MX
MXQ123Original Poster
Jun 25, 2013Years 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).
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).
ReactReplySubscribe
Replies
- BU
Aug 12, 2014I've never been there before. I have to take a look at it before the weather changes. It will be another nude venue besides driving to Woodlot.
ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterAug 21, 2014
It's predicted to be hot and sunny on Saturday.Who's up for a beach day?
ReactReply - BUAug 23, 2014
I am. I've never been there but plan on visiting the area on tomorrow.
ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterAug 25, 2014Report from IBSP:Saturday proved NOT to be sunny: Dense fog lifted only for the afternoon rain. The sun did break out a couple times in the morning, but only for a few minutes at a stretch. That meant that I had the North Beach to myself, including walking the shoreline nude from the trailhead to my favorite spot. Nobody was on the beach at all, and only one boat went by in view from the shore over the course of a couple hours. So I thought I'd see if it was the same at the South unit in the afternoon, but it was even foggier. I decided to set down for a while... and briefly the fog cleared enough that I could see a couple on the beach -- it was the folks I've seen there a few times now, enjoying the dark day nude. Neither they nor I stayed long as the thunder started to roll in.
So I declared that Sunday would be a do-over. Boy am I glad I did: bright, sunny, with the lake warm and wavy. The morning on the North unit was desolated as usual, and sunning and skinny dipping were quite enjoyable, and pretty much risk free. I took a walk down the South unit after lunch, but saw nobody nude -- none of the usuals. I wasn't getting a comfortable vibe, so I went back to the North unit, where a few more (clothed) people had showed up, making skinny dipping risky, but there's enough cover for sunning. Still, I didn't want to leave until quite late -- great day. I'm hoping for another trip this Saturday, see you all there?ReactReply - SU
Aug 25, 2014@MXQ123 - Thank you for the report and info. Armed with your insight, hopefully I will be confident enough to enjoy some skyclad time when next there.ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterAug 30, 2014Dan, try starting at Hosah Park, on Shiloh by the old power plant. Or from where you started, turn south on the main trail, there are some easier trails to the beach just a bit further south than that road.
The north unit can be highly variable in terms of crowd... best early in the day. I wish you luck.ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterSep 8, 2014
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.
ReactReply - SUSep 9, 2014So, 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!ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterSep 19, 2014[quote]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 [/quote]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.ReactReply - SUSep 22, 2014@MXQ - thank you for your notes and observations. The weather is looking OK-ish this week and I may try again.ReactReply
- MXMXQ123Original PosterSep 25, 2014[quote]@MXQ - thank you for your notes and observations. The weather is looking OK-ish this week and I may try again.
[/quote]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.ReactReply - SUSep 25, 2014Went 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.ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterSep 30, 2014Gorgeous 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.ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterOct 27, 2014Indian Summer! It should hit 74 today along the lake.Anyone heading for IBSP? I'll probably be found on the North Unit.
I don't expect it's going to be a good day to go in the water, but sunny and warm on the sand.ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterOct 28, 2014You 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.ReactReply - SUMar 9, 2015Wow - this weather has me yearning to get there again. What is the earliest in spring and coolest temperatures that you all have been there?ReactReply
- MXMXQ123Original PosterMar 17, 2015
>What is the earliest in spring and coolest temperatures that you all have been there?I've got a standing rule that I go there on the first day that breaks 75 in Chicago... which usually means high 50s along the waterThat's usually early April. I did not go on Monday when it broke 70 -- work to do, and the weather reported that the water temp is 39.
ReactReply - NU
Mar 29, 2015May try to check it out this Wednesday. Calling for high 60s and I NEED to be nude outside again. I always use the South beach by the Dead River and have never had any problems there.ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterApr 19, 2015I finally got out to the beach on Friday. Temps in the car read as high as 80F on the way, but still 70F at the parking lot, with breezes from the southwest keeping the lake cooling down.
Storm erosion this year is truly amazing: The beach had been scoured much further in than usual. On the south unit, there's practically a new dune line right by the shore, and on both units some strange "bumpy" areas that appear to be caused by snow and ice melting under the sand -- there was even a tunnel-like structure about 15" tall (interior) that had an ice "ceiling".
The south unit wasnearlyempty, but bad timing meant that there always seemed to be someone near me when I was at what would otherwise be a good spot to lay out.
The north unit was completely empty when I got there, allowing a nice long walk in the sun and breeze. The winter erosion is really bad there: there are a lot of trees gone, but some new coves created by old beachfront foundations getting exposed. Only had one person cross where I was sunning, and I made sure I was dressed (she had a very friendly dog who wanted to play).ReactReply - MXMXQ123Original PosterMay 3, 2015
Where is everybody?
Warm spring Sunday, and there's maybe two other people on the beach.ReactReply - SUMay 4, 2015I went to Mazo this weekend. Hoping to make it to this ISBP Wednesday or Thursday weather and work willing.ReactReply
- MXMXQ123Original PosterMay 8, 2015Went Thursday after work. I tried to get out early, barely succeeded, traffic was awful so I didn't get to the beach until 6.The north unit's nature area was, as usual, pretty much deserted. Nobody crossed my spot, I saw a few folks who got no closer than a hundred yards or so. By 7:30 the sun was fading and it had cooled off quickly -- 62 at the parking lot, 81 at the highway.
Still, nice to enjoy the sun while it lasted.ReactReply - NUMay 18, 2015Today, 5/18, should be beautiful at the south end. Plan on spending the entire day out there.ReactReply
- MXMXQ123Original PosterMay 18, 2015
I'm jealous: I unfortunately have meetings all afternoon.
ReactReply