Pirates Cove
Nude beach in California, United States
Pirates Cove is an officially designated clothing-optional beach in California, United States. It lies within Bluff Coastal Trail, managed by Pismo Beach, City of. The sea is warmest in September at about 15°C (60°F) and coolest in April (12°C (54°F)). Average air temperatures peak in August at 19°C (67°F).
Weather and water temperature at Pirates Cove
Tap a month. Averages: air 2001–2025 (NASA POWER), sea 1991–2020 (NOAA OISST).
| Month | Air | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C | 13°C | 79 mm |
| February | 12°C | 13°C | 68 mm |
| March | 13°C | 13°C | 62 mm |
| April | 13°C | 12°C | 28 mm |
| May | 15°C | 12°C | 14 mm |
| June | 17°C | 13°C | 6 mm |
| July | 19°C | 14°C | 4 mm |
| August | 19°C | 15°C | 3 mm |
| September | 19°C | 15°C | 6 mm |
| October | 17°C | 15°C | 22 mm |
| November | 14°C | 15°C | 34 mm |
| December | 12°C | 14°C | 73 mm |
Not sure what the numbers mean? Here is how warm is warm enough to swim.
Visiting
- Part of Bluff Coastal Trail, managed by Pismo Beach, City of · public access: open.
- Website: gocalifornia.about.com
- Coordinates: 35.17570, -120.71442 · OpenStreetMap
- Local law: is public nudity legal in California?
- Before you go, read our nude beach etiquette guide.
- First time? Read our guide to your first time at a nude beach.
Naturist places near Pirates Cove
- 1Gaviota Nude Beach nude beach · CaliforniaOfficialSea 17°C in August
- 2More Mesa Nude Beach nude beach · California · best August to SeptemberOfficialSea 18°C in August
- 3Montecito Hot Springs clothing-optional hot spring · California · best June to SeptemberCustomary
Status labels: Official · Naturist only · Clothing optional · Tolerated · Customary · Listed · Prohibited · Closed. Statuses come from open data and are not yet verified in person.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pirates Cove clothing optional?
Pirates Cove is listed as "official clothing-optional area" according to New Times SLO: New Cave Landing cleanup effort aims to encourage safety without trampling on the area's unique personality. Rules can change, and clothing-optional zones are often only part of a beach, so look for signs on arrival and follow local rules. You can check what applies in United States before you go.
How warm is the water at Pirates Cove?
Long-term sea surface temperatures (NOAA OISST, 1991–2020) range from 12°C (54°F) to 15°C (60°F) in September. Water at the shore can be a few degrees different.
What other naturist places are near Pirates Cove?
The closest are Gaviota Nude Beach (92 km (57 mi)), More Mesa Nude Beach (119 km (74 mi)) and Montecito Hot Springs (126 km (78 mi)).
Sources
Status checked on 2026-10-31 against New Times SLO: New Cave Landing cleanup effort aims to encourage safety without trampling on the area's unique personality (news report); see how we verify. Data updated 2026-10-31. All data sources and licenses. © OpenStreetMap contributors.