George Washington National Forest

topic posted Mon, March 12, 2007 - 5:09 PM by  Darrel
I know it seems like most of the folks on here are "out west," but has anyone done any nude camping or backing in George Washington National Forest? It straddles the Virginia - West Virginia border. I'm trying to think forward to warm weather and plan some trips. I've done many trips in Shenandoah National Park, but I've never gone the extra half-hour to George Washington. I know the most popular area, Dolly Sods, would not work for nude camping, but does anyone know of an equally nice area that's less popular and might work?
posted by:
Darrel
Maryland
  • Re: George Washington National Forest

    Thu, March 29, 2007 - 4:44 PM
    Can't wait to get with you in warmer weather so we can nude hike and nude camp. And go to the nude beach in Jersey
    Jim.
    • Re: George Washington National Forest

      Thu, March 29, 2007 - 5:54 PM
      Jim, where is the nude beach in Jersey?

      Trillium
      • Re: George Washington National Forest

        Thu, March 29, 2007 - 7:13 PM
        It's Gunnison Beach in Sandy Hook State Park within the Gateway National Seashore. It's just outside NYC, across the harbor from Manhattan. Before 9/11/01 you could see the Twin Towers from the beach. Here's a link to a page on The Naturist Society web site that describes the beach and gives written directions: www.naturistsociety.com/magazi...ail.jsp The beach is a strange compromise. It's literally split down the middle -- when you walk down from the entry area, its clothed to the left and c/o to the right with a sign in the middle marking the demarcation line. Of course, the reality is that most clothed-minded textiles don't want to be within sight of naked people, so the textile end is usually all but deserted. It would make sense to make the whole beach c/o, but it probably took a lot of work just to get half the beach and I'm sure no-one wants to rock the boat. Even with only half the beach, it's a pretty large area and I've never seen it truly crowded, although some people might have to spread their blankets further back from the water than they'd like.
  • Re: George Washington National Forest

    Wed, April 11, 2007 - 7:19 AM
    >> "I know the most popular area, Dolly Sods, would not work for nude camping"

    I've been to Dolly Sods before. Why don't you think it would work well for nude camping?
    • Re: George Washington National Forest

      Thu, April 12, 2007 - 7:51 PM
      Because it *is* so popular. I've never been there before, but the impression I get from speaking to people who have is that it would be kind of like trying to camp nude off the AT along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Because of the number of people, hiking nude would be out of the question. Camping nude might be possible, since you're supposed to be out of sight of the trail anyway, but you could expect a random visit from a ranger at any time. That's how it is in the popular areas of Shenandoah, anyway (and sometimes even the out-of-the-way areas). Is that how it is in the GWNF?