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Location / Directions / Maps

Update May 2023: As per the Village of Westfield, access to this gorge is restricted to Hunting and Fishing only. No casual hikes are allowed.

Location: South of the village of Westfield; town of Westfield; Chautauqua County; New York.

Maps: Google MapTopographic; Interactive map.

GPS: Skinny Dip Falls: (N 42.25389 / W 79.57527)
Parking (west wide): (N 42.25267 / W 79.57795)
Parking (east side): (N 42.25049 / W 79.57005)

Directions: Take I-90 to NY-394 toward Westfield/Mayville.
Take exit 60 for NY-394 toward Westfield/Mayville.
Turn left onto NY-394 E/N Portage St (signs for NY-20/Westfield/Mayville).

To get to the west trailhead:
Turn right onto W Main St, then turn left onto Chestnut St/County Touring Rte 21. Follow it for 3.4 miles south.
Turn left onto Ogden Rd and follow that for 1.5 miles.
Turn left onto Taylor Rd, pass the Oxbow Campground, and park at the end of the road near the dead end sign.

To get to the east trailhead:
Keep south on NY-394 E/N Portage St for 5.5 miles.
As you approach Mayfield, take a right onto Beaujean Rd and follow it for 2 miles.
Turn left onto Crawford Rd and head down it for about a mile.
Turn right into Bloomer Rd and park in the dirt area near the end of the road.

Google Directions to : West trailhead, East Trailhead

Parking: For each side of the gorge, there’s roadside parking at the end of the road. Do not drive or park your car beyond the dead end signs, as the area is very steep beyond that point. A dirt road goes down into the gorge. Don’t drive down.

Weather

WESTFIELD WEATHER

Information / Accessibility / Accommodations

Update May 2023: As per the Village of Westfield, access to this gorge is restricted to Hunting and Fishing only. No casual hikes are allowed.

Number of falls: 4 falls, if you are hiking to Skinny Dip Falls. If you explore further up or down the gorge, you can find several more, but property access may be restricted.

Size/Types: Small cascades with nice pools below them. They vary in height from 2-6 ft depending on how high the (water flow) pool is.
There is a seasonal cascade near where the trails enter the creek that is roughly 33 ft in height, but it doesn’t always flow.

Best time to visit: Spring and fall. Avoid the summer if you don’t want to see naked people.

Flow: Moderate.

Waterway: This is a section of Chautauqua Creek known as “The Gulf.” Chautauqua Creek rises south of here in the town of Sherman, flowing 10 miles north through Westfield and then emptying into Lake Erie at Barcelona.

Time: About 30 minutes to an hour.

Seasons/Hours: Nothing posted. It looks like some people camp overnight in the gorge.

Admission: Free.

Handicap Accessibility: None.

Pets: No rules are posted, but pets need to be on a leash in public.

Accommodations: Trails, bathing pools in the creek. There are some random picnic tables on the west trailhead side.

Description

As you may have guessed from the name, this waterfall lies within a established nudist bathing area in “The Gulf,” a 3-mile long gorge carved out by Chautauqua Creek as it descends over the glacial Lake Erie ridge into present day Lake Erie. While the 6 ft tall Skinny Dip Falls and the few other small cascades you can find here are nothing spectacular, the deep pools, refreshing water, and scenic gorge are the big draw.

Don’t let the “nudist area” label scare you. The 2/3 mile trek is mostly a mild creekwalk. While there’s usually enough exposed stone to keep dry, stomping and splashing up the creek while you hike is why so many people (with and without clothes) love this trail. Whether you choose to do that balls-out or not, is entirely up to you.

Hiking / Walking Trails

Difficulty: Moderate. The hike down, downstream and back upstream is not bad at all. You will probably need to get your feet wet and balance on some stones. The steep walk back up to your car is exhausting.

Markings: The trailhead is marked. There are some boulders in the creek bed notifying visitors of the nudist area.

Distance: About 3/4 of a mile to Skinny Dip Falls.

Description: I’m going to cover entering the gorge from the west end only. Some sources mention the trail from the east side, but I’m unsure of the details.

From the parking area on Taylor Rd, head past the dead end sign and follow the old dirt road down into the gorge. Keep left as the right path will lead to a private cottage.  You will descend about 300 feet and end up right at the creek.

If the water is flowing well, you should cross directly over the creek and look for a small trail heading up a tributary gorge. Here is Shadow Falls, a 30+ ft high cascade. If Chautauqua Creek is pretty dry, this one definitely will be, so you can skip it.

Hike downstream for about 2/3 of a mile to reach Skinny Dip Falls. You will pass some very small falls along the way. There are also at least two more after Skinny Dip Falls. Turn around whenever you feel comfortable (or if you come across a POSTED sign). Keep in mind, you will have to walk back up that 300 ft at the end. Save your energy and some daylight for that climb.

Map: Interactive.

Skinny Dip Falls Interactive Map

History

I could not find any information as to what led to this area becoming a nudist area. Feel free to use your imagination.

Skinny Dip Falls Media

Videos

YouTube video

Contributor Photos & Art

At this time I have not been able to get out to this site and photograph yet. In the meantime, those with suitable photos or original works of art, who would like to be featured here, please contact me. Photos, paintings, and illustrations would be subject to quality review, and not all will be accepted. Your work can be accompanied by a link to your site/store/insta.

Interesting Stuff

Bare your buns at Bare Buns Falls

Barebutt, Bare Buns, and Skinnydip Falls in Zoar Valley are also popular waterfall spots for nudists.

Who to Contact

No contact information

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