Some reports indicate that Bolivar Beach has been visited by nudists for over two decades, but an event in 1989 helped provide the isolation that served to increase its popularity with nude bathers: a hurricane washed out most of State Highway 87 between High Island and Sabine Pass (which is near Port Arthur), and it doesn't seem that the state will ever fix it since most of the land is part of a wildlife refuge and no one lives there.

With a little maneuvering, you can make it far enough along the damaged part of SH-87 to get to the nude beach—just go slow and be careful. The traditionally nude area begins about 3 miles east of the junction of State Highways 124 and 87 extends east about half a mile. In warmer months, the beach attracts a fair number of people during the week and crowds of sometimes more than 100 on weekends.

You can park directly on the beach. The flip side to that convenience is that vehicles driving down the beach can be intrusive. A more important concern, though, is the possibility of getting stuck. If you have four-wheel drive, you'll probably be fine. If not, you're taking a chance. Consider parking along the old road instead if possible. You can get sand-maneuvering tips online here and here.

Because of the effort required to get to this beach, it is highly unlikely that anyone not specifically looking for it will casually stumble upon it, but this remoteness has not stopped sporadic attempts by conservative locals to quash nudity here. Jefferson County sheriff's deputies conducted raids of the beach in the 90's. These raids are not casual tasks. Bolivar Beach is located in the extreme southwestern corner of Jefferson County and is not connected by road to any town or settlement in the county now that SH-87 is impassable. Deputies have to exit Jefferson County, travel about 25 miles through portions of two other counties, then re-enter Jefferson County via the washed-out road—all just to harass nude bathers in an extremely remote, isolated area. (We've pinpointed the county lines to give you an idea of this curious set-up.) They haven't made a dent, and current conditions indicate that authorities may have tacitly accepted that trying to drive away nudists is pointless. Reports of heavy-handed anti-nudity harassment have dropped off sharply over the past decade.

These days, it seems that only wildlife refuge rangers patrol the beach, and they roll through perhaps twice a day. Their official green trucks are easy to spot. The rangers don't attempt to chase down nudists but may write tickets to those who fail to cover up as they approach. They are aware that swimsuits will come off when they are out of sight. Just put on your shorts in deference to authority for the brief time they are present.

The one small store in High Island is the only place to buy gas, ice, snacks, etc. within a 10-mile radius.

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 29.5672, -94.3393

city, county, state, country  High Island*, Jefferson, Texas, U.S.A.
    * nearest town is in a different county

classification  3 (discretion recommended)

There are 5 placemarks related to this site.