Ten Revealing Things To Know About New Jersey’s Nude Beach

A New Jersey beach is featured in a new national list of the most underrated beaches in the U.S.

The boat tour company, BoatBooker, names its top twenty "hidden gems" beaches in America, highlighting our country's "unparalleled diversity beyond the tourist beach resorts."

Number three on the list is Gunnison Beach, in Sandy Hook, Monmouth County, NJ.

What sets this hidden gem apart from the other beaches included on the list, or, for that matter, any other beach in the Garden State, is that Gunnison Beach is a nude beach.

Have you ever been to Gunnison Beach?

I've been in New Jersey for a long time, but I've never been there. Seeing it on this beach list made me curious, though, so I did a little research.

Ten Revealing Things About New Jersey's Nude Beach

1- Gunnison Beach is New Jersey's only clothing-optional beach

2- The State of New Jersey gives towns the authority to ban nudism on local beaches, and every town in the state with a beach has banned naked sunbathing.

But, Gunnison Beach is owned and operated by the federal government and therefore is not subject to local or state regulations.

3- Gunnison is the largest clothing-optional beach on the East Coast, attracting about 5000 naturists every weekend in the summer.

4- Part of Gunnison Beach is shared with a reserved breeding ground for the endangered shorebird, the piping plover. The plovers are also unclothed.

5- Gunnison Beach was once home to Fort Hancock, a U.S. Army fort used as a coastal artillery post until it closed in 1948.

Despite urban legend, there was no nude sunbathing by Army personnel that led to the beach becoming clothing optional.

6- Beachgoers are encouraged to embrace body positivity and respect others' comfort levels. No photography is allowed without prior consent. ( You notice, my friend, who took the cover photo, did so at a distance.)

7-- Children are allowed at Gunnison Beach, although people tell me you don't often see many kids.

If you are thinking about taking your children, remember, it's not a traditional family beach, and your kids are going to see some nakedness.

8- There are no lifeguards on Gunnison Beach, which is another reason you won't see too many children. Other Sandy Hook beaches are guarded.

You will have to pay $20 per car for any Sandy Hook Beach, and they do not accept cash.

9- No pets are allowed at Gunnison Beach or on any of the Sandy Hook ocean side beaches between March 15th and September 15th, to protect the piping plovers.

10- The Tripadvisor comments on Gunnison Beach are extremely entertaining.

Here's one that I will leave you with.

Voyager writes:

"Amazing place! There was one woman sitting right by the entrance, laying on her back with her legs spread...But most people were very chilled, friendly and nice!"