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).
Replies
- KI
Oct 8, 2020Update: after an hour I saw a few people
Dressed that were walking on the trail then turned around right away not close to me. 1 man did pass me by and sunbathed in shorts by the bushes. After a little bit I see someone coming from afar. I notice it is a woman and already in a bikini! She was walking very fast. I got naked as she got closer maybe 100 yards. She was walking closer to the water. I was on the sandy part. She was a woman in her 40's but sexy. I made sure to stare at her as much as possible and show her my front body unexposed, I thought for sure she was a fellow nudist. But at like 20 feet she turned and went up the hill and eventually left only turning her head to look at me a few times. I was disappointed to not have any fellow nudists around.ReactReply - IA
Jan 9, 2021[quote]Update: after an hour I saw a few peopleDressed that were walking on the trail then turned around right away not close to me. 1 man did pass me by and sunbathed in shorts by the bushes. After a little bit I see someone coming from afar. I notice it is a woman and already in a bikini! She was walking very fast. I got naked as she got closer maybe 100 yards. She was walking closer to the water. I was on the sandy part. She was a woman in her 40's but sexy. I made sure to stare at her as much as possible and show her my front body unexposed, I thought for sure she was a fellow nudist. But at like 20 feet she turned and went up the hill and eventually left only turning her head to look at me a few times. I was disappointed to not have any fellow nudists around.[/quote]
that was very brave of you to stand fully naked while that lady was approached, some people its very sensitive about nudity and will call the rangers, A guy was sunbathing with his g-string last summer while a lady walking by felt offended and called the ranger, even the police come over asking people around if seen any other naked, they give this guy a ticket and court to. If you like to be naked there you must be on the DL not exposed because you dont know who its ok with it and who isnt.ReactReply - SU
Apr 2, 2021Has anyone been to the beach yet this year? Is there much sand left or lots of erosion? Tomorrow is supposed to be warm in the area but do not know if it will be warm so close to the water.
ReactReply - SUMay 4, 2021
Thank you for the reports. I hope the crowds thin out for more nude opportunities.
ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterJun 6, 2021
On the hottest day of the year so far, didn't see anyone in the altogether, or even thongs.
I was only in the south nature area from like 8:45 to noon, crowds were building but there was also a nature tour going on near the dead river... and I needed more liquids.
Some areas have seen some recovery (Hosah Park, the south nature area), others are worse -- the north nature area is gone all the way to the main trail, but it's created a few nice secluded coves, with no way for a ranger to drive in (but they have been seen on foot in the past).
The lake was too cold to swim, a brief waist-deep wade was numbing.
ReactReply - NU
Jun 22, 2021Has anyone heard of the beach at Waukegan? It's north of the public beach and right behind the power plant. I have been there a few times during the week and come across one or two nudists who said they have never had a problem there.
Anyone else have any experience there?
ReactReply - KY
Jun 23, 2021i was there a few years ago. the regulars like it better than Zion because there is really only one access to the beach. with the dead river to the north, you have great privacy and great sight lines with ample warning to the south where the entrance is. i found the north end of the waukegan beach to be very nice and relaxing. not like zion with people and rangers showing up from various locations.
ReactReply - SUJun 23, 2021
How does this work? Park at North Beach and walk as far north as you can?
ReactReply - M_Jul 14, 2021
Where are you parking for the Waukegan beach? Seems like a long walk from North Beach to the power plant. Are the flies just as bad?
ReactReply - KIAug 24, 2021
Monday August 23. I went to North beach in Waukegan. I didn't see any rangers or law enforcement. I didn't see anyone nude. I went north on the beach around 4:30 and left around 6:30. 2 people walked the whole beach, both in their 40's. After they left, I did a bit of skinny dipping and also a bit of nude tanning. It was a nice beach. 1st time being here.
ReactReply - SUOct 18, 2021
Looks like weather is to be good today and tomorrow. Anyone heading to the beach?
