The Meandering Naturist’s Guide to North America
PLEASE NOTE: If viewing on a mobile device, this page is best viewed in “landscape mode.”
NATURISM IN NORTH AMERICA
Are you a naturist or a nudist? And what’s the difference?
Well, apparently most Americans who enjoy social nudity prefer the term nudist, though I have yet to find a discernible difference compared to Europeans who call themselves naturists. (The word “nudist” has something of a different connotation when traveling in Europe.) But what is distinctive is the “North American flavor” of nude recreation.
Predominantly, you well find mostly camping and RV parks, packed in along the east and west coasts, with a few spread out across the vast expanse in between. In recent years, we’ve seen more boutique hotels pop-up, along with several B&Bs that cater specifically to those who prefer clothing-optional accommodations. What you won’t find, however, are huge family-oriented naturist establishments like those in France and Croatia. A couple exceptions to that rule might include Cypress Cove in Florida or Bare Oaks Naturist Park in Ontario, but by and large, nude recreation on this side of the Atlantic is largely considered an activity for “grown-ups.”
There are only a handful of “authorized” nude beaches, despite thousands of miles of coastline. I am only including beaches on this list that are well documented elsewhere on the web with up-to-date information suggesting that clothing-optional remains acceptable, if not at least “tolerated.”
ZOOM IN and HOVER over desired location
GETTING TO AND AROUND the NORTH AMERICA
The biggest challenge regarding travel in North America are the sheer distances – about 3000 miles coast to coast, and that again from Texas to Quebec. The railways are a mere shadow of what they were in the golden days, serving mid-America small towns along with rail buffs and a few others who prefer not to fly, but it’s a solid three-day trip across the country. Of greatest consequence, however, is the lack of a coordinated public transportation systems like you will find in Europe or much of Asia, making it all but impossible to get to most naturist destinations without a car. Suffice it to say, naturist places are rarely located on local bus routes.
WHERE WE TELL OUR FRIENDS TO GET NAKED IN NORTH AMERICA
Make sure you know what you’re looking for! Many places advertise a “family-friendly atmosphere,” even if they prohibit guests under 21 years of age. Many resort owners would rather ban children altogether than worry about the liability of unauthorized photography, or worse! (Such a stark contrast to Europe!) It’s also worth taking the time to do your research, checking out resort websites (many of which are terribly antiquated) and reading Trip Advisor reviews, where you’ll frequently find details about the “Saturday night lingerie party” or similar weekend events. For us personally, that’s not something we equivocate with naturism, which is often a clue that we simply don’t want to be at a particular place on a Saturday night. Additionally, I’ve designated places established before World War II as “Legacy Clubs,” indicating the dates they were founded, as I find it intriguing that many naked places have been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years. Suffice it to say, some are faring better than others.
I’ve left a few places on the list like Paradise Lakes and Caliente in Florida, despite the fact that the major naturist organizations (AANR and TNSF) have stricken them from their rolls. But I think it’s important to write about these places so the unsuspecting would-be naturist simply knows what those places are, and what they are not! That’s all part of the narrative about the evolution of nude recreation in America. It can all be pretty confusing, even to the seasoned, well-traveled naturist.
Finally, I’ve included a few places of historical significance that are no longer in existence, if only to document their role in American naturist story, but have mainly limited those listings to venues that have disappeared just in recent years.
BLOGS POSTS ABOUT OUR NATURIST TRAVELS IN NORTH AMERICA
Coming Soon…
NATURIST PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA
THIS LIST IS A WORK IN PROGRESS! We’ve denoted places we’ve actually visited (😎) and will gradually work through the list to add our personal travel reports on pages separated by region and state. For those places we have not been, I will create pages as well so readers who have information to share can do so. In time, lists will be reorganized, one state at a time, with links individual pages about each venue. That will take time, but it’s a labor of love!
Know of a place that’s not on the list? Scroll to the bottom of the page and leave a comment in the “reply” box. Or send me an email at “naturistdan@gmail.com”
Happy Naked Travels!
LIST OF NATURIST PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA
[E] = East Coast
[M] = Middle America
[W] = West Coast
😎 = We’ve BEEN THERE!
