About 15 miles northwest of Palm Springs, there is an area of the Whitewater River that attracts nude bathers. The nude area is about 4 miles upstream (north) of the point where Interstate 10 crosses the river, and it is a rather obscure nudist location despite its proximity to the many clothing-optional resorts of Palm Springs. The nude area of the river is mostly a gay hangout, and attendance is somewhat spotty. There are times when there are a dozen or more nudists and other times when there is no one at all. Encounters with unsuspecting textiles seem unlikely, and it does not seem that there are anti-nudity patrols of the area, but discretion may be in order just because this site is so poorly documented.

Although called a river, the Whitewater is really just a stream, and the broad and rocky riverbed is usually mostly dry. At times when there is more water, there may be multiple shallow rivulets in the riverbed. The road that parallels the river is on the west side of the riverbed, while the nude area is on the far east side, next to the mountains, where there are some trees that provide shade. Take plenty of drinking water. It gets very hot here, especially in the summer, when temperatures may exceed 110°F.

There is a gate at the parking pullout the blocks vehicular access onto a track the goes toward the riverbed. From the gate, walk straight across the broad riverbed (directly east, staying perpendicular to the road) toward the mountains on the far side. Within 5 minutes or so you will reach the east side of the riverbed, at the south end of a grove of trees that abuts the mountains, and you will be within the vaguely defined zone of nude use. You should avoid going too far north (upstream, to your left with your back to the parking area) since you should not be naked within site of where Whitewater Canyon Road crosses the river (about 1,000 feet away).

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 33.9795N, 116.6497W

city, county, state, country  Palm Springs, Riverside, California, U.S.A.

classification  3 (discretion recommended)

There are 5 placemarks related to this site.