ReactReply - NUJan 19, 2022
The beach at Waukegan is even better then the State Park. Nowhere for anyone to sneak up on you. Message me if you want information.
ReactReply - NUJan 19, 2022[quote]How does this work? Park at North Beach and walk as far north as you can?[/quote] That is exactly it. Once you get to the power plant you are safe to strip down.ReactReply
- NUJan 19, 2022[quote]Where are you parking for the Waukegan beach? Seems like a long walk from North Beach to the power plant. Are the flies just as bad?[/quote] Park in the beach parking lot. It's the same distance as at IBSP from the nature center to the remote part of the beach. Never had a fly problem at Waukegan.ReactReply
- CH
Apr 16, 2022Use caution! The state has a local rule against public nudity, and they are enforcing it as a misdemeanor it is jailable, and fines are high.
ReactReply - SUApr 22, 2022
Saturday looks to be awesome weather. If any of you make it there, please let us know how it is looking this year. Hopefully the erosion is not so bad again and hopefully the patrols will be less often.
ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterApr 23, 2022
I should be there tomorrow afternoon. Odds are I'll only see the south unit nature area, which had suffered less erosion in the past - the north nature area south of the ditch was really gone last year, what shore there is had no cover. Hosah Park was almost as bad: the area by the boardwalk is washed away, forcing most people further north where there had been some somewhat remote, hidden spots (no more).
ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterApr 24, 2022Wind was off the lake so while it was 84F at I-294 and 73F at Sheridan, it was rather chilly, probably 60s at the beach. I didn't see anyone besides myself without a shirt, let alone pants. According to the papers, the lake is down nearly a foot compared to last year (even though we've gotten more rain this spring). Most of the south unit nature center beach has more sand except for right by the big tree near the north end, where [I]railroad tracks[/I] are suddenly exposed. While there's more sand, it seems a bit desolate with fewer places where you can be out of sight. The north unit nature area looks better than last year too, with a lot of wide sandy areas, but the trail is even more eroded than last year. Still I think it may be the better area to lay out this summer.ReactReply
- FU
Apr 26, 2022I got a ticket for being naked at Illinois Beach State Park 2 years ago. Havent been back. Cost me couple hundred. I was even in a partial tent. Think the CPOs are using drones and get you on video.
ReactReply - RYMay 6, 2022[quote]I got a ticket for being naked at Illinois Beach State Park 2 years ago. Havent been back. Cost me couple hundred. I was even in a partial tent. Think the CPOs are using drones and get you on video.Thanks for the warning![/quote]
I'm thinking this Monday may 30th I'm going to the beach around 10:30 since we have this knowledge we can all meet and wear thongs and maybe go in the water only nude? Either way I'm going to try and be there by 10:30 and we can all meet, undress and start walking together by 10:45. It'd be great to get a group together and walk out and hang out for a little bit. Thanks guys! I know I keep changing it but I think that will be a day we're we can all plan!ReactReply - SUMay 17, 2022
I visited the beach yesterday afternoon. There is far less of it than I recall. In some areas there is only 20 feet between the water and the dune face.
Being a Monday afternoon there were only 5 others on the beach from the main trail south to the river. The big sign at the river is gone but there is a Do Not Enter on the opposite bank.
I did not see any vehicle tracks so wonder if it is being patrolled or if they have other ways of seeing what is going on.ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterMay 17, 2022
Sunhippy, there were definitely buggy tracks the day I was there. Probably more likely on weekends.
ReactReply - SUMay 18, 2022
@MXQ123 thank you for the info. Wheeled vehicles, drones, foot patrol, or other beach goers that may take offense, it is best to not cause issue that would cost a ticket or worse for an individual or cause increased attention against our desires to use the beach nude.
There was one person there the day I was in a skimpy suit which made me wonder if visiting with another person so we could keep an eye out in opposite directions would help with being too nervous to disrobe alone.
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