Gunnison Beach, New Jersey: Your Guide to an Natural Nudist Haven

Welcome to Sandy Hook’s Best-Kept Secret: Gunnison Beach, New Jersey!

Hey there, fellow wanderers and adventure seekers! It’s Pablo Palomares, your friendly neighborhood globetrotter, and I’m absolutely thrilled to have you join me on this sun-soaked escapade. From the bustling streets of Manhattan to the serene shores of Sandy Hook, today we’re diving into a hidden gem that’s been whispered about among those in the know. Yep – we’re uncovering the captivating allure of Gunnison Beach, New Jersey’s ultimate naturist retreat.

Picture this: a pristine stretch of shoreline where the salt-kissed breeze mingles with the laughter of beachgoers. But here’s the twist that sets Gunnison Beach apart – it’s not just any ordinary sandy haven. It’s a place where inhibitions fade away, and a sense of freedom takes center stage. So, whether you’re a seasoned nudist or simply curious about embracing nature in all its splendor, fasten your seatbelts as we embark on a journey to this one-of-a-kind paradise.

But before we bare our souls to the sun, let’s take a stroll down memory lane aboard the Seastreak ferry. Yep, we’ll sail from the heart of the concrete jungle, Pier 11 in Manhattan, to the untouched beauty of Sandy Hook. Along the way, we’ll catch breathtaking glimpses of iconic landmarks – the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, and even the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge – all of which seem to welcome us to a day of rejuvenation and, well, living au naturel!

So, get ready to leave your worries (and your clothes) behind as we explore the sandy shores, mingle with like-minded souls, and embrace the liberating spirit of Gunnison Beach. It’s time to dip our toes into the crystal-clear waters, soak up the sun’s warm embrace, and experience a slice of paradise where judgment gives way to acceptance. Join me, Pablo Palomares, as we dive into this journey of self-discovery, nature’s beauty, and the hidden wonders that Gunnison Beach has to offer. Let’s make some memories, shall we?

Getting into the ferry

The Ferry between New York City and Sandy Hook is provided by Seastreak, and can depart from Pier 11 or East 35th St. It runs all summer until Labor Day (September 4th for 2023). There are usually 3 Outbound Times and 3 Inbound Times, being the earliest return at 7:15 PM. For this trip, we decided to leave on the lastest one at 1:10 PM and return on the last one at 7:15 PM. Tickets can be bought online and we paid $49 for each roundtrip.

The ferry arrived a bit late but promised to be on time in Sandy Hook. This is definitely not the same ones as the ones in Fire Island.

Once on board we took our seats in the middle deck, and went up to start contemplating the beautiful views that New York can offer. The MSC Meraviglia was in the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, probably on the way to The Bahamas.

On the way to Sandy Hook!

The views were amazing, I always like the views from boats, ferries and cruises around New York City. It is just THE PLAN in any season, but especially in Summer. In Fall, I have recommended to do a Bear Mountain – Hudson River cruise just because of the beautiful foliage.

The top deck was packed, all this people wanting to enjoy a beach day on this sunday in summer.

The Statue of Liberty was posing for us today.

And as we went south on the 40 min ferry, the skylines of both Manhattan and New Jersey merged in just one scenery.

I have not been able to go to Coney Island this Summer but I am aiming to go there soon. It was saying hi from afar.

After we got mostly in the middle of the water on the way to Sandy Hook, we just relaxed in the mid deck. The ferry is equipped with bathrooms and has a bar with food and drink options.

Arriving to Sandy Hook

Getting to Sandy Hook, and seeing the Fort Hancock is always impressive. To think that many of these buildings are not occupied or are destroyed is crazy to me.

But as soon as you arrive to Sandy Hook, there will be a free bus waiting for you, that would take you to many different designated beaches in this park, including Gunnison Beach. When we are dropped off, there is a path to follow to the facilities, including very conditioned bathrooms, showers and stores for food and things you would need at the beach. After this area, there is another long path to the actual nude beach.

And with this sign I also advise you, reader, to continue or no with this post. I will censor some of the nudity, but there will be skin exposed.

Finally, at Gunnison Beach

An LGBTQIA+ haven, Gunnison Beach has become the alternative escapade for gays in New York City, and since nudity is not allowed in many places in the East Coast, it has also become a tourist destination for people coming from Europe, Latin America and the rest of USA.

But one of the things that really surprised us the first time we came to this beach, was the view of the skyline of New York City. We really were not expecting to see it, and as I always say, it is magical.

Time to get naked and enjoy the not so cold water, the views, and just relaxing in this Natural Nudist Haven.

A lot of straight people, and people from all ethnicities (just like New York City) visit this beach, to escape from the city and do something that you are only allowed to do in a few places in the USA.

The food options are good, and the bathrooms, although far, are very convenient. We kept exploring the beach and the facilities, but mostly just relaxed. After a long afternoon of doing mostly nothing, we decided to leave, since the ferry was coming back.

Leaving Sandy Hook

After taking a quick shower by the facilities, we got into the bus back to the ferry. On the way we saw some deers.

And after waiting a bit for the ferry, it showed up just in time for the sunset.

We would say goodbye to this beautiful area, and with hopes to come back in 2024.

On the boat back to New York City

A beach day is always exhausting, and even though we did not spend the morning at the beach, we were dead.

At least New York welcomed come us back like with anyone that set foot on this beloved city.