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 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 it’s forbidden than it is to actually find out what the policy is, they will advise you not to do it. If they’re wrong, there’s no harm done, but if they tell you it’s ok, and you get in trouble, then they have a problem. They’re not going to take that risk. Don’t ask. Remember the saying - it’s easier to get forgiven than it is to get permission.
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
Good article.
FYI Here's a useful guide to US state laws on nudity.
https://naturistaction.org/laws/
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 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 it’s forbidden than it is to actually find out what the policy is, they will advise you not to do it. If they’re wrong, there’s no harm done, but if they tell you it’s ok, and you get in trouble, then they have a problem. They’re not going to take that risk. Don’t ask. Remember the saying - it’s easier to get forgiven than it is to get permission.
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