Longtime nudist visitors at Rooster Rock State Park, a popular beach area east of Portland, Oregon, are reporting increased friction with a growing number of clothed tourists. Naturists at the beach, one of the few legal public spaces for nudity on the West Coast, claim the influx of what they call "textiles" has led to uncomfortable situations, including staring and photography for social media.
These "textiles," as nudists derogatorily refer to clothed beachgoers, have transformed the area from a "welcoming naturist haven" into what one Reddit user described as "majority textile creeperville." The user stated that clothed visitors often stare and take photos of the nudists, posting them on social media with captions expressing amusement at being at a nude beach. Some nudists also allege that clothed visitors bring children to the clothing-optional area in an attempt to make nudists feel uncomfortable or pressured to dress.
Rooster Rock and nearby Collins Beach are the only designated clothing-optional areas within the 19-acre state park. Nude sunbathing has occurred there for decades, and the practice was formally recognized in 1978 when officials decided not to ban it, instead establishing clearly marked clothing-optional zones. Signs and park maps now differentiate between areas where clothing is optional and where it is required.
Despite these designated areas, park officials acknowledge that tensions can arise. Clay Courtright, Oregon State Parks manager for the Willamette Valley region, stated that rangers have addressed isolated incidents where visitors have mistaken the clothing-optional designation for permission for public sex, which is prohibited. More recently, park rangers have received complaints about clothed visitors staring at or photographing nude beachgoers. Courtright noted that most visitors have been respectful, but this has not eased the concerns of some naturists who feel their lifestyle is threatened.
Some nudists report that women have stopped visiting the beach due to feeling uncomfortable. One Reddit user claimed that a women's group with around 90 members has decided against visiting this year, citing similar concerns about feeling on display. This sentiment is echoed by younger women within the group who also anticipate not returning.
Geographical factors may also contribute to the friction. The park technically includes a clothing-required beach, but the available sandy shoreline there is limited for much of the year. A larger beach area emerges later in the summer as Columbia River levels drop, but erosion and changing river flows have reduced its size over time. State officials spent significant funds in 1985 to rebuild the beach, but much of the sand was lost again within a few years. Today, the clothing-optional beach serves as the park's primary sandy destination during peak summer months. Water levels, influenced by spring releases from the Bonneville Dam, typically allow for full beach access by mid-July, with the widest stretches of sand usually available until mid-September.
Rooster Rock State Park, which offers amenities beyond its beaches, welcomed over 708,000 visitors in 2025, making it a highly frequented location in Oregon. Beyond its beaches, the park features parking, a boat launch, picnic areas, a disc golf course, and hosts annual events like meteor shower viewings.