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Sonoma County,
WOHLER BRIDGE
Fast water, limited parking, and a past history of
anti-nudity arrests don't seem to be denting
visits to the little nude beach near Wohler Bridge
this year. The Russian River is higher, and its
current is running faster than usual, so use extra
caution at Wohler. Although Sonoma County has
tried to discourage nude beaching via passage of a
tough ordinance and occasional raids by deputies,
their regular visits to the little
clothing-optional glade near Wohler Bridge ended
years ago and now take place only when complaints
are received. "We don't have a patrol [for
antinudity]," Diana Nolan, head of the Sonoma
Sheriff's Department's Guerneville substation, has
told us. Visiting Wohler, though, requires
perseverance. Nearby parking is heavily
restricted, and no nude sunbathing takes place
anywhere near the bridge. Users walk upstream
along a trail edged by redwoods to a small
clearing that leads down to a small strip of flat,
soft sand and
river gravel
spread out over maybe an eighth to a quarter of a
mile. These days Wohler gets scattered nude use on
warm weekends that tilts heavily (but far from
completely) gay.
Legal status: Sonoma County Water Agency land
purchased from the family of the late actor Fred
MacMurray in 1996.
How to find it: Take Highway 101 north past Santa
Rosa to River Road, then go west for 10 minutes to
Wohler Road. Turn right and drive 1.4 miles to the
bridge, continue across, and look for parking
where you can (and please send us your input).
Walk back to the side of the bridge closest to
River Road on the south side of the river (left if
you're facing the ocean), where Wohler Road first
reaches the beach. Look for a steel fence and go
through a green gate with a large Keep Clear sign.
An all-weather gravel trail to the nude beach and
beyond starts there. The Water Agency doesn't
hassle bikers or hikers on the path. The walk is
easy and takes maybe 15 or 20 minutes. Follow the
path as it winds along to the right and take it
upstream (away from the ocean) from the bridge
until you reach a small meadow, with a path that
goes to the river's edge, where you'll see nude
sunbathers. If you come to a water collection
pumping area, you've gone too far.
The beach: An eighth- to quarter-mile-long ribbon
of flat, soft sand and river gravel, fun for
sunbathing. Although watercrafts are constantly
passing the site, a few visitors occasionally
wade. Sometimes folks set up a volleyball net in
the clearing.
The crowd: Nearly everyone's nude. Expect several
dozen users on the hottest weekend days. "I see
hikers, bikers, couples, and mixed singles who
enjoy the beauty of the place and who usually
skinny-dip and picnic at Wohler," says visitor
Tom.
Problems: Unusually fast water, subject to raids
based on complaints, proximity of canoeists and
other watercraft users, path may be muddy
following rainfall, garbage, tight parking, long
walk. Stay on trail and within clearing to avoid
poison oak.
Rating: C
SUNSET BEACH
An impressively deep swimming hole with some of
the best sand on the river, Sunset gets a few
trickles of nude sunbathers on the hottest days,
but they usually stay in the bushy area above the
long, gently sloping site. Otherwise, it's
strictly a suited site. Sunset is known locally as
Hacienda Beach. Dogs love it. And in the early
morning, check for butterflies along the water's
edge. The last known citation was in 1999, when an
arrest for lewd behavior took place.
Legal status: Public access area of private
property. See Wohler Bridge entry for enforcement
policy.
How to find it: Go north on Highway 101, passing
Santa Rosa, to River Road. Take River Road west to
its intersection with Sunset Avenue in the
Hacienda District, east of Guerneville and 2.1
miles east of the Korbel Winery. Park where you
see other cars pulled over on either side of River
Road, then follow Sunset until you get to the
third No Parking sign, where an easy path leads to
the river. At the river, turn right and walk west
(toward the ocean) about 100 feet. Just out of the
woods you'll come to a sandy hill usually
frequented by a few people; the next beach is
Sunset.
The beach: A sloping beach with cool, deep water.
Sunset's biggest charms are its serenity and easy
access. The walk there is incredible.
The crowd: Sometimes in the hundreds, more often
in the dozens. We counted about 15 visitors,
including families and children, plus a few dogs,
on the beach or in the water on a sunny weekend.
Most users are suited.
Problems: Fast water this year, canoeists, rocks
in the river (wear water shoes), subject to visits
by deputies, parking on Sunset Avenue prohibited,
limited nude use.
Rating: C
BLANKET BEACH
Blanket Beach is "about big enough for a single
blanket," says a regular visitor. Still, there are
usually a few users at this sandy riverbank
sunbathing or swimming nude. During the warm
months, it gets frequent nude use. Best time to
show up: weekdays. On weekends it's mostly
clothed, used by a family or two who wander down
the trail from Sunset Beach.
Legal status: Public access land of private
property. See Wohler Bridge entry.