☀️ = State/Province page is ACTIVE with associated links
BOLD LINKS indicate dedicated review pages from The Meandering Naturist
Alabama [M] – 4 naked places
- Bluff Creek Falls: Gay resort
- Gymno-vita Park: Couples/Families only, est. c. 1979
- Lizard Landing Camp, LLC: Gay resort, est. c. 2011
- Parksland Retreat: Nude status unconfirmed
Alberta, CA [M] – 2 naked places
Arizona [M] – 6 naked places
- Arizona Sunburst Inn: Clothing optional gay resort
- Desert Joy B&B: Part of the Clothing Optional Home Network (B&B)
- Mira Vista Resort 😎: Resort and Condos, est. 2006
- Shangri-La Ranch 😎: RV park and clothing optional resort, est.1959
- The Magic Circle: Undeveloped clothing optional RV park
- Valle de Vista B&B: Part of the Clothing Optional Home Network (B&B)
British Columbia [W] – 10 naked places
- Bare Creek Bed & Breakfast:
- Coady’s Cabana:
- Sol Sante Resort:
- Van Tan Nudist Club:
- Wreck Beach:
- Sunny Trails Club: no website
- Crescent Rock Beach in Surrey
- Prior Lake in Victoria
- Witty’s Lagoon in Victoria
- Nanaimo River “Pink Rock” in Nanaimo
California [W] – 41 naked places
- Arroyo del Sol B&B: Part of the Clothing Optional Home Network (B&B)
- (North) Baker Beach 😎 https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/north-baker-beach/
- Baker Beach (Trinidad) Nudity tolerated https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/baker-beach-trinidad/
- Blacks Beach 😎
- Bonny Doon Beach 😎
- College Cove Beach Nudity tolerated https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/college-cove/
- DeAnza Springs Resort 😎
- Desert Sun Resort 😎
- Frogs Hot Tubs and Sundeck 😎 http://frogshottubs.com/
- Garrapata Beach
- Glen Eden Sun Club 😎
- Gray Whale Cove State Beach 😎
- Harbin Hot Springs 😎:
- Indian Head Beach
- Kiva Retreat House, Santa Cruz, CA
- Laguna Creek Beach
- Laguna del Sol
- Lands End Beach https://www.thrillist.com/venue/drink/san-francisco/bar/lands-end-nude-beach
- Limantour Beach Tolerated https://www.tripsavvy.com/visiting-limantour-beach-1478617
- Little Beach at Muir Beach Tolerated https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/little-beach-muir-beach/
- Living Waters Spa 😎 Closed
- Lupin Lodge Naturist Resort 😎: Historical Legacy Resort, established c. 1935
- Marshall’s Beach https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/marshall-beach/
- Meadowlark Country House
- North Marina Beach
- Olive Dell Ranch 😎:
- Orr Hot Springs 😎
- Panther and Hole in the Wall Nude Beaches
- Pirate’s Cove Beach
- Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur)
- RCA Beach 😎 Tolerated https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/rca-beach/
- Red Rock Beach 😎 https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/red-rock-beach/
- Red, White & Blue Beach 😎 Closed
- San Gregorio Nude Beach
- San Onofre Beach https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/san-onofre-state-beach-nude-area/
- Sequoians Nude Recreation 😎:
- Sierra Hot Springs
- Terra Cotta Inn 😎 Closed
- Turtle Back Mesa B&B 😎:
- Tuscany Manor
- Wilbur Hot Springs
Colorado [M]
- Mountain Air Ranch
- Orient Land Trust/Valley View Hot Springs
- Orvis Hot Springs
Connecticut [E]
- Solair 😎
- Sun Ridge
Florida [E]
- Hidden River
- Suwwannee Valley Resort
- Caliente 😎
- Paradise Lakes 😎
- Haulover Beach
- Blind Creek Beach
- Playalinda Beach
- Apollo Beach
- Riviera Naturist Resort (???) http://www.riviera-resort.com/
- Sunnier Palms
- Sunnier Pines: https://sunnierpines.wordpress.com/
- Sunny Sands Resort (???): https://sunnysands.com/
- Sunsport Gardens
- (Edun Lake)
- Sunny Sands
- Cypress Cove 😎
- Eden RV resort
- Hidden Lakes
- Paradise Pines RV park
- Lake Como 😎
Georgia [E]
- Serendipity Park
- Native Woods Naturist Park (no active website)
- Paradise Valley Park (xxx): http://paradisevalleyclub.com/
- Bell Acres
Hawaii [W]
- Hangin’ Loose Resort 😎
- Banana Patch (???): https://bananabanana.com/
- Kehena Beach 😎
- Little Beach, Maui 😎‘
- Larsens Beach, Kauai
- Pa’ia Secret Beach, Maui
- Po’olenalena Beach, Maui (Depends on who gets there first)
Idaho [M]
- Bare Mountain Retreat
- Sun Meadow Resort
Illinois [M]
- Blue Lake Resort
Indiana [M]
- Sun Shower Country Club (1959): https://www.sunshower.com/
- Drakes Ridge (1964): https://drakesridge.com/homepage
