Whether you’ll admit it or not, you’ve probably succumbed to the urge to rip your clothes off on a secluded beach—-and if you haven’t, you’re missing out. While many conservative Nova Scotians are terrified of naked bodies, living a clothing-free lifestyle can be managed.
For a handful of Haligonians, skinny-dipping is more than just a late-night-drunken escapade. It’s a communal philosophy of living in harmony with nature and each other. The Bluenose Naturist Society has a membership of around 50 people. You’ll find them gathered at Crystal Crescent’s third beach under a collection of umbrellas, where they slather themselves in sunscreen to enjoy the sun and conversation.
The club’s treasurer and secretary (who won’t reveal their names because of the illegal status of their favourite pastime), cite freedom, no tan lines, community and a lack of judgment from other naked people as reasons for choosing the “naturist” lifestyle.
“You can’t tell if somebody is really rich or really poor,” when they’re naked, says the treasurer. “You just get to know them.”
Club memberships are $20 and help maintain the club’s status with the Federation of Canadian Naturists—-who help represent club members in legal pickles. It also gets you invited to group barbecues and assists the group in distributing information. The majority of group members are in their 50s and 60s, though they’d like to attract younger members.
“They’re not confident enough in themselves yet. In their 20s they’re still very body-conscious and think they have to be perfect, whereas we think, ‘This is me and I’m happy in my body, lumps and all,'” says the treasurer.
Both women were there when the police showed up at Crystal Crescent and made five arrests back in 2001. They say Crystal Crescent nudists got a bad rep partly because the public walking trails around the beach were a hotspot for homosexual hook-ups.
“There was behaviour taking place on the trails that had nothing to do with the naturist group,” says the treasurer.
To keep the group from getting in trouble, the two chase down anyone leaving the beach naked.
“We hand them a beach eti-quette brochure that explains to them that once they’re leaving the beach they have to put their clothes on,” explains the secretary.
Public nudity can land you a $2,000 fine, up to six months in jail or both, but for first-time offenders, it probably won’t. Back in 2001, Nova Scotia’s former director of public prosecutions, Martin Herschcorn, set a legal precedent when he chose not to lay charges against five nudists arrested at Crystal Crescent.
“Citizens should not face a criminal conviction for conduct of this type without aggravating factors, such as aggressive exhibitionism, or lewd or indecent acts,” announced Herschcorn.
So, the lesson seems to be: If you’re caught swimming naked, politely put your clothes back on and you might get off the hook.
There are plenty of other great spots to strip down and swim in Halifax. The Federation of Canadian Naturists recommends Susies Lake, though the treasurer and secretary of the Bluenose Naturist Society cite “too many teenagers and kids” as reasons not to go there.
My friends and I head out there one sunny afternoon and are the only ones. Susies Lake marks the beginning of a chain of lakes in the Birch Cove Wilderness area, so you could easily hike or canoe to an even more remote area. To get to Susies Lake, go to Kent Building Supplies in Bayers Lake and wander around the back parking lot until you find the trail. After about 15 minutes, you’ll have left behind the droves of shoppers and brutalist architecture of the shopping centre for an unexpected slice of nudist paradise.
Long Lake (off Saint Margaret’s Bay Road), Williams Lake (Purcell’s Cove) and Tea Lake (Purcell’s Cove) can be fun places to ditch your clothes and are full of secluded rocks and coves. Plus, at Williams Lake you can jump off a big rock and float through the air nude. Just beware of leeches at Long Lake.
Some enjoy skinny-dipping at night at the party locale Chocolate Lake, though I’d suggest you look out for violent teenage hooligans. Naked swimming is also tricky at Big Indian Lake in Prospect, where you may get caught in a fisherman’s line. You could try swimming in the buff at Dartmouth’s Lake Banook, though you’ll risk being interrupted by groups of competitive canoeists. But for some people, risks can be part of the fun.
This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2009.
Although people may not want to give their names for various reasons, there’s nothing illegal about swimming nude at Crystal Crescent’s third beach in the manner this article describes. Recent struggles by Bluenose Naturists and others to re-establish the tolerance of nudity there mean it’s legal. The beach doesn’t have to be designated as clothing optional by Sambro or NS for people to know that they’ll be fine there as long as there’s no overt sexual behaviour.
I love this article. Thanks Lizzy.
I wouldn’t recommend Long Lake. The place is crawling with people, what might seem secluded one minute won’t be the next.
Thanks for mentioning leaches, that should scare a few people away. I’ve never encountered leaches, maybe you’re thinking of the inner pond inside of the beaver dam?
Thank you Lizzy for good article. When I see something like this that puts Naturism/nudism in a positive light I think that perhaps we’re one more step closer to acceptability in the eyes general public. While we may still have a ways to go any journey is accomplished one step at a time, again thank you
Kerry
These people should stay in their nudist colonies and stay clear of decent folk. If they strip off in public, they should be prosecuted and the DPP should have the guts to do it.
Re Stabvest
Unfortunatley this is the very narrow minded and sad attitude that we come to expect from people like yourself, with no real knowledge or understanding behind naturism, what it stands for and its benefits. Most people are more than accepting, and when correctly informed with real information, they are not only accepting of the lifestyle, but more often than not choose to participate, whether in private , on the beach or both. As with many lifestyles/ pastimes / hobbies there are always people who will spoil things and what the naturist lifestyle is about by engaging in sexual activities. You will find that true naturist will do all in their power to dis-associate themselves from these people and bring them to book… they are not welcome in our arena! as they would not be in any other!!!!!
