What we’re about
The primary mission of Friends of Bates Beach (FOBB) is to maintain and legalize the traditional clothing-optional beaches in Santa Barbara County. We want to meet other like-minded people who want to help us with beach picnics and rallies and occasionally distribute literature in town.
A lot goes on in the background to allow us to sit at the beach on a towel. It is not really free.
We are a non-profit corporation and to cover our costs we ask for a $10 per year dues from our members, effective Jan 1, 2022. This is the price of one takeout meal per year! Larger donations are also appreciated. We thank you for your support.
You can pay on the home page of our website at www.friendsofbatesbeach.org, where you can also find more information about the group.
This meetup site will list many of the upcoming events, dinners, phone meetings, etc. We welcome all your first-time questions too, as we know you will probably have many of them!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Clothing Optional Hike to Deep Creek Hot SpringsDeep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, CA
**There's 19 people signed up on the SCNA Site. Should be great fun!!**
This will be a combined event with SCNA, NitOC and San Diego's Camping Bares. We will be hiking in from the Bowen Ranch, but people are welcome to hike in from other trails and meet us at the springs.
Nudity is accepted at the parking area and on the trail down to the hot springs and up from the springs. This is a clothing optional event and a great opportunity for first timers that would like to experience clothing option recreation for a first time!
Daily use rates at the Bowen Ranch is $5 per person. The hike down to the trail is moderate if you are in fair shape. It is 1.9 miles long with a 970 ft. elevation drop. That means up hill on the way back! There are only a couple of steeper sections (no rock climbing) and one area that is washed out and requires a little scrambling down and up. It is NOT handicapped accessible! Feel free to visit http://www.DeepCreekVolunteers.com for photos of the trail and detailed directions to the Bowen Ranch. If you do not hike/walk regularly or struggle with loose sandstone and uphill this might not be the hike for you.
Additional details:
After paying at the cabin, drive past the chain link fence and turn right, then immediately left and follow the road all the way down to the bottom parking lot. Meet there between 10 and 10:30 a.m. Remember, there are no toilets, no water and no supplies are available at the Bowen Ranch so be sure to bring everything you need to drink, eat and stay warm the entire day.
If you are arranging a carpool make sure to agree on your arrival and departure time in advance.Some very basic driving directions (only 3 turns total from the highway):
From the 15 in Hesperia, take Main St. turn right.
Follow Main St for about 7.3 miles to Rock Springs Road, turn left.
Rock Spring Road eventually turns into Round Up Way, stay on this path for a total of about 5.7 miles pavement then another 1.3 miles of dirt road.
From Round Up Way, turn right on Bowen Ranch Road and go about 5.6 miles to the gate entrance.
