HikeArizona.COM

What are your views on naturists/nudists? Has anyone come upon a naked hiker/camper and what was the outcome ?

@Tough_Boots just so long as this topic doesn't merge with the ax-weilding bunch...

cindyl wrote:just so long as this topic doesn't merge with the ax-weilding bunch...

Yeah... that would bring new meaning to the phrase "chopping wood" !!

PLC92084 wrote:that would bring new meaning to the phrase "chopping wood"

or we could combine with one of the firearms forums for "shootin' the pumpkin"!

@Tough_Boots
Thanks for the visual...

hiking nude on public land is legal. I have done it many time on national parks in New York fire island, Sandy Hook, Cape canveral 'Apollo beach'. Haulover beach near Miami Beach. There is no laws of naturalist in federal lands, and so a ranger can not enforce it as a crime. It is left up to the county sheriff office to enforce it, and has been an issue at cape canverals playidad beach for years. Even in flordia St. Lucie County allows you to be almost nude as long as your private is hidden, but your butt can be exposed all day long. I spent 5 years on that beach naked almost everyday. rainbow family hits national forset lands because they can get down and get dirty without much pressure from the law. If you never been to a rainbow gathering you have missed out on a LSD orgy of wildness in the forest.

michaelg wrote:hiking nude on public land is legal. I have done it many time on national parks in New York fire island, Sandy Hook, Cape canveral 'Apollo beach'. Haulover beach near Miami Beach. There is no laws of naturalist in federal lands, and so a ranger can not enforce it as a crime. It is left up to the county sheriff office to enforce it, and has been an issue at cape canverals playidad beach for years. Even in flordia St. Lucie County allows you to be almost nude as long as your private is hidden, but your butt can be exposed all day long. I spent 5 years on that beach naked almost everyday. rainbow family hits national forset lands because they can get down and get dirty without much pressure from the law. If you never been to a rainbow gathering you have missed out on a LSD orgy of wildness in the forest.

My wife works for Park Service during the summers, and she says it is not illegal to be naked in the park unless it offends someone.

michaelg wrote:I have done it many time on national parks

Big round of applause to the first to admit it-- and a newbie to the site as well! Now could you just let us know what trails you'll be on and when so we can plan to be elsewhere? ;)

Tough_Boots wrote:Big round of applause to the first to admit it

Pssst... did you read all seventeen pages

PageRob wrote:My wife works for Park Service during the summers, and she says it is not illegal to be naked in the park unless it offends someone.

Well Jeff is someone so apparently it's illegal

joe bartels wrote:Well Jeff is someone so apparently it's illegal

PageRob wrote:My wife works for Park Service during the summers, and she says it is not illegal to be naked in the park unless it offends someone.

That's close. As lbiffle pointed out many pages ago, In Arizona it also contains an element of "reckless". I searched the thread and did not find a specific reference to the Statute, so here it is.

(dead link removed)
A.R.S. 13-1402. Indecent exposure; exception; classification

A. A person commits indecent exposure if he or she exposes his or her genitals or anus or she exposes the areola or nipple of her breast or breasts and another person is present, and the defendant is reckless about whether the other person, as a reasonable person, would be offended or alarmed by the act.

B. Indecent exposure does not include an act of breast-feeding by a mother.

C. Indecent exposure to a person who is fifteen or more years of age is a class 1 misdemeanor. Indecent exposure to a person who is under fifteen years of age is a class 6 felony.

D. A person who is convicted of a felony violation of this section and who has two or more historical prior felony convictions for a violation of this section or section 13-1403 involving indecent exposure or public sexual indecency to a minor who is under fifteen years of age shall be sentenced pursuant to section 13-709.05.

Arizona laws can be concurrently enforced on Federal lands in Arizona, so this could be enforced. Arizona law is much different than California law.

I guess that means I can't wear my Borat thong while hiking this week. Well it was getting a bit chilly on the South Rim anyway.

