Nude on Federal Land

[Pizzaguy]

I am a new nudist and just LOVE the outdoors. I keep hearing that nudism in a federal park is not an enforceable offense.

What exactly is the law on federal land?

[Naturist Mark]

I am a new nudist and just LOVE the outdoors. I keep hearing that nudism in a federal park is not an enforceable offense.

What exactly is the law on federal land?

There is no federal law banning nudity on federal land.

... but ...

In some cases there are regulations that rule it out - that is the case in most national forests. And in many National parks and other federal lands there is concurrent jurisdiction with State and local laws - which means nudity is often outlawed or limited there, and you can be arrested by Federal law enforcement and charged with a State offense.

And then there are the nutcases who run some National Parks, seashores or recreation areas who enforce anti-nudity rules even without any laws to back them up. In the post 9/11 era they are likely to get away with that.

-Mark

[usuallylurk]

There **IS**, however, a specific REGULATION that was put in at the Cape Cod National Seashore, prohibiting nudity.

[Bicycler]

I am a new nudist and just LOVE the outdoors. I keep hearing that nudism in a federal park is not an enforceable offense.

What exactly is the law on federal land?

Mark is giving you good advice. But I will give you a couple of examples where it is practical to go nude on Federal lands and not worry. One in California and one in Arizona.

The area around Deep Creek Hot Springs near Victorville, CA is traditionally nude. The Forest Service regulations covering that area specifically spell out that nudity is not allowed within 500 yards (or something like that) of one of the major roads that provide access to the trail to Deep Creek Hot Springs. I take that to infer that nudity is OK elsewhere including on the trail to Deep Creek and hiking nude in that area is very common.

In Arizona I have camped with a naturist group on Federal land where a member of the Forest Service came to our camp and lectured us about the law concerning two people on a one-man 4-wheeler. Not a word about us all running around in the all-together. Clearly there was no issue with nudity with this particular Forest Service person.

But, as Mark said - your mileage may vary. So best to check with the local naturists and the local authorities before you venture out.

[luvnaturism]

As stated above, there is no law against nudity on federal land, but it's not a guaranteed right. Particularly the national forest system seems to mostly follow what in California is known as the Cahill policy: nudity in remote areas is not an enforceable matter unless someone complains. If there is a complaint, the ranger will order the nude person to dress. If he/she complies, and remains dressed the rest of the day, there is no offense. Only if compliance is refused is an arrest made.

As I have posted here before, last summer a friend and I were hiking nude in a national forest when we met a ranger. We smiled and said "Hi." She smiled and said "Hi." Then we all continued on our way.

I absolutely guarantee you that there is no law anywhere in this country against asking a question. So my suggestion is that you identify the nearest national forest. Call their headquarters and ask if they can suggest an area where a person could safely skinny dip or freehike. Most likely they'll tell you; but if that's a jurisdiction that has a different policy they'll also tell you that. Either way, you haven't risked anything.

[vintagecarguy]

I've been spotted nude by a ranger in Wawona once but he didn't even come talk to me,just walked on by.Skinny dipping is pretty common in the rivers around there.

[nudenwv]

wow! never gave this one a thought! i was only nude one time in a state park and not very long. just walked a few feet. thanks for the info!

[Two Metre Man]

Does anyone on the forum have any experience of nude hiking or other nudist activities (canoeing??) in central TN or northern AL? We are looking to expand our group's (Southern Sociable Bares) options of things to enjoy au naturel and want to stay "legal," naturally. Or should that be "naturally legal"??.....

Cheers!

TMM

[nude826]

I was this past week at both Apollo and Playlinda beaches on Canaveral Natl Seashore in Florida. Both traditional though not "official" nude beaches. Although they are part of the same National Seashore, they are in different counties. The rangers have no problem with simple non-sexual nudity. But Brevard County (Playlinda) does from time to time. County deputies come out and warn of impending arrests, but nothing ever happens. Volusia County (Apollo) is pretty lax about the whole thing. I've never heard of any problem there. Problem is, Apollo has a much smaller parking lot. Years ago I visited Navarre Beach in the Fl pandhandle. The nude part was on federal land. Eglin AFB.

Phil

[DKirkpatrick]

I am a new nudist and just LOVE the outdoors. I keep hearing that nudism in a federal park is not an enforceable offense.

What exactly is the law on federal land?


Often a simple question cannot have a simple answer. As noted in the other responses there are variables to be considered.

There are numerous federal entities such as the National Park Service, National Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and several others. It is true that there is no "law" at the federal level. That issue is often left to state jurisdiction.

However, federal entities can have specific regulations in place against nudity. The USFWS often has one, and select NPS entities such as the Cape Cod National Seashore have one. However at many others, nude users and rangers co-exist nicely. As such one size does not fit all. You need to educate yourself in advance.

The issue of "concurrent jurisdiction" can be an issue of concern. This is when the federal entity strikes a deal with a local township (and therefore the state by default) for things such as assistance with fire fighting, traffic control, snow plowing, and other services, and in return the federal entity *may* allow the town to enforce local laws within their boundaries. In some instances the rangers may issue citations written on local ticket books rather than on federal ones. Rare but possible.

Your best bet is to contact a naturist group local to you as they may have already done the footwork for you and can offer answers about specific federal land masses.

Alternately, with some specific data (as the above query is far too broad for the reasons I offer here) you may also try contacting the Naturist Action Committee (www.naturistaction.org) with a specific question regarding a specific federal land area. They might be able to directly answer or refer the question to someone on their list of regional activists that might be able to assist.

DMK

[DKirkpatrick]

Does anyone on the forum have any experience of nude hiking or other nudist activities (canoeing??) in central TN or northern AL? We are looking to expand our group's (Southern Sociable Bares) options of things to enjoy au naturel and want to stay "legal," naturally. Or should that be "naturally legal"??.....

Cheers!

TMM


TNS Outdoor and Hiking SIG

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturists-outdoors

Yahoo deems this an adult group (nudity) so you need a Yahoo ID to log in and access it. This group discusses hiking around the USA in general but had a broad interest for geography.

[meredith2kp4]

There is no federal law banning nudity on federal land.

... but ...

In some cases there are regulations that rule it out - that is the case in most national forests. And in many National parks and other federal lands there is concurrent jurisdiction with State and local laws - which means nudity is often outlawed or limited there, and you can be arrested by Federal law enforcement and charged with a State offense.

And then there are the nutcases who run some National Parks, seashores or recreation areas who enforce anti-nudity rules even without any laws to back them up. In the post 9/11 era they are likely to get away with that.

-Mark

At Acadia National Park in Maine two years ago new Park Superintendant Sheridan Steele announced a nudity ban in the park and in particular at Lake Wood, an idyllic isolated spot where skinnydipping has been going on for at least fifty years. He posted signs indicating that nudity violated a park regulation, giving the number of a particular park regulation. The regulation was the disorderly conduct regulation, which talked about abusive language, fighting, and so on, with nothing about nudity. There is no concurrent jurisdiction problem because Maine indecent exposure laws are very permissive. Since most users are from long distances away it is difficult for them to fight him. Efforts to form a local users group have been unsuccessful. Mr. Steele seems to have succeeded.

[Two Metre Man]

TNS Outdoor and Hiking SIG

groups.yahoo.com/group/naturists-outdoors

Yahoo deems this an adult group (nudity) so you need a Yahoo ID to log in and access it. This group discusses hiking around the USA in general but had a broad interest for geography.

Magic, DMK, thank you. I shall follow that thread up.

Cheers!

TMM