Gunnison Beach Sandy Hook New Jersey

Gunnison Beach Sandy Hook New Jersey is the only official clothing optional beach in the New York/New Jersey area.

The beach gets its name from the nearby Gunnison Battery which is part of the now closed Fort Hancock military base. Contrary to urban legends, ¹Skin in the Game: Jersey’s Only Nude Beach skinny dipping and clothing optional use of the beach was not started by the soldiers stationed at the fort.

It is located in the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area, the NRA spans 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City. ²Gateway National Recreation Area:  Many Places, One Park within Monmouth County New Jersey. Since 1999 municipalities in New Jersey can pass laws restricting nudity on public beaches in New Jersey. ³Whitman signs law allowing ban on nudity at Higbee Beach. Because Gunnison is located on federal land those laws have not been applied.

If you are planning a visit to Gunnison Beach  plan to arrive early as parking closest to the beach tends to fill up early. There is no entrance fee to access the beach. However, beach parking fees are collected from Memorial Day to Labor Day. ⁴Gateway National Recreation Area:  Many Places, One Park. The walk from the parking lot to the beach is some distance and the sand and walkways get very hot in the summer sun so be sure to wear shoes.⁵Skin in the Game: Jersey’s Only Nude Beach. Alcohol consumption which was once allowed at Sandy Hooks is now banned since 2019. ⁶No more alcohol at Sandy Hook: Feds ban booze at Jersey Shore

There is a 20 site tent camping area at Sandy Hook. ⁷Camping at Sandy Hook, New Jersey In addition to enjoying the beach, sun and sand without clothing, visitors to Gunnison get a view on the Manhattan skyline. ⁸Skin in the Game: Jersey’s Only Nude Beach.

Conservative estimates report that 5,000 naturists visit Gunnison Beach each year, ⁹Gunnison Beach other estimates suggest that number may be up to 500,000  annually ¹⁰ Public land nudism in New Jersey: How many nudists are actually flocking to Gunnison Beach?

Naturist Beach wiki map

References

• 1
  Skin in the Game: Jersey’s Only Nude Beach
• 2
  Gateway National Recreation Area:  Many Places, One Park
• 3
  Whitman signs law allowing ban on nudity at Higbee Beach
• 4
  Gateway National Recreation Area:  Many Places, One Park
• 5
  Skin in the Game: Jersey’s Only Nude Beach
• 6
  No more alcohol at Sandy Hook: Feds ban booze at Jersey Shore
• 7
  Camping at Sandy Hook, New Jersey
• 8
  Skin in the Game: Jersey’s Only Nude Beach
• 9
  Gunnison Beach
• 10
  Public land nudism in New Jersey: How many nudists are actually flocking to Gunnison Beach?