CHICAGO AREA NUDIST
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- created by nudist_60187
Illinois Beach State Park
Return to DiscussionsYears ago, nudity at IBSP in Zion was not uncommon, but it had gotten to be a cruising site, and was cracked down on hard (mostly by enforcing the rules about going off trails -- made it harder for honest naturist+naturalist folks like me to get pictures of some of the wildflowers).
Since then, there's always been a contingent of thong-clad men, and other nudity has been rare on the south unit -- I found secluded spots for sunning and discrete skinny-dips right on the beach in the north unit but those have lost their cover as erosion changes the beachfront year by year.
It appears that ranger patrols have been reduced (I'm guessing budget limits, especially with what they've had to spend after the last few years' storm damage). I've started to see a bit more flagrant nudity on the south unit (a topless woman this last sunday, a guy changing into his thong in full view of the beach). Especially further down the beach, it seems an opportunity to start colonizing the place again.
Sundays seem to be my best day to get there -- anyone else want to join me? Walk a mile south of the nature center, you might find me (but without a signal, you won't find me nude -- I'll see you coming).
Wow, people take the end of season at Labor Day seriously around here. Between that and the low 70's weather, nobody was on the beach. I had large swaths of sand to myself for hours. Seriously, any warm weekend (or weekday for that matter) over the next couple weeks is probably going to be naturist heaven.
So, I visited around noon on a midweek day last week. Went to the South branch and entered at the Nature Center. There is a 'No Nude Sunbathing' sign at the south end of the parking lot by the turn around and southern trail entrance :(
I walked to the beach and along the water beyond the Dead River (I will stop passing the Dead River as I also later noticed the big sign by the parking lot says no one is allowed past it without permission - no sense in drawing attention). Along my walk I encountered many people in the skimpiest of suits but no one nude. I asked a few and most said it was OK but be careful. I was also told that there was some ticketing in the previous week and weekend.
So, I will be looking for the skimpiest suit that I can find (should be interesting considering it is past the season in the clothing stores - does anyone know of anywhere local for a guy to find a micro-sized bathing suit?). Grab some sun and if all seems safe will get sky-clad.
Cheers!
So, I visited around noon on a midweek day last week. Went to the South branch and entered at the Nature Center. There is a 'No Nude Sunbathing' sign at the south end of the parking lot by the turn around and southern trail entrance :(I walked to the beach and along the water beyond the Dead River (I will stop passing the Dead River as I also later noticed the big sign by the parking lot says no one is allowed past it without permission
That "No Nude Sunbathing" sign has been there at least 25 years. I keep meaning to change that first "N" to a "Y": "Yo, Nude Sunbathing!" From that trail there had been some side branches where folks would lay out on dunes, but it creates major erosion spots if you tromp over those dunes frequently.
Don't worry too much about going past the dead river. Last time I was there I talked to a ranger who said that if you stay on the beach, out of the dunes, it's no problem... but he did say he'd just started working and "wasn't sure of all of the rules." They mainly want to preserve the natural area, lots of endangered plants up there.
@MXQ - thank you for your notes and observations. The weather is looking OK-ish this week and I may try again.
Better than ok-ish: 80 degrees (ok, that's probably an inland temp) in late september is definitely a beach day. I'll be there Saturday barring home emergencies.
Went yesterday afternoon, the weather was nice and the beach was deserted. Maybe saw 2 or 3 other guys. Looking for safety in numbers I walked down to the dead river and most of the way back finding no one was nude.
I had picked up something skimpy to wear so picked a spot and put the blanket down. Feels a bit odd to wear so little fearing the rangers and those who may be offended instead of just being nude, .
I stayed for an hour or so. With a flexible schedule I will be keeping an eye on the weather at the dusk of this season.
Gorgeous day last Saturday. As usual, the north unit was pretty much completely empty except for me, but again the beach had changed and the secluded spots I've used before are now more exposed.
I spent a little time on the South unit where there were a pair of couples that I've seen using the beach sky-clad: The one I've talked about a couple times said they'd been ticketed a couple weeks ago, and are a little more cautious now... although they said that now that it's post-season, it's not likely that there will be any rangers.
I went back to the North, and another couple that I've seen on the beach several times (clothed) was there. I asked(currently clothed)if they'd mind me skinnydipping, since I didn't want to drive home in wet shorts, and they said it was fine. I gave them some space, went for a swim, waved for them to join but they didn't. I'll see if they can be encouraged further if there's another warm weekend... or perhaps next year.
You folks shoulda been there: sunny, warm, and even the water was toe-dippable. I did NOT swim, though: the water isn't that warm, but the waves were high and washed out the beach in a few places making wet feet, and even knees necessary.
Only saw a couple people come to the trailhead in the distance, and only one person crossed my spot.
Oh, well, probably not another chance until April.