Public gay cruise

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Some people will have sex right there, while some may take their partner to a more discreet location. In fact, Canadian authorities did 38 raids between 1968 and 2003.

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It’s a turn-on!

Cruising is hot for a number of reasons. You can find guys cruising at all hours, but it’s best to go at nighttime, since the foliage doesn’t offer much cover.

Cruise The Ramble in NYC on Sniffies

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When it comes to nudity or sex in public, these can range from a bylaw infraction to a criminal offense (this will vary depending on where you live).

Some prefer late-night visits when the area is quiet.

🧖‍♂️ Saunas & Bathhouses

Gay saunas are a more structured, safe, and private space for cruising. These can all be turn-ons for some people.

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Is cruising legal?

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Cruising for sex in licensed sex venues is legal.

Evidence for this often comes from prosecution records – we know where people were cruising based on arrests for “sodomy” or “gross indecency”.

These venues are designed for men to meet and explore with freedom and consent. These were historic offences made to criminalize gay sex, and were almost exclusively applied to queer men. We’ve combed through the entire Sniffies map to showcase Sniffies’ most popular cruising destinations across the US. Without further ado, we present Sniffies Top 4 Cruising Locations for Summer 2023.

Christian Camacho photographed by Sean Barrow

Vaseline Alley

With a name like Vaseline Alley, there’s no way this iconic LA cruising area could be left off Sniffies’ list of top cruising locations.

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Last Updated: 

April 2, 2024

Sniffies' Top 4 Cruising Spots of Summer 2023

06.07.23

Written by Sniffies Staff 

Cruising happens everywhere — you just have to know where to look. However, authorities will often use non-sexual charges to try and “clean up” cruising spots.

public gay cruise

Bathhouses and dark rooms are legal alternatives for this.

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Clean up after yourself!

Nobody likes a litterbug. Check out the Sniffies map to see who will be there, or commit your profile to the location and see who shows up.

Cruise Vaseline Alley in Los Angeles on Sniffies

Tucker Booth photographed by Wes Smith 

Volunteer Park

Volunteer Park is located in Seattle, and, in fact, features several different areas that are perfect for cruising.

Located just off Santa Monica Blvd, Vaseline Alley is just the right amount of shady for some late cruising. This tradition goes back decades and still occurs, especially in larger cities. In the time before gay bars, when homosexuality was illegal, public places were often the only option for queer people to meet each other. In Ontario, for example, public sexual activity is not allowed in view of other people or where it could be in view of other people.

This can be appealing for people who aren’t out or comfortable in queer spaces.

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Lack of alternatives

Bathhouses and other sex venues offer spaces for queer people to cruise and hook up, but these have been in decline since the 1980s. Gay cruising is the art of hooking up in public.

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Do your research

Websites like Squirt and Sniffies have guides to gay cruising spots near you.

These spaces are often frequented by men who enjoy voyeurism or group play in a controlled indoor setting.

🚶‍♂️ Footpaths, Trails & Canals

In some areas, long walking trails or canals become informal cruising areas, especially near towns and cities. It’s done by using non-verbal cues to show you’re both interested – think of it like a secret, horny code.

However, there can sometimes be other safety risks – see our final section for more on these.

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Discretion

Cruising is anonymous and often silent (after all, talking could attract attention).