Red Rock Beach
Stinson Beach, CA
Red Rock Beach sits within Mount Tamalpais State Park, reached by a genuinely steep trail down from a Highway 1 pullout. It's long been known locally as a clothing-optional beach, which shapes who tends to visit as much as the scenery does.
Genuinely scenic and a real local institution, though the steep trail and clothing-optional reputation aren't for everyone.
How we score beachesWear real shoes for the steep trail down, it's a rough scramble in spots and not a casual stroll to the sand.
Free parking is available at the Highway 1 pullout.
A steep trail leads from the pullout down to the beach; expect a real scramble in places.
Dogs are not allowed on Red Rock Beach.
Summer mornings run foggy before clearing, typical of the Marin coast, with water staying cold year round.
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