| The _World Guide_ entry for the "Pepperell Sand Bars" appears to be
seriously out of date, and the directions are almost useless. This
note provides directions to a location which I presume to be the same
as the location described in the Guide.
WARNING: The location is not particularly secluded. It is
less than a ten minute walk from a residential area. It is
probably visited by fishermen and local people, and is on a
popular canoeing river. In the few times that we visited it
(about five years ago), we never encountered any other nude
users. (Another conference participant tells me that he has
seen clothed local swimmers there, but never nude swimmers.)
I have no idea if there is any current tradition of nude use.
For all I know, you might be inviting arrest for indecent
exposure. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
The location is a sand bar at a sharp bend in the Nissitissit River in
Pepperell. It is located in the Nissitissit River Wildlife Management
Area. The sand bar isn't really very large -- maybe big enough for a
dozen friendly people to sun. The river is moderately deep (maybe 5-6
feet in the middle) with a moderate current, and although it is
somewhat weedy, it is pleasant for swimming.
The access is from a gate labelled "Nissitissit River Wildlife
Management Area" on Brookline Street in Pepperell (which becomes
Pepperell Road in Brookline).
To get from the access gate to the sand bar:
Park and take the woods trail that starts at the gate.
After 80 yards, the trail forks at a granite monument. Take the
right branch.
In another 110 yards, a small trail enters from the left. Ignore
it, and continue on straight (there will be a marsh on your left).
In another 60 yards, the trail forks. Take the left branch
(keeping the marsh on your left).
Continue 200 yards, and a small trail will come in on your right.
(Actually, two small trails come in within about 10 yards of each
other, and join up with each other very shortly.) Turn right onto
the small trail.
In about 30 yards, you will come to a tiny stream. Cross it and
continue another 60 yards to a trail junction, where you will bear
left.
In another 60 yards, the trail you are on will dead end into a
large trail. Turn left on it.
In about 20 yards, the large trail will dead end into a trail along
the river. Turn right onto it, and walk along the river about 100
yards to the bend and the sand bar.
To get to the access gate:
From Pepperell, MA: From the traffic circle at the intersection of
Rte 111 and Rte 113, take Rte 111 North/East (towards Hollis and
Nashua) for 0.6 miles; turn left onto Brookline Street, and
continue 2.3 miles. The access gate will be on your right.
From Nashua, NH: Take NH 111 south/west towards Pepperell. (It
becomes Mass 111 when you cross the state line.) 3 miles after you
enter Massachusetts, 111 crosses the Nissitissit River. Brookline
Street is on your right shortly after the bridge; turn right onto
Brookline Street and continue as above.
From Brookline, NH: Take NH 130 from Brookline towards Hollis.
About 1-1/2 miles from the Brookline village center, 130 makes a
right-angle turn to the left. You want to continue straight ahead
onto Pepperell Road. Follow Pepperell Road for 2.6 miles (it will
become Brookline Street when you cross the state line into
Massachusetts). The access gate will be on your left.
From Hollis, NH: Take NH 122 south from Hollis towards Pepperell.
0.6 miles after you cross the state line, turn right onto Prescott
Street. Take Prescott Street 1.2 miles to its intersection with
Brookline Street. Turn right onto Brookline Street, and continue
1.1 miles to the access gate on your right.
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| My appreciation to a reader who sent these comments in response to my
directions (in .1). Note that his bottom line is the same as mine:
*don't* visit this site with any expectations of finding established
nude use.
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... I went to the Pepperell sand bar last week to see what it (both nude
swimming in general and this location specifically) is like.
First of all, let me say that your directions are excellent. Every detail was
correct and no useful detail was omitted. When I parked the car, other cars
were already there, so I expected I'd have company. But apparently the park is
large, and those persons were elsewhere.
When I first arrived at the swimming area, some boys were swimming there, so I
went further on around the bend. (Turn right with the river, then left with
the river; go on until reaching a level place covered with pine needles.) The
bottom is more muddy there, but the water is still fine, and the afternoon sun
was blocked by a nice tall tree.
Later, when no one was around, I tried the main area. The sand is quite nice,
though at the upstream and downstream limits of the sandy area, one must watch
out for underwater tree parts. There is a tree on the other side with a rope
from which one can swing out over the water and drop in. The depth was over
eight feet at that point, so it seems safe.
Somewhat later, a couple arrived while I was still in the water, so I swam
around enough to let them observe my condition without flaunting it. They did
not strip down, however, so I eventually went over and got dressed. They
didn't have any explicit reaction, nor did they shun me, but I got the
impression that it was not expected. He readily responded to conversation, but
she was careful to look in the opposite direction most of the time. Perhaps
she was just being polite?
On my way out, I was passed by four teenagers on their way in. They were
carrying towels and wearing swimsuits.
My conclusion is that more investigation into the local custom is recommended
before advising anyone to use the area for nude swimming. How does one usually
do such research?
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