Contrary to your reference to nudist colonies… had you taken the opportunity to carry out a modicum of research you would have found that “nudist colonies” do not actually exist!!! FACT.
We do however have clubs and resorts where we can visit, without being subjected to biggoted and ignorantly informed people like yourself. As for prosecution under what law / legislation? Its only and offence if a sexual activity has taken place or where genital exposure gives rise to serious distress. Unless you were going to a place where you knew nudists frequented, are you saying you would intentionally cause distress to yourself???????.
I wonder if you would you have the same attitude if female members of your family were nudists or would you accept their view and be tollerant and understanding?… or is your ranting towards men only? Maybe you should get off your soap box and get down to CC and meet some of these people… you may actually enjoy yourself and find yourself a lot more knowledgeable as a result!!!! … god forbid!
I’m currently living in Vancouver but originally from Dartmouth NS. I’m heading back east this August a for visit with friends and family. I love going to Wreck Beach (Vancouver’s Clothing Optional beach). Today was packed because it was a holiday but I still managed to find a spot to put down my blanket. Lots of age groups hang out at Wreck along with vendors selling food ,clothing and people playing music. It’s a beautiful spot. I’m sad to learn that Halifax doesn’t have a designated clothing optional beach with such a long coast line you’d think there would be one. I really hope this changes soon. It would make visits home more attractive.
Crystal Crescent seems to be more of a gay hangout/hookup spot than the trails lately. We’ve been there twice and both times my gf has been the only woman on the beach. Lots of creepy old men checking out other old men.
I’m a closet nudist and never been anywhere public nude. I’ve been thinking about going to nude beach or something but since I’m not used to being around people (especially nude), it’s overwhelming for me especially since I have no one to go with me. 🙁
I have not taken the time to read all of the above because I know most of the difficulties of being a naturist in the real sense of the word. I have failed to find a “Nudist Group” per se in Halifax or Dartmouth etc. But I am not giving up hope that those of a reason may see the possibility that only when we get to know each other on a personal basis, will we be able to form a Group that can serve us. That of course means, giving up some of our privacy and those who already can speak on a one to one basis, have a head start. Instead of using User Names and making no commitment to actual meeting one another, we should do just the opposite. We cannot go ahead by crying in our beer, water or whatever. Just don’t trust the Law Enforcers and media. I hope someone reads this and understands me. Doug J.
is crystal crescent beach now attracting folk and for a first timer when be best time to attend alone ?
over the last week i have skinny dipped at long lake quite a few times. sometimes i was the only one there, sometimes there were others one bikini clad women removed hers and said she was inspired. sometimes i swim at the quieter south side while sometimes right a swimmers rock. have not had a negative reaction, but some surprised looks. hopefuly more will make it normal.
There is now another naturist group in the Halifax area…. NOVABARES……Check them out on facebook.
Naturists may wish to reclaim Susies Lake, since although relatively secluded there appears to be a whole new generation who are unaware of its traditions that have recently discovered it. While that is fine provided the lake is used as a pluralist democracy, the occasional visitor has objected to nudity.
what is it about North America’s prudist attitudes about the naked human body? Why is it that in Europe (where we all origonated from) has a different view of the naked human body? We wonder why there is such an over the top reaction to anything the relgious right deem as being abnormal or indecent according to ‘their’ religious convictions. All we teach our young people is that there is something shameful about being nude. Which I think contributes to the whole misconcieved view of what the body should look like, its like there is something wrong with displaying your bits if the container isnt the supposed ‘perfect’ shape.
Even South America has a more natural or normal view of the naked human body. religious Americans and Canadians need to stop trying to hold the rest of society to their views of of what is right and what is wrong.
We dont come into your churches naked so dont come to designated nudist beaches etc and cry foul because we are as their supposed God created us…naked…lol…too many uptight people!
I started a meetup group “Halifax Drama-Free, All Welcome Skinny Dippers” which you might be interested in. We go for hikes to nice secluded lakes, then we go skinny dipping, as the group name implies. Everyone is welcome, if you’re willing to behave in a respectful, non-judgemental and confidential manner.
http://www.meetup.com/Halifax-Drama-Free-A…
all my man and i care about is somewhere to go tha we can all be nude! If you want to get together text 222-4740
In the early 90s I went to Crystal Crescent Beach for a hike and never knew it was a clothing optional beach and the trail was in fact all men naked that we had met along the way. My wife and I kept walking and never had any issues. Recently I had the urge to return and try the beach to lose my tan lines. So I did. It took me a long time before I could get the nerve to even walk onto the beach. Then even more time to strip down. Well since I am now one of the old guys and the years have given me a much larger frame I was very self aware. But I had a very nice quite afternoon and even got the nerve to walk to the water and back.
Yes the ratio was much more men than women. Let’s say 30 men and 5 women. But nobody seemed odd or intimidating in the least. It was mature people enjoying the sunny day.
I can’t wait to go back again! Weather permitting!
There is a fresh water lake called spruce hill lake it’s located roughly 1km part the irving on old Sambro rd heading into harrietsfield on the right hand side parking is very minimal and the water is, beautiful old city water supply means the water is very soft and there is an old pump house foundtion
I have skinny dipped there on multiple occasions without being disturbed often stopping in on my way home from work to take a dip instead of having a hot shower to get clean you can find the place by noticing the area as a grown in service rd entrance with two large boulders in front to prevent vehicles from driving down the old rd
We like to meet nudist friends
find it hard to get to the halifax area to enjoy the nude beach there so was wondering if there are any nudists in the moncton area who would like to meet other nudists and maybe find a beach somewhere we could go to. thanks.looking forward to any and all replies