My husband and I always try to go midweek. Even in the summer months there are simply fewer people about. You are correct about early morning hikes; mosquitos can be very annoying. However here in our area if you wait until late in the day horse flies will punish bare skin. But at the end of the day as hubby says, it's all about risk vs reward. The rewards of hiking nude are immeasurable.
My husband and I have a saying; "it's risk vs reward". If we never risk getting nude in the places where we want to, there will never be the reward of freedom and the liberation from our clothes.
One of my ultimate favorite Nudist Resorts is in OK! Y'all ever get to Oaklake Trails? You can hike nude all you want there and the trails are not just beautiful, you will encounter MORE beautiful People naked on the trails!
Our 1st visit was there in 2005. We have been members there since 2011. Great trails and great people. Lots of activities. We are there most weekends depending on the weather. Our membership has grown to over 500. We have close to a 100 permeant residences and members living there year-round.
I met the most awesome people there. Haven't been in years though because I no longer work field service on the road. I used to stay at nudist resorts near wherever I was working and it was always cheaper so my boss never minded seeing it on my expense report. Was checking and I cant find pics of me with my lady friend I met there, I will find them somewhere....suffice it to say if I get back out there I will definitely spend a few days at Oaklake Trails
The NAC list of US State Laws fails to include court decisions, and every lawyer knows that laws actually mean what the court says they mean.
In my state, WA, for example, the state law says, "(1) A person is guilty of indecent exposure if he or she intentionally makes any open and obscene exposure of his or her person or the person of another knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm."
HOWEVER, Seattle had City Ordinance prohibiting public nudity. Seattle arrested Johnson for public nudity. But, The courts, in "Seattle v. Johnson" pointed out that the law does not ban nudity per se. The law only bans deliberately intends to do something indecent or obscene, or deliberately and intentionally attempts to cause "affront or alarm" of another person. The court pointed out that Johnson was minding his own business while naked. The court pointed out that humans are not inherently indecent. The court told Seattle that their City Ordinance against nudity per-se was in violation of the State Law. .Seattle had to pay a settlement to Johnson, and revise their city ordinance to comply with state law.
So the actual law in WA is that nudity is not illegal as long as you are doing ordinary activity (not doing something indecent) and not intending to affront or alarm someone. Minding your own business naked, is not illegal in WA. Hiking, biking, driving, gardening, sports, work, etc, while naked is not illegal.
The NAC guide to state laws misses the actual law entirely. I'm sure they give misunderstanding in other states as well.
I try to hit the trails nude whenever I can. It isn't illegal in the state of California but there are local jurisdictions who might have an ordinance. State parks have a regulation against it as do many county and city parks. Know your local laws!
Unless I'm in an event, (WNBR, Bay to Breakers, etc.) I keep my nudity on empty national forest trails where it isn't as issue. Once in a while I encounter people but it has never been an issue. Deep Creek Hot Springs and the PCT for several miles in each direction is brilliant nude hiking territory.
I always enjoy the hikes and then re-experiencing them when I write them up. Doing the selfies is a royal PITA. But it is a freehike and not just a hike, so I feel obligated that way. I also want non-nudists to see "naked in nature" pictures. So far, no complaints and a lot of positive response.
I also want my record shots. "I did that!"
I always try for a well composed shot. (May not always succeed.) Stop, take off the pack, set up the camera on a tripod, try to compose a picture imagining where I'll be standing. Diddle with the exposure. Take a few shots to get something decent. pack things away, put on the pack, and proceed. Really distracts from the enjoyment.
I need a cameraperson. Doesn't even need to be a nudist.
Check Out the Camping Bares, theyre based in San Diego but they go up and hike sections of trails all over CA. In my 17 years there we hiked a lot of awesome trails in those mountains. If I could just get a group like that together here!
Fred it does make photo life much easier when there are two. T and I alternate taking photos. However if we want the two of us in the same shot, mini tripod and camera come out for that, a pain in the butt for sure. The memories saved are worth it in the end.
I have been freehiking for about half a century. I've never been arrested or seriously harassed. I act "as if" nude is a common choice of clothing or not. I say "good morning" or similar to other hikers passing the other direction on the trail. I never apologize, hide, or cover up. Apologizing or covering tells the other person that you know you are doing something wrong. That "I'm doing something wrong" is the wrong message to convey. A cheery "howdy" on the trail conveys a message that naked is normal.
