Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Longnook Beach
Longnook Beach in Truro, Cape Cod, is an Atlantic-facing Outer Cape beach with a long-standing clothing-optional tradition at its quieter northern end.
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About this place
Longnook Beach in Truro, Cape Cod, is an Atlantic-facing Outer Cape beach with a long-standing clothing-optional tradition at its quieter northern end. The beach sits at the base of a dramatic bluff — the approach involves a steep walk down a sandy path from the parking area at the top, and the descent is steep enough that only committed visitors make the trip. That natural barrier keeps the crowds thinner than at more accessible Cape beaches.
Longnook is part of Cape Cod National Seashore and has strong Atlantic surf, clean cold water (warming to the mid-60s Fahrenheit by August), and the expansive, bluff-backed landscape that defines the Outer Cape character. The C/O section occupies the northern stretch away from the main access path. It attracts a quiet, experienced beach crowd — hikers, writers, longtime Cape visitors who know Truro as the less-touristy alternative to Provincetown.
Truro is about 6 miles south of Provincetown and 15 miles north of Wellfleet. The parking lot at the top of Longnook Road is small and fills early on summer weekends — a practical reason to arrive before 9am. The walk down is steep and sandy; the walk back up in the heat of afternoon is the real commitment.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Truro and Wellfleet summer crowd — quieter and older than Provincetown. People who actively prefer the Outer Cape's less-developed character.
How to find it
Take Route 6 to Truro, then Longnook Road to the parking area at the bluff top. Walk down the steep path to the beach. C/O section is to the north, away from the main beach approach.
Things to watch out for
The parking lot is very small — no overflow parking nearby. The descent is steep and sandy; wear shoes you can walk in. Atlantic surf can be strong; rip currents are possible. NPS prohibits nudity on federal land as a general rule, though enforcement is minimal at the C/O sections.
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Etiquette & ground rules
Walk north before disrobing — the C/O tradition is away from the main beach access. No fires. Leave no trace; the bluff ecology is fragile.
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