Hi. I’m new to the forum, but not so new to Johnson Beach. First let me say that the ladies that post here are as beautiful as the beach itself. They are absolutely lovely and thank you very much for posting your pics.
I moved to this area three years ago and have been visiting Johnson Beach ever since. I use the east end of Johnson Beach nude with each visit. Usually I visit this beach once a week on a weekday during the spring and fall, beautiful weather here on the Florida Panhandle. I would strip off just past the last camper or now around the F beach signpost, since camping is no longer permitted. I want to use this opportunity to give my perspective on the National Park Service Rangers enforcing the regulation against nude use of the Gulf Islands National Seashore (Johnson Beach at Perdido Key).
When I visit the beach, I only cover up for 4x4s and families with children. I pick a spot nearer the dunes than the water, with a clear view of the beach in both directions. This way I can see a 4x4 coming from a long ways off. The 4x4s I’ve seen have largely been operated by the biologist rangers, the biologist ranger volunteer helpers and the people picking up trash. During the time I have used Johnson beach I can’t really confirm that I have seen one of the park rangers using a 4x4 on the beach.
I have talked to the biologist rangers several times while they were on the beach checking the nesting areas, wearing my shorts of course. Their responsibility is the wildlife nesting areas. They are very keen to discuss the nesting areas on Johnson Beach. Let me point out that they are gathering a tremendous data on these nesting areas. Protection of the wildlife, observing wildlife, and gathering nesting area data seem to be their main responsibility. Last year one of the biologists rangers caught me nude standing by the water. I had talked to this ranger about the nesting areas a few weeks earlier. He was in the dunes checking on of the shorebird nesting sites. He came out of the dunes about 100 feet from me and waved as he drove by me. I waved back, there wasn’t time to cover up. I thought he would stop and arrest me or at least give me a warning, but no.
Also last year I saw the guys on a 4x4 picking up the trash stopped in the camping area talking to two women camping nude. Again nothing came of this, not really hard to figure. My thoughts were that these guys would go back to the park entrance and mention the nude use to the park ranger. Then the park ranger would come to enforce the nude use ban, but again no.
I am not using these examples to say don’t be bothered by the 4x4s. Rather, not all 4x4s are park rangers looking to hassle Johnson Beach nude users. At least as long as you are far enough along the east section of the beach, say near or past the F beach signpost. Also, 4x4s parked for a long time on the beach or in the dunes are not necessarily spying and intent on catching nude users. The biologists rangers and volunteers often take a lot of time collecting data on the various nesting areas.
In my opinion, people wanting to use Johnson Beach nude can do so without much risk by taking some simple common sense precautions. Most importantly pick a spot with a clear view of the beach in both directions. You can see a 4x4 coming up the beach from a long ways off giving you plenty of time to cover up.
Next try not to pick a spot near a nesting area. Shore birds nest in the dunes and the biologist rangers will be in there checking these nests. When they leave they will drive out of the dunes to the beach in this area. I was lucky once as I have previously mentioned, but I would rather not chance it again.
Lastly, the farther east of the turn around area you set up, the better. This year I have seen some nude couples using the beach almost right at the turn around area. It is very easy to be surprised by a park ranger or a family that would lodge a complaint at this location.
Because there are now no campers, I have been picking a spot about half way between the turn around and the beach F signpost. I haven’t had any problems. I’ve talked, while nude to some of the beach walkers. Many have asked if nudity is permitted here and I explained the situation to them. A few walked on down the beach and stripped off themselves. But none of the clothed people seemed offended by my nudity. An important point I think, since I want to avoid someone complaining about nude use at the ranger’s office. Once you get to such a remote area, I guess nudity doesn’t matter all that much to most people.
I apologize for being so long winded in my first post. I thought there might be some readers here that may find my experiences at Johnson Beach during the last three years useful in some way. Anyone can feel free to email me with any questions or comments, if they don’t wish to post. In case someone is not a registered user, my email address is
cr28888@outlook.com.
Be careful out there now and enjoy the beach.