Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

[ScubaRay]

Returned from Otter Creek and notice a sign saying: Michigan Prohibit Nude Sunbathing. Keep Your Swim Suits On." Too bad I didn't see the sign until I returned to the main part of the beach. The sign is placed in a odd location and those who visit the beach to fully enjoy the water may not even see it. I hadn't notice the sign before so the park ranger may be watching closer but I haven't see any more the last two visit.
Ray

[ScubaRay]

Returned from Otter Creek and notice a sign saying: Michigan Prohibit Nude Sunbathing. Keep Your Swim Suits On." Too bad I didn't see the sign until I returned to the main part of the beach. The sign is placed in a odd location and those who visit the beach to fully enjoy the water may not even see it. I hadn't notice the sign before so the park ranger may be watching closer but I haven't see any more the last two visit.
Ray

[Naturist Mark]

quote:

Originally posted by ScubaRay:
Returned from Otter Creek and notice a sign saying: Michigan Prohibit Nude Sunbathing. Keep Your Swim Suits On." Too bad I didn't see the sign until I returned to the main part of the beach. The sign is placed in a odd location and those who visit the beach to fully enjoy the water may not even see it. I hadn't notice the sign before so the park ranger may be watching closer but I haven't see any more the last two visit.
Ray

If that was an official sign it would be prominently placed. I suspect it is the result of prude vigilanteism.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is part of the National Park Service. State of Michigan laws concerning public indecency would only apply if the park service and State have a concurrent jurisdiction agreement for law enforcement on those federal lands. To my knowledge they do not, of a certainly they did not in the recent past. If they do now it has only just been put into effect in the last year or two.

In a December 2003 interview the Park Superintendent affirmed that NPS has no plan or intention to make changes to the traditional nude use within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.


-Mark

[ScubaRay]

Thanks for the link. I do see the park ranger at the access to the beach and once near the nude beach section. I have never had any issue with them. They even are quite friendly as I say Hello to them. This is the first time I have seen the sign posted at the beach.
Ray

[cenfldh]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

Does anyone have any updated status info on c/o use at Otter Creek Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan? I found some posts elsewhere online that noted some arrests in summer 2008. Anyone truly knows wazzup? The last posts here are long ago.

[wmichnudists]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

Wife and I was there last summer and didn't have any problems but a guy that was there who is a regular said the rangers do come down there occasionally and people have been ticketed. When the wife and I got dressed and went back down to the clothed section we did see 2 rangers but they did not go down to the nude part of the beach.

[cenfldh]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

Can anyone tell me exactly where the traditionally used "nude beach" section is? Doing an internet search, some info says it's north of the Esch Road parking area, some info says it's south. There's also great variance in how far it is, everything from "a short walk" to 1-1/2 miles. We are going to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area later this month, and I'd like to go the right direction and the right distance. Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

[Naturist Mark]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

Can anyone tell me exactly where the traditionally used "nude beach" section is? Doing an internet search, some info says it's north of the Esch Road parking area, some info says it's south. There's also great variance in how far it is, everything from "a short walk" to 1-1/2 miles. We are going to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area later this month, and I'd like to go the right direction and the right distance. Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

From what I understand (and my info is several years old) the nude section is about a mile north of Esch Rd. To the south of Esch Rd. is a section that is (or has been) traditionally gay, and may have some nudity.

[cenfldh]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

Thanks for your help, Naturist Mark.

[wjhgolf]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

My wife and I are going to Esch Road for the first time in late July. What's the latest on the rangers and exactly where is the heterosexual nude section. If the rangers are watching, due thongs suffice, as we wear our thongs often in Florida? Also, do you need to wear sneakers or some other foot protection to walk to the nude section or is it OK with bare feet?

[Biker]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

Her and I are planning a trip to Sleeping Bear in August. We would also like to know where the heterosexal nude area is. We were there last year in early spring. The beach was empty so we just stripped off for the afternoon. Never saw anyone else. We don't know if we were at the right beach. I would like to know the best beach for both of us.

Thanks.

How about any area of the Indiana Dunes National Lakshore? I heard that it is permitted near Mt. Baldy. Is it?

Thanks again.

[wjhgolf]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

I just heard through the Empire Chamber of Commerce that no one frequents the nude beach areas anymore and that the National Park rangers are enforcing the public nudity laws (of Michigan, I guess).

[lakemichnudists]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

When the wife and I went last year there was nobody actually right on the beach. You layed in the dune grass. We only seen 3 guys who were pretty far apart from each other. One guy we talked too said there has been signs of Rangers every now and then. One of the guys further from us had binoculars and a flag to alert people if he seen Rangers coming. We had like two couples stroll past us at different times that had their suits on and we just barely covered up and they never acted like anything wrong. We exchanged Hi's and they kept walking way down the beach. Not sure if they ever got naked or not. There is so many miles of beach and dunes it is hard to tell. We heard stories of heading south from Esch rd beach also. We just have been north. So far the safest place we have found is the Lake Michigan Rec area also known as Nordhouse Dunes. If you hike into there you head to your south towards the Lighthouse but not all the way to it. We have laid out for hours and that was right on the beach. There is so much dune area there that you could spend most of the day naked in the right spot. We have never seen a Ranger there. Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[GreatLakes]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

I was there earlier this week. Unfortunately the wind and temperatures were not pleasant for any nude use. I walked north of Esch Road for about a mile. The dune comes right to the shore so anyone walking would have to be visible on the beach from either direction for quite some distance. There were a few places tucked in by a bush or small tree that appeared to be used regularly for sunbathing. I am assuming for nude use as they were tucked in, but you are still able to have good sight either direction.

[ScubaRay]

Re: Returned From Otter Creek (MI)

Good to read up on Otter Creek- I'm planning to go there in the next few weeks. Living in Grand Rapids I don't get up there often.
Ray