Out of thousands of nude encounters with clothist hikers, I have like 3 times when teenage boys made some rude comment, and maybe 3 times when some young female stepped off the trail to allow more space between us. There have been dozens of encounters that resulted in accolades for being brave enough to be natural, more often from female hikers. Most clothists accept nudity, just return my greeting, and go on about their day.
Some recommendations: Don't hike naked at the parking lot. Police (where it's illegal) are very hesitant to get out of their patrol car to hike up a mountain looking for a naked hiker. Someone who called police about nudity won't show up in court anyway so it's a lose for the cops, unless you show up naked at the parking lot. Even then most of the time they will only tell you to put on some clothes.
If you hide your clothes and/or car keys a little way from the parking lot, be very aware of a landmark indicating where you hid them. All the "big trees" can look the same several hours later.
I recently went free hiking with someone who had been to the trail we were using. It is liberating to proceed in the buff. Hiking boots were valuable, too. I felt one with nature. It began to drizzle on the walk back to our starting point and someone later noted humorously what I had on was "wash and wear."
Asking government officials about nudity on public property may sound like a good idea, but one should refrain from doing so. None of those you ask will have much actual knowledge of the topic, and since it is so much easier to say itβs forbidden than it is to actually find out what the policy is, they will advise you not to do it. If theyβre wrong, thereβs no harm done, but if they tell you itβs ok, and you get in trouble, then they have a problem. Theyβre not going to take that risk. Donβt ask. Remember the saying - itβs easier to get forgiven than it is to get permission.
I always suggest that people should go online and Google "***** county laws and ordinances" find an authoritative site and search for "nude" and "nudity." That will give you an idea of what might be out there. Cities will have their own separate rules. The county (or city) parks department might have their own ordinances. Do the same thing for states, but the Naturist Action Committee site is also a good resource.
Understand that it is a myth that state and local law do not apply on federal land. With rare exceptions they most assuredly do. And even if nudity is legal, you can still be harassed by law enforcement any number of ways and you'll have no recourse. Staying low in profile and avoiding confrontation is always a good policy.
I hike frequently on side trails off the Appalachian Trail (Which is less than a mile from my workplace) and one thing I always bring is A Shower Wrap. It is a wrap with a pocket and velcro closure, quick and easy to get on when the need arises.
When I am home in the Mountains of Northeast Tennessee there are SOOO Many great places to hike and Paddle naked, it's wonderful. I do always bring a shower wrap with me w Velcro closure so I can quickly cover up if needed but I rarely ever need to use it. One day though paddling with a friend down the lower Nolichucky River, going around a bend in a riffle, a class 2 cascade that swept around to a big Sand Bar below.....I wasn't paying attention, flipped out of my sit-on-top Kayak and just climbed halfway on top of the overturned boat to get to quiet water and reassemble myself. Id been there many times and never saw anyoen there but THIS Day there were 2 BBW, Big Girls fishing off the sand Bar. They Both started laughing seeing me with my naked butt in the air floating by - both laid down their fishing rods and gave me a nice Ovation. I eventually retreived my paddle and shower wrap which had floated over and said, "oh I apologize if I offended you ladies!" and they both said it made their day, that I was welcome to re-enact it any time. Sometimes I get lucky! Meanwhile the person I was paddling with was still doubled over laughing at my misfortune.......it is rare that I meet anyone on the side trails or river sections that I paddle nude on but major sections of river, lake and trail I generally keep at least shorts on till I am out of view. As I always say, "Be Safe, Have Fun, Get Naked in the SUN!" ~ Rich E in Tennessee
Here in New Zealand, it is not illegal to be nude.
But the grey area exists around indecent exposure, and causing offence.
Like Evan writes here, I always leave early from a (hopefully empty) carpark early in the morning, not only does this reduce the likelihood of coming across any textiles hikers, but it also saves me from baring my skin to the harshest of the sun's UV rays.
Not rude! Thank you for sharing!
My husband and I always try to go midweek. Even in the summer months there are simply fewer people about. You are correct about early morning hikes; mosquitos can be very annoying. However here in our area if you wait until late in the day horse flies will punish bare skin. But at the end of the day as hubby says, it's all about risk vs reward. The rewards of hiking nude are immeasurable.
