Jacob Riis Park, Bay 1
Rockaway, Queens · United States
The People's Beach: New York's queer beach at the east end of Riis Park. Not a clothing-optional beach any more (banned since 1983), but the boys never left.
Updated
- Status
- Not any more
- Crowd
- Gay beach
- Country
- United States
- City
- New York
- Water
- Sea
- Best time
- June to September
- Confidence
- High
Find it
40.5675° N, 73.8560° WRead this first
Was clothing-optional. Now closed, cut off or policed. Listed so you do not turn up expecting that access.
Clothing-optional use has been illegal here since a New York State law took effect on June 3, 1983. Police still fine it. Tops off is fine; bottoms stay on.
The gay end
Bay 1, the eastern end by the old hospital. Still the queer beach of New York, swimwear on.
Crowd A clothing-optional beach the boys have made their own: a gay-majority crowd, a beach bar that knows it, and friends you have not met yet.
Getting there
Ferry from Wall Street to Rockaway and the shuttle, or the Q35 bus. Bay 1 is the far east end.
The rules
Not any more. Was clothing-optional. Now closed, cut off or policed. Listed so you do not turn up expecting that access.
Questions people ask
Beach questions
Where exactly is Jacob Riis Park, Bay 1?
Rockaway, Queens, United States. The map pin is 40.5675° N, 73.8560° W.
What is Jacob Riis Park, Bay 1 like?
The People's Beach: New York's queer beach at the east end of Riis Park. Not a clothing-optional beach any more (banned since 1983), but the boys never left.
How do I get to Jacob Riis Park, Bay 1?
Ferry from Wall Street to Rockaway and the shuttle, or the Q35 bus. Bay 1 is the far east end.
What access or enforcement note applies to Jacob Riis Park, Bay 1?
Clothing-optional use has been illegal here since a New York State law took effect on June 3, 1983. Police still fine it. Tops off is fine; bottoms stay on.
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Method
Status says what the law and the locals allow; crowd says who is on the sand. Both come from gay-travel guides, the national naturist federations and members who were just there, scored on sources, recency, crowd, legal footing and safety. How we rank. Pins mark the beach; the gay end is described above. Last reviewed September 2026.