnic, and kick back with some beers while catching some rays — hopefully with plenty of sunblock on. And on some of these beaches, you are welcome to strip down to nothing and show your junk off to the Pacific, and to anyone passing by. Should you be a shyer type, there are plenty of clothing non-optional spots to choose from. And I would recommend exploring every one of these beaches until you have a favorite or two, because when the sun comes out and the fog evaporates, there's no time to waste consulting maps. And Ocean Beach is not where it's at — not to mention everyone knows how to find Ocean Beach.

Alamere Falls
If you're in the mood for a serious hike, this is the beach for you. Located in the Point Reyes National Seashore (which actually has a dozen different beaches), in spring at least, Alamere Falls drop down onto a wide and welcoming beach that is often full of relaxing hikers on a hot day. An important note about this one — although you may be tempted, do not try to shuffle down the side of the cliff to get to the beach (seriously, it's super dangerous). Instead, if you're intent on getting to the beach, follow the Coast Trail to the Ocean Lake Loop Trail and take that to the Wildcat Campground. From there, it's super easy to walk (safely) to the beach and the mile or so back to the falls. The trip to the beach and back from the Palomarin Trailhead is definitely a full day's hike, so bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen. But this is one of the best hike/beach combos in the general Bay Area, so you won't be disappointed. — Jack Morse
Point Reyes, CA

David Baron via Flickr

Photo by Jesse Wagstaff.

Bonny Doon
Just northwest of Santa Cruz lies Bonny Doon, a community known as the longtime home of SciFi writer Robert A. Heinlein, for its wineries and lavender farm, and for its longtime clothing-optional beach. At the base of a cliff just off Highway 1, the steep walls make for a tough hike down, but also creates a secluded area that's been known as a great place to take your clothes off (warning: it's unclear if that nudity is officially sanctioned, so take care and watch for the cover-up cops) since at least the 1970s. Be warned: Some present-day Yelpers complain of "pervs" who aren't too cool to gawk at the pantsless — I've never seen this first-hand, but it is worth noting. — Eve Batey
Highway 1 at Bonny Doon Road about eight miles north of Santa Cruz

Photo: David S./Yelp

Photo by Mitchel Jones.

Half Moon Bay State Beach
Made up of Roosevelt Beach, Dunes Beach, Venice Beach, and Francis Beach, Half Moon Bay State Beach is four miles of wide, sandy beaches beloved by sun bathers, campers, hikers, and surfers willing to brave the area's dangerous currents and extremely cold water. Francis Beach boasts a 52-site campground and picnic tables, and is the most popular and "sceney." Venice is bordered by two fresh-water creeks that flow into the Pacific, so it's popular with birds and their watchers. Dunes is known for its, duh, dunes, and the trails through Roosevelt are beloved by hikers. Just remember, you're in NorCal, and things can turn cold fast. Even if the Mission is a million degrees, pack a sweatshirt if you're headed to Half Moon Bay, as the weather turns on a dime. — Eve Batey
One half-mile west of Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay

Photo: Travelmeister T./Yelp

Chris D 2006 via Flickr

Muri Beach Overlook, Kristina D.C. Hoeppner via Flickr

Pacifica State Beach
Also known as "Linda Mar" (because that's the name of the housing development that abuts it), Pacifica State Beach is the one with that great looking Taco Bell — words I never thought I'd type until I saw it for myself (sadly, however, the food is standard TB fare). Extremely popular with surfers (as I write this early on a weekday afternoon, I count at least ten on the Linda Mar livecam), it's also the place to begin your career on the board, with numerous surf schools conducting classes there on the regular. Dogs are allowed (just keep them leashed), and while picnicking is fine, forget the booze, glass, or BBQ grill: they're all banned. — Eve Batey
Just off Highway 1 in downtown Pacifica

Photo: Dmitry C./Yelp

Photo: John Vonderlin

Ballou Point overlooking Stinson Beach, Daniel Hoherd via Flickr

New rules governing bonfires on Ocean Beach have officially gone into effect, and, having abandoned a proposed $35 permit after the idea was roundly criticized, the changes should mostly be welcomed by fans of the age-old tradition.

The new rules began April 4, and according to the National Park Service are quite extensive. The rules dictate, among other things, that all fires must be out by 9:30 p.m., no alcohol of any kind is allowed on the beach, and that fires must be put out with "WATER ONLY" (so stop peeing on the flames). One exciting note is that the number of fire rings has increased from 12 to 16.

Here is the full list (emphasis added) for your reading pleasure:

• Fires are allowed from March 1 - October 31 (No fires between November 1 - February 28)
  
• Fires are only allowed WITHIN the provided concrete fire rings. Any fires created outside of these rings are illegal.
  
• NO GLASS OR ALCOHOL is allowed on the beach.
  
• Fires must be out by 9:30 PM.
  
• The parking lots at Ocean Beach close at 10:00 PM each night and are owned and managed by the City of San Francisco.
  
• Fires are not allowed on "Spare the Air" days. When air pollution reaches unhealthy levels, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District notifies the public by declaring a "Spare the Air day." To find out if today is a "Spare the Air" day, visit www.sparetheair.org or call 1-800-HELP-AIR.
  
• Fires must be extinguished with WATER ONLY. Bring a bucket to collect ocean water, or bring your own water. Covering the fire with sand does not extinguish the fire. Instead it insulates the hot coals and fills the pits with sand.
  
• Bring your own firewood. Gathering, cutting, or scavenging firewood or kindling is not permitted at the beach or in the park. Locally grown firewood is best.
  
• Burn only untreated, unpainted wood.
  
• Don't burn pallets or any wood containing nails or other hardware.
  
• Burn Clean. Do not use accelerants such as lighter fluid, as they leave pollution and poisons in the sand and the air. Paper and kindling are preferred fire starter material.
  
• Don't burn trash or debris. Most trash gives off pollution and poisonous gases.
  
• Trash must be removed from the beach. LEAVE NO TRACE.
  
• Fires shall be attended at all times by a responsible adult (18 year of age or older).
  
• Minors must be supervised. A responsible leader, 18 years or older, must be present for every 10 children under the age of 18.
  
• Groups of more than 25 people must obtain a permit by calling (415) 561-4700. For more information, go to: http://go.nps.gov/gogaspug
  
• Large-scale events may require more extensive review by National Park Service staff. If it is determined that your event will require extensive review, the administrative cost may be higher. Observe all posted regulations.
  

Previously: Ocean Beach Fires To Remain Free: $35 Permit Proposal Rejected