Ms. K
Absolutely!
My husband and I have a saying; "it's risk vs reward". If we never risk getting nude in the places where we want to, there will never be the reward of freedom and the liberation from our clothes.
Ms. K
One of my ultimate favorite Nudist Resorts is in OK! Y'all ever get to Oaklake Trails? You can hike nude all you want there and the trails are not just beautiful, you will encounter MORE beautiful People naked on the trails!
Our 1st visit was there in 2005. We have been members there since 2011. Great trails and great people. Lots of activities. We are there most weekends depending on the weather. Our membership has grown to over 500. We have close to a 100 permeant residences and members living there year-round.
I met the most awesome people there. Haven't been in years though because I no longer work field service on the road. I used to stay at nudist resorts near wherever I was working and it was always cheaper so my boss never minded seeing it on my expense report. Was checking and I cant find pics of me with my lady friend I met there, I will find them somewhere....suffice it to say if I get back out there I will definitely spend a few days at Oaklake Trails
I hike middle of the day. I meet clothist people. It's not a problem.
Good article.
FYI Here's a useful guide to US state laws on nudity.
https://naturistaction.org/laws/
The NAC list of US State Laws fails to include court decisions, and every lawyer knows that laws actually mean what the court says they mean.
In my state, WA, for example, the state law says, "(1) A person is guilty of indecent exposure if he or she intentionally makes any open and obscene exposure of his or her person or the person of another knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm."
HOWEVER, Seattle had City Ordinance prohibiting public nudity. Seattle arrested Johnson for public nudity. But, The courts, in "Seattle v. Johnson" pointed out that the law does not ban nudity per se. The law only bans deliberately intends to do something indecent or obscene, or deliberately and intentionally attempts to cause "affront or alarm" of another person. The court pointed out that Johnson was minding his own business while naked. The court pointed out that humans are not inherently indecent. The court told Seattle that their City Ordinance against nudity per-se was in violation of the State Law. .Seattle had to pay a settlement to Johnson, and revise their city ordinance to comply with state law.
So the actual law in WA is that nudity is not illegal as long as you are doing ordinary activity (not doing something indecent) and not intending to affront or alarm someone. Minding your own business naked, is not illegal in WA. Hiking, biking, driving, gardening, sports, work, etc, while naked is not illegal.
The NAC guide to state laws misses the actual law entirely. I'm sure they give misunderstanding in other states as well.
Thank you for the clarification
I try to hit the trails nude whenever I can. It isn't illegal in the state of California but there are local jurisdictions who might have an ordinance. State parks have a regulation against it as do many county and city parks. Know your local laws!
Unless I'm in an event, (WNBR, Bay to Breakers, etc.) I keep my nudity on empty national forest trails where it isn't as issue. Once in a while I encounter people but it has never been an issue. Deep Creek Hot Springs and the PCT for several miles in each direction is brilliant nude hiking territory.
I always enjoy your writing about freehiking
I always enjoy the hikes and then re-experiencing them when I write them up. Doing the selfies is a royal PITA. But it is a freehike and not just a hike, so I feel obligated that way. I also want non-nudists to see "naked in nature" pictures. So far, no complaints and a lot of positive response.
I also want my record shots. "I did that!"
I always try for a well composed shot. (May not always succeed.) Stop, take off the pack, set up the camera on a tripod, try to compose a picture imagining where I'll be standing. Diddle with the exposure. Take a few shots to get something decent. pack things away, put on the pack, and proceed. Really distracts from the enjoyment.
I need a cameraperson. Doesn't even need to be a nudist.
Ooh please keep me in the loop too! That hike is on my bucket list
Southern California Naturist Association often holds hikes to Deep Creek. Usually with the San Diego Camping Bares. Watch them through Meetup.com.
I usually just go on my own.
Camping bares is one hell of a good group of humans!
Check Out the Camping Bares, theyre based in San Diego but they go up and hike sections of trails all over CA. In my 17 years there we hiked a lot of awesome trails in those mountains. If I could just get a group like that together here!
Fred it does make photo life much easier when there are two. T and I alternate taking photos. However if we want the two of us in the same shot, mini tripod and camera come out for that, a pain in the butt for sure. The memories saved are worth it in the end.