- Sunny Haven (1947): https://www.sunnyhaven.com/
- Fern Hills Club (1947): https://fernhillsclub.com/about-us/
- Lake O’ the Woods 😎 (1933): https://www.lowc.org/
- Our Haven: https://www.ourhaven.info/index.html
- Ponderosa Sun Club: http://www.ponderosasunclub.com
Iowa [M]… No Naked Places 😢
Kansas [M]
- Prairie Haven (1972): https://prairiehaven.org/index.html
- Sandy Lane Club (???): http://www.sandylaneclub.com/index.html
- Lake Edun Foundation (???): https://www.lakeedun.com/about/
Kentucky [M]… No Naked Places 😢
Louisiana [M]… 2 Naked Places
- Indian Hills Nudist Park (???): https://www.louisiananudist.com/our-story/
- Bayou Allure B&B: https://www.clothingoptionalhomenetwork.com/locations/louisiana/baton-rouge/
Manitoba, CA [M]
- Naturist Legacy Park: http://www.naturistlegacy.org/
Massachusetts [E]
- Moshup Beach, Martha’s Vineyard: https://nudistcompass.com/place/847
- Sandy Terraces (1953): http://www.sandyterraces.com/aboutus.html
- Berkshire Vista 😎 (1956 as Birch Acres): http://www.berkshirevista.com/
Maryland [E]
- Pine Tree Associates 😎 (1934): https://www.pinetreeclub.org/
- Maryland Health Society 😎 (1934): https://www.marylandhealthsociety.com/
- Pen-Mar Club (1950)
Michigan [M]
- Whispering Oaks (???): https://whisperingoaks.net/
- Turtle Lake (c.2003): https://turtle-lake.net/about/about.htm
- Nuance B&B (c. 2000): https://www.nuancebb.us/
- Forest Hills Club (1957): https://foresthillsclub.com/
- Spruce Hollow Campground (???): https://sprucehollow.org/
Minnesota [M]
- The Oakwood Club (1942): https://www.oakwoodclub.com/
- Avatan (1961): http://www.avatan.com/site/
Missouri [M]
- Chateau Nu de Vin (The Nude House of Wine): http://chateaunudevin.com/wordpress3/
- Forty Acre Club (1953): http://www.fortyacreclub.com/
- Serenity Acres – (gay): https://sirenityfarmscampground.com/
Montana [M]
- Club33Naked (???): https://club33naked.com/
North Carolina [E]
- Bar S Ranch (???): https://www.bar-s-ranch.com/
- Whispering Pines (1974): http://www.whisperingpinesnudistresort.com/index.html
North Dakota [M]… No Naked Places 😢
Nebraska [M]… No Naked Places 😢
New Hampshire [E]
- Cedar Waters (c.1950): http://www.nhnude.com/
New Jersey [E] ☀️ Click here for dedicated page!
- Sky Farm 😎 : Membership Club, established c. 1929
- Rock Lodge Club 😎 : Membership Club and resort, established c. 1932
- Gunnison Beach 😎 : Clothing-optional Beach
- Goodland Country Club and Spa: Membership Club, established c. 1932
New Mexico [M]
- Mi Casa B&B 😎
- Bare Cottage 😎
- Faywood Hot Springs: https://faywoodhotsprings.com/
Missouri [M]
- Chateau nu de vin
- Forty Acres Club
Mississippi [M]… No Naked Places 😢
New York [E]
- Empire Haven (1959): https://www.empirehaven.net/
- Juniper Woods (???): https://www.juniperwoods.com/
- Full Tan Sun Club (1968): https://www.fulltansunclub.com/index#
- Steph’s Pond (???): https://www.stephspond.org/
Ohio [M]
- Green Valley (1936): http://greenvalleyclub.net/history/
- Alpine Resort (???): http://www.alpineresort.club/home.html
- Cedar Trails (c. 1991): https://www.cedartrailsnudistretreat.com/
Oklahoma [M]
- Oaklake Trails 😎 (1992): https://www.oaklaketrails.com/
- Oklahoma Naturist B&B: http://www.oklahomanaturist.com/
Ontario [M]
- Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park (2006): https://www.bareoaks.ca/
- Eagles Embrace Naturist Nest: http://eaglesembrace.com/
- East Haven Sun Club: https://www.easthavensunclub.ca/
- Lily Valley Nudist Club: http://lilly-valley.ca/
- Jewel Lake Wilderness: https://www.facebook.com/JewelLakeWilderness/
- Ponderosa Nature Resort: http://ponderosaresort.ca/
- Sunny Glades Naturist Park: http://www.sunnyglades.com/
- Sunward Naturist Park: http://sunward-naturist-park.ca/
- Port Burwell Provincial Park, Ontario
Oregon [W]
- Squaw Mountain Ranch (1933): https://www.squawmt.com/
- Mountaindale Sun Resort (1951): https://mountaindalesun.com/
- Willamettans (1953): https://willamettans.wildapricot.org/
- Tinyhouse Resort (2019): https://thetinyhouseresort6.wordpress.com/
- Breitenbush Hot Springs
- Sauvie Island
- Rooster Rock
- Alpenglow Ranch: https://www.clothingoptionalhomenetwork.com/locations/oregon/bend/
Pennsylvania [M]
- PSHS – Penn Sylvan 😎 (c. 1934)
- The Woods
- Sunny Rest 😎 (1945)
- White Thorn Lodge
- Beechwood Lodge (???)
