Canada is a vibrant country with bright blue water and lush green trees, but you won’t find a colourful beach in every city, town, or province.

Located along the northeastern edge of Candle Lake in Saskatchewan, you’ll find Purple Sands Beach – a beautiful spot where, on occasion, the shore appears to be lined with lavender-tinted sand.

So, why the flashy shade?

According to Nature Canada, sand along this particular beach likely has a higher concentration of garnet, a heavier mineral which could have been carried in from the Canadian Shield.

For this reason, you’ll have a better chance of seeing the beach in all its plum-coloured glory when bigger waves carry the lighter minerals back into the water.

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Photo via Purple Sands Beach – Candle Lake / Facebook

It’s rare, but not the only place where you’ll see purple sand in Canada! Clearwater Lake in Manitoba also has an eye-catching destination.

Want to check out the beach at Candle Lake? You’ll need a boat to get to this particular spot, but it’s worth the trip.

With or without the purple sand, it’s still a great place to go swimming, read a book, or get a tan – just remember to be respectful.

These are pretty spectacular places and it’s important to keep them that way.

Purple Sands Beach – Candle Lake 

Where: Paddockwood No. 520, SK

Cassandra Stefanic

Regional Editor, Prairies –Cassandra is a Calgary-based journalist with a deep appreciation for music, film, food, travelling, and storytelling. When she’s not chasing a story, writing, or editing, you’ll likely find her in the mountains, binge-watching a new series, at a speakeasy, cooking, or getting lost in a Taylor Swift re-record.

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