Ms. K
I have been freehiking for about half a century. I've never been arrested or seriously harassed. I act "as if" nude is a common choice of clothing or not. I say "good morning" or similar to other hikers passing the other direction on the trail. I never apologize, hide, or cover up. Apologizing or covering tells the other person that you know you are doing something wrong. That "I'm doing something wrong" is the wrong message to convey. A cheery "howdy" on the trail conveys a message that naked is normal.
Out of thousands of nude encounters with clothist hikers, I have like 3 times when teenage boys made some rude comment, and maybe 3 times when some young female stepped off the trail to allow more space between us. There have been dozens of encounters that resulted in accolades for being brave enough to be natural, more often from female hikers. Most clothists accept nudity, just return my greeting, and go on about their day.
Some recommendations: Don't hike naked at the parking lot. Police (where it's illegal) are very hesitant to get out of their patrol car to hike up a mountain looking for a naked hiker. Someone who called police about nudity won't show up in court anyway so it's a lose for the cops, unless you show up naked at the parking lot. Even then most of the time they will only tell you to put on some clothes.
If you hide your clothes and/or car keys a little way from the parking lot, be very aware of a landmark indicating where you hid them. All the "big trees" can look the same several hours later.
Happy hiking.
I recently went free hiking with someone who had been to the trail we were using. It is liberating to proceed in the buff. Hiking boots were valuable, too. I felt one with nature. It began to drizzle on the walk back to our starting point and someone later noted humorously what I had on was "wash and wear."
Asking government officials about nudity on public property may sound like a good idea, but one should refrain from doing so. None of those you ask will have much actual knowledge of the topic, and since it is so much easier to say itβs forbidden than it is to actually find out what the policy is, they will advise you not to do it. If theyβre wrong, thereβs no harm done, but if they tell you itβs ok, and you get in trouble, then they have a problem. Theyβre not going to take that risk. Donβt ask. Remember the saying - itβs easier to get forgiven than it is to get permission.
I always suggest that people should go online and Google "***** county laws and ordinances" find an authoritative site and search for "nude" and "nudity." That will give you an idea of what might be out there. Cities will have their own separate rules. The county (or city) parks department might have their own ordinances. Do the same thing for states, but the Naturist Action Committee site is also a good resource.
https://naturistaction.org/laws/
Understand that it is a myth that state and local law do not apply on federal land. With rare exceptions they most assuredly do. And even if nudity is legal, you can still be harassed by law enforcement any number of ways and you'll have no recourse. Staying low in profile and avoiding confrontation is always a good policy.
I hike frequently on side trails off the Appalachian Trail (Which is less than a mile from my workplace) and one thing I always bring is A Shower Wrap. It is a wrap with a pocket and velcro closure, quick and easy to get on when the need arises.
When I am home in the Mountains of Northeast Tennessee there are SOOO Many great places to hike and Paddle naked, it's wonderful. I do always bring a shower wrap with me w Velcro closure so I can quickly cover up if needed but I rarely ever need to use it. One day though paddling with a friend down the lower Nolichucky River, going around a bend in a riffle, a class 2 cascade that swept around to a big Sand Bar below.....I wasn't paying attention, flipped out of my sit-on-top Kayak and just climbed halfway on top of the overturned boat to get to quiet water and reassemble myself. Id been there many times and never saw anyoen there but THIS Day there were 2 BBW, Big Girls fishing off the sand Bar. They Both started laughing seeing me with my naked butt in the air floating by - both laid down their fishing rods and gave me a nice Ovation. I eventually retreived my paddle and shower wrap which had floated over and said, "oh I apologize if I offended you ladies!" and they both said it made their day, that I was welcome to re-enact it any time. Sometimes I get lucky! Meanwhile the person I was paddling with was still doubled over laughing at my misfortune.......it is rare that I meet anyone on the side trails or river sections that I paddle nude on but major sections of river, lake and trail I generally keep at least shorts on till I am out of view. As I always say, "Be Safe, Have Fun, Get Naked in the SUN!" ~ Rich E in Tennessee
Here in New Zealand, it is not illegal to be nude.
But the grey area exists around indecent exposure, and causing offence.
Like Evan writes here, I always leave early from a (hopefully empty) carpark early in the morning, not only does this reduce the likelihood of coming across any textiles hikers, but it also saves me from baring my skin to the harshest of the sun's UV rays.