Quebec [E]
- Centre Naturiste L’Oasis: https://centrenaturisteoasis.qc.ca/
- Centre Naturiste La Pommerie: https://www.pommerie.com/
- Club Naturiste Loisirs Air-Soleil: https://loisirsairsoleil.com/
- Domaine Soleil de L’Amitié: http://campingdsa.com/
- La Vieille Ferme: http://www.lavieilleferme.ca/index.php/en/
Rhode Island [E]
- Dyer Woods (???)
South Carolina [E]
- Carolina Foothills Resort (1992): http://www.carolinafoothills.com/
- Cedar Creek Resort (???): https://www.cedarcreekresort.net/
South Dakota [M]… No Naked Places 😢
Saskatchewan [M]
- Green Haven Sun Club (1973): http://www.greenhavensunclub.ca/
Tennessee [M]
- Rock Haven Lodge
Texas [M]
- Emerald Lake Naturist Resort (???): http://www.emeraldlakeresorthouston.com/home
- Blue Bonnet Naturist Park (c.1999?): https://www.bluebonnetnudistpark.com/
- Wildwood Naturist’s Resort (???): https://wildwoodnaturist.com/
- Star Ranch (1957): http://www.starranch.net/
- Freedom RV Resort (2018): http://www.starranch.net/
- Natures Resort (2007): https://naturesresorttexas.com/about-us/
- Sandpipers Resort (???): http://sandpipersresort.com/
- Sunbirds (???): https://www.sunbirds.org/
- Lone Star Resort (???): website inactive
- Hippie Hollow
Utah [M]… No Naked Places 😢
Virginia [E]
- White Tail Nudist Park 😎 (c.1980?): https://whitetailresort.org/
Vermont [M]
- Abbott’s Glen 😎
- The Ledges 😎
- Coventry Resort 😎 (???): https://coventryresort.com/
Washington [W]
- Kaniksu Ranch (???): http://www.kaniksufamily.com/
- Lake Bronson Club (???): https://www.lakebronson.com/
- Tiger Mountain Family Nudist Park (1945): https://www.tigermtnudists.com/
Wisconsin [M]
- Valley View Recreation Club (???): https://www.vvrc.org/
- Toadally Natural Garden (???): https://www.toadallynatural.com/
West Virginia [M]
- Avalon 😎 (???) https://www.avalon-resort.com/
Colorado resident here.
1. Valley View Hot Springs is probably my favorite place on Earth!
2. The proper name for one of the oldest resorts in our nation is Mountain Air Ranch.
3. There are two small places in the Arkansas River valley between Pueblo and Cañon City: Dakota Hot Springs, also known as The Well, which I’ve visited; and Desert Reef, which I haven’t. Dakota Hot Springs (last I knew) is clothing-optional most days except Tuesdays. The facilities are rustic but the water is artesian and the people are great. Desert Reef is also clothing-optional a majority of the time.
I’ll fix the listing for Mountain Air.
Thanks!
You note no places in Louisiana but cite a couple. Just a heads up.
Hahaha!!! Pilot error! LOL Thanks for the catch. (Assembling that list has been quite a chore – I’ll tell ya!)
https://www.facebook.com/CottonTailCornerDevon/
Great. I’ll add this to the list!