Naturist spaces on the auction block
A controversial Senate push to sell public lands under Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” could strip access from nude hikers and campers
Naturists across the American West are waking up to an unsettling reality: many of the public lands we rely on for nude recreation—beaches, hiking trails, and free camping areas—might soon be up for sale.
The threat comes from a provision tucked into the Senate’s version of Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending legislation known as the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Championed by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the provision would open as much as 250 million acres of federal land for sale, including those overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service. At least three million acres would be required to be sold off within the next five years.
Helpfully, the Wilderness Society has created an interactive map showing all parcels eligible for sale under the Senate plan. You can view it here.
While the bill does not specify which lands must be sold, conservation groups warn the legislation lacks meaningful protections and would allow developers to scoop up wild spaces for golf courses, luxury resorts, and private estates. For the naturist community, this raises the alarm—not just about the loss of remote open spaces, but about specific places where clothing-optional recreation has been welcomed for years.
One of the clearest examples is The Magic Circle, a 450-acre swath of BLM desert near Quartzsite, Arizona, where nudists have camped legally for decades. Described as the largest public-land nudist camp in the U.S., it has no membership fees, fences, or corporate management—just a simple ethos of community and body freedom under the sun. That land, too, is eligible for sale under the Senate provision.
Beyond the Magic Circle, naturist-friendly spaces across the West may be impacted. Trails and canyons near Lakes Mead and Havasu, beaches along the shores of Lake Tahoe, and dispersed camping areas throughout Oregon, Idaho, and California all sit within public lands that are now on the table. Even if some areas aren't immediately slated for sale, their eligibility creates long-term uncertainty for naturists who rely on public access to wild spaces.
In California, some of the parcels identified fall near Yosemite, Big Sur, and Mammoth Lakes—all regions where public lands have historically buffered naturist experiences from overdevelopment. In Nevada and Utah, BLM lands that offer remote hiking and hot spring access could soon be fenced, gated, or developed.
The legislation is rapidly advancing. Senate Republicans aim to pass their version of the bill by the Fourth of July. And while the House version currently excludes the land-sale provision—thanks to resistance from Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), a former Interior Secretary. Even Zinke’s state of Montana was conveniently exempted from the Senate version of the bill, a move many see as politically motivated given Zinke’s vocal objections.
Critics across the political spectrum have condemned the proposal. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) called it “insane,”1 while Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) said plainly: “We can’t let Republicans take [our public lands] from us.”2
A recent poll by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) found that 71 percent of Americans oppose selling off public lands—including a strong majority of Trump voters.3
The naturist community has a stake in this fight—not just because our favorite places are threatened, but because the values of shared access, stewardship, and freedom that define naturism are bound up with the existence of public lands.
We encourage readers to explore the interactive map by the Wilderness Society and check on places they know and love. If you notice a public land area used for nude recreation that appears on the map, we want to hear from you. Please message us at Planet Nude and help us track which naturist spaces are at risk. The more we can identify, the better we will be able to defend the ones we can—by raising our voices while we still have the chance. 🪐
Jacoby, J. (2025, June 16). Wyden, Merkley criticize proposal to require sale of some public lands in the West. Baker City Herald. https://bakercityherald.com/2025/06/16/wyden-merkley-criticize-proposal-to-require-sale-of-some-public-lands-in-the-west/
NM.news Staff. (2025, June 19). Sen. Heinrich warns of public land sales in New Mexico under Republican reconciliation bill. Tri-City Record. https://www.tricityrecordnm.com/articles/sen-heinrich-warns-of-public-land-sales-in-new-mexico-under-republican-reconciliation-bill/
Trust for Public Land. (2025, April). Vast Majority of Americans Oppose Selling or Closing Public Lands, New Poll and Report Reveal. https://www.tpl.org/media-room/vast-majority-of-americans-oppose-selling-or-closing-public-lands-new-poll-and-report-reveal
This is absolutely hilarious! Nudists can't catch a break!