How to find it: From Sunset Beach walk downstream
about an eighth of a mile (toward the ocean, or if
you're facing the river, to the right) to a small
beach. If you arrive at the Rocks (see next
entry), a quarter mile from Sunset, you've passed
it.
The beach: A sandy riverbank. Small!
The crowd: Expect a handful of nude visitors on
warm summer weekdays; on weekends, a clothed
family or two – but no nudists – will usually be
present.
Problems: Fast water this year, subject to visits
by deputies upon complaint, holds few people,
needs better directions, nude use usually
restricted to weekdays.
Rating: C
THE ROCKS
Rock-jumping, nude and suited sunbathing, and
swimming are the main activities at the Rocks,
located just downstream from Sunset Beach. Due to
this year's rapid currents, use caution.
Legal status: Public access land of private
property. See Wohler Bridge entry.
How to find it: Follow the trail from Sunset
downstream about a quarter mile.
The beach: A 200-foot-long, sandy riverbank with
high rocks on one side and a deep swimming hole.
Some visitors jump off the rocks.
The crowd: "It's used by a mix of men, women, and
couples," says frequent user Tom. "No citations
have ever been issued at this beach to my
knowledge." Best time to visit is late on
weekdays. The rest of the time, says Tom, "it's
pretty busy with clothed vacation users."
Problems: Rapid currents, area subject to visits
by deputies, nude use usually limited to weekdays,
needs better directions.
Rating: C
ELSEWHERE ON THE RUSSIAN RIVER
Sandy nooks along the Russian River frequently
attract skinny-dippers who like to make their own
clothing-optional sunbathing "beaches." The
water's higher and faster than normal this year,
and if local residents or passing river users
complain, you may be cited, so be doubly cautious
when heading for these hidden hangouts.
Legal status: Public access areas of private land.
See Wohler Bridge entry.
How to find it: Take Highway 101 north to
Healdsburg, north of Santa Rosa. Favorite
skinny-dipping locales that haven't been raided
often include the riverbanks off North Fitch
Mountain Road and West Side Road, which parallels
the Russian River between Guerneville and
Healdsburg, and Steelhead Beach, across from the
Rusty Nail Bar, in the Mirabel area of
Guerneville. Reader Doug wrote saying, "As long as
people are well behaved, the locals don't mind"
topless and nude sunbathing off a hard-to-find
path near 2500 North Fitch Mountain Road. We
investigated and were told by operators of a
parking lot at 2636 North Fitch Mountain that
nudists seldom appear and when they do local
residents are quick to call deputies.
The beach: Sandy stretches of riverbank, except
off North Fitch, which is gravel and sand.
The crowd: It will probably be just you!
Problems: Swift river current this year, needs
better directions, open to view by canoeists,
possible raids by deputies, limited parking.
Rating: C
CAZADERO
For decades, residents have enjoyed a half dozen
old-fashioned skinny-dipping holes near Cazadero.
They also occasionally allow friends and local
residents to use the sites. As word has filtered
out about the sites, residents have been trying to
run any visitors they don't know off their
property. In particular, owners are upset about
the trash and noise created by out-of-towners. Use
with extreme caution, if at all.
Legal status: The area around the holes is private
property. But what about the water? It's a murky
question. "Many property owners claim the water to
the middle of the river as their property," Sonoma
County sheriff's deputy Paul Gregg says. Lawyers
who have researched these claims say that "if you
can kayak or paddle to a swimming hole, you can
use it, but not the riverbank," he adds. "But if
you can't paddle to it, it's private property."
When called to the scene, deputies usually try to
avoid controversy by urging visitors to leave. See
Wohler Bridge entry for policy, but if you have
any questions about legal issues, contact local
authorities.
How to find it: Take Highway 101 north, past Santa
Rosa, to River Road. Follow River Road and Highway
116 west through Guerneville to the cutoff for
Cazadero, which is called Austin Creek Road. Turn
left on Cazadero Highway and continue to Cazadero.
Hole one: In town, take Fort Ross Road west past
Neistrath Road to Bohan Dillon Road. (If you get
to Meyers Grade Road, you've gone three miles too
far.) Turn right on Bohan Dillon, a dirt road that
crosses a bridge. Park in the meadow just before
the bridge. Take the little trail that starts
there through the trees and bushes to the
riverbank. Hole two: Look for cars pulled over off
Kings Ridge Road, which heads north from Cazadero.
The beach: Tiny riverbank swimming holes, usually
ringed by private land.
The crowd: Use varies, often limited to just a few
people, even on the hottest days. More often, such
places are deserted.
Problems: Faster than normal water this year;
you'll probably be visited or cited by a deputy if
the property owner or a family member, friend, or
passerby complains; trash and noise; needs better
directions.
Rating: D
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