I have been living in florida where this has been a debate with local authorities and the Federal government. the Federal government does not have any laws, and so it is for local governments to enforce it. You west coast people never been to the east coast I guess, because the national parks has LEGAL nude beaches and forest lands they set up for being nude, thats why rainbow family went to florida this year to get naked in the Oceee national Forest. It is Legal by federal standards, but local laws can effect it, but local law doesnt patrol forest lands well at least back east, unless a serious crime has been committed. I would never do that in the grand canyon, to many people and it will only cause you to fight it out in court, which you will win at your expense with a lawyer. haulover, Playda beach, Apollo beach, Sandy Hook, and fire islands 5 beaches are all nude beachs that the Federal government set up. So it is LEGAL. I been many times when I was a New Yorker, and a florida person.

Padre Island:
Nudity

Nudity is not permitted anywhere in the park.

Cape Canaveral:
Is nudity allowed on Playalinda Beach?
No. Brevard County ordinance 95-21 prohibits public nudity throughout Brevard County, including the Playalinda Beach area of the National Seashore. For more information regarding this ordinance, or to express your concerns, please contact the Brevard County Sheriff's Department, or speak with a law enforcement ranger.

Those are just two examples I found from nps.gov and their search engine. I think that each park has its own rules.

If you can't find places to hike nude in Grand Canyon then you are going to the wrong part of the Canyon. Last 4 day backpack I did in the Canyon I saw no one else except my companions and one party of river runners. The Canyon is over 200 miles long. The tourists cover about .00001% of it.

I don't hike nude though since I have bad skin and I also have 4 pockets in my shorts that are always full of items I enjoy using. Nude beach bathing might be fun but I have not done that in years--but I still have the same issue. I don't even wear tank tops or vee necks or low scoop neck tshirts because the skin damage is from my neck down about 8 inches. I had too much fun in the sun when I was younger. Arizona sun is particularly hard on skin.

There are a lot of remote swimming holes in the Catalinas a lot of folks go to in late summer during the monsoon, such as Lemmon Pools.

azbackpackr wrote:If you can't find places to hike nude in Grand Canyon then you are going to the wrong part

OMG!! After the Royal Arch trek, I can't imagine going nude there... There were some really sharp rocks that I left non-critical pieces of myself on! Can't imagine dragging the critical bits over them!!

@PLC92084
No kidding- that schist had a mean streak a mile long!

azbackpackr wrote: Arizona sun is particularly hard on skin. .

...hmmm. I knew Arizona was growing in prominence, but now it's got it own damn sun!?

Well regarding nude hiking in the Canyon, I'm just sayin'.... Don't you get irritated when people try to TELL you about the Grand Canyon, after you have been hiking it for awhile? I sure do.

I have been working out so that my next 4 day trip there, which starts Sat., will hopefully be a breeze on the old knees. I have run into other day hikers, and I explain why I am carrying my overnight gear. I mention the trip to co-workers, etc. And what do I hear back? You know the answer if you have been a GC backpacker for awhile: "Are you doing a rim to rim?"

I swear I will never do a rim to rim, just out of pure orneriness. I never even hiked S Kaibab or Bright Angel until about my 7th or 8th backpacking trip in the Canyon, and then I did it in midwinter to cut down on the crowds. Been there, done that, have no desire to go back to Phantom Ranch or any other developed part of the Canyon.

As for my Arizona skin, I am going to have to see a dermatologist before long. End of story.

Liz, there's a good chance I'll be day hiking on the Hermit trail area on Monday with a group of friends visiting from New England. Remote chance, but if you see the five of us, say hello. I'll be the guy with lots of tattoos on both arms. Have fun on your trip, as it appears the thunderstorms may be over by then, according to the local forecast.

Ok, dude, Monday is the day we hike from Boucher Creek to Hermit Creek and set up camp at that (gawdawful) backpacker campground. Then once our camp is set up we are hiking downstream to Hermit Rapids. I will look out for you.

Elizabeth