San Gregorio Ranch Beach Transition Advances as State Park Addition Nears

The 238-acre San Gregorio Ranch property in San Mateo County will officially join the California State Parks system as an extension of San Gregorio State Beach, ending its long-standing clothing-optional status.

This development follows the Peninsula Open Space Trust purchase and reflects broader efforts to expand public coastal access while applying standard state park regulations across newly acquired lands.

Acquisition and Donation

The Peninsula Open Space Trust purchased the land for $10 million in April 2026. The organization will donate the property to the state at no cost. This step adds the former ranch to the existing San Gregorio State Beach footprint.

Public Access Timeline

The property opens to the public on July 29, 2026, from 8 a.m. to sunset. Full state ownership and management are expected to finalize by spring or summer 2027. Until then, interim access follows the announced schedule.

Visitor Requirements and Beach Expansion

Visitors must wear clothing under standard California State Parks rules once management transfers. A mandatory $8 per vehicle parking fee will apply. The addition expands the neighboring San Gregorio State Beach by approximately 50 percent and adds over half a mile of coastline, coastal habitat, and bluffs to the public system.

The change concludes the decades-old clothing-optional tradition at the site formerly called Bare Bottom Beach. State park regulations prohibit nudity regardless of prior use.

Next Steps for Visitors

Those planning visits after July 29, 2026, should prepare for the clothing requirement and the parking fee. Updated information on hours and access will come from California State Parks as full management approaches in 2027.