Pictured is Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles where bonfire rings are available. The negative aspect of the experience is the beach's location at the end of the runways for Los Angeles International Airport, making the experience potentially noisy.

There are 38 beaches in California that still allow bonfires. "Still" means that at one time visitors could simply light fires at beaches, no problem. But regulations now prohibit fires at most of California's 435 beaches. Less than 10% still will let you have an enjoyable evening with friends enjoying the age-old tradition. The problem with the beaches that still allow fires is that there is such great demand, people actually show up at 3 a.m. to try to snag a ring and guard it for the entire day. People get upset and even fight over the coveted bonfire pit! For the most rings in one spot, Southern California is your best bet at Dockweiler Beach, Huntington Beach and San Diego's Mission Beach and Mission Bay. Even though places such as Huntington have several hundred bonfire rings, they still are staked out and not available on busy summer days, and especially weekends.

As you travel throughout the state, Grover Beach's Pismo Dunes State Beach allows you to build a fire on the sand without a ring, so there's a place where you'll find availability in the summer. Likewise, a section of Carmel City Beach allows fires on the beach, though they are re-thinking the way the system works due to the polluting nature of letting people just build in the sand. For now, you're good to go. As you head north there are places in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and even San Francisco's Ocean Beach that allow fires, though the ring or fire pits are usually limited. One of California's favorite past-times (the beach) and evening entertainment (the bonfire) provide a fantastic experience, but it's not always easy to get. Like hotels or anything else in a state with a population of over 38 million, and even more tourists, aim for weekdays over weekends; aim for off-season (after Labor Day); and avoid special events to optimize your bonfire pit snagging abilities.

Best Bonfire Beaches

1. Carmel - allows dogs and bonfires
2. Grover Beach - allows dogs, cars and bonfires
3. San Diego Ocean Beach - allows bonfires and dogs
4. Huntington Beach - has most fire rings, several hundred
5. Dockweiler Beach Los Angeles Beaches - has many fire rings

Limited but fun:

Moonlight Beach Encinitas
Seabright Beach Santa Cruz
Oceanside City Beach
Ocean Beach San Francisco
Newport Beach / Corona del Mar - gone to charcoal bricks for bonfires
Del Monte Beach Monterey - dogs allowed
La Selva Aptos
Muir Beach