14 beautiful beaches to visit in BC before summer ends
Summer may feel like it’s winding down rather quickly, but there’s still time to enjoy plenty of beach days! And with so many beautiful, scenic beaches to explore in British Columbia, the only problem you’ll have is choosing which to go to. So with that in mind, here are 14 beautiful BC beaches to visit before summer ends.
Recent Posts:
This island with clear waters has one of the prettiest towns in BC
10 beautiful lake towns to visit in BC this summer
“Little Hawaii” Tribune Bay
Why not start with BC’s own “Little Hawaii?” Located on the east side of Vancouver Island, Tribune Bay boasts shallow, warm waters, and soft white sand. Consider this your own little slice of paradise!
Where: Hornby Island – accessible by two short ferry rides from Vancouver Island, BC
Storey’s Beach
Storey’s Beach is one of the many ‘unspoiled beaches’ in the beautiful town of Port Hardy, and it’s worth a trip all on its own. Low-tide offers beachcombers miles of sand to stroll down, and there’s a popular picnic area with barbecue pits and grassy fields.
Where: Port Hardy, BC
Long Beach
Known as one of the most ‘magical beaches’ in Canada, Long Beach is situated in the famed Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, boasting 22 kilometres of sandy beaches, sun-warmed waters, and 12 km of forested trails to explore.
Where: Ucluelet, BC
Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake Park offers one of the most accessible lake days near Vancouver, just an hour and a half’s drive from the city. With crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches, and almost 300 front-country campsites to choose from, there’s plenty of fun to be had here!
Where: Chilliwack, BC
Smuggler Cove
Situated on the Sunshine Coast just north of Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay is a small community full of hiking, fishing, kayaking, and swimming opportunities. Beach-goers can check out the beautiful Smuggler Cove Marine Park, or use the public dock next to Secret Cove Marina to launch their paddling adventures.
Where: Sunshine Coast, BC
Skaha Beach
The scenic Skaha Beach consistently ranks among the best in the country – and for very good reason. Situated on Skaha Lake, the sandy beach perfectly compliments the lake’s cal, warm waters, making it an ideal swimming and paddling spot.
Where: Penticton, BC
San Josef Bay
Situated in Cape Scott Park, San Josef Bay is famed for its pristine white sand, clear Caribbean-esque waters, and rugged coastline. So you really can’t do much better than this!
Another white-sand beach at Cape Scott is Nels Bight, which is over 2,400 metres long (and 210 metres wide at low tide) – and is one of the park’s most popular camping spots.
Where: Cape Scott Park, BC
Rathtrevor Beach Park
With its expansive sandy shores, old-growth forests, and rich tide pools, Rathtrevor Beach Park is the ultimate getaway from the city. At low tide, the ocean can recede up to 1 km, leaving stretches of sand that heat up under the sun, warming the waters once it’s high tide again.
Where: Central Vancouver Island, BC
Mystic Beach
Located along the famed Juan de Fuca trail, Mystic Beach is about halfway between Sooke and Port Renfrew. In addition to beautiful sandy shorelines, there’s a waterfall cascading over a sheer rock cliff. Oh, and the beach is accessible via a 2-kilometre trail, so you won’t have to worry too much about overcrowding here!
Where: Juan de Fuca Trail, BC
Armours Beach
The small town of Gibsons has many beautiful beaches to uncover this summer, but the historic Armours Beach is at the top of our list! Visitors can stroll down the harbour area of Gibsons Landing and connect to a seawall that leads to the scenic beach – which has been a local favourite for over 100 years.
Where: Gibsons, BC
Qualicum Beach
This beach has 4 kilometres of soft, sandy beaches to explore! A quick pit stop could very well turn into an impromptu weekend getaway if you’re not careful, though with so many picnic tables, shady trees, washrooms, and parking lots at your disposal, it wouldn’t be the worst thing!
Where: Qualicum Beach, BC
Miracle Beach Park
Situated between Courtenay and Campbell River, Miracle Beach Park offers visitors 192 reservable front-country campsites and 202 car-accessible sites. The best spot for swimming is at the south beach day-use area, where the sand is soft and the water is a striking crystal blue.
Where: Comox Valley, BC
Chesterman Beach
Ready for another Tofino/Ucluelet pick? Chesterman Beach is known for its rugged coastline, crashing waves, and “wild beauty.” Visitors can stroll down wide stretches of smooth, fine sand, all surrounded by large driftwood logs and lush forest.
Where: Tofino, BC
Porpoise Bay Park
If you’re looking for the picture-perfect sandy beach to lounge at, Porpoise Bay is it. Situated on the Sunshine Coast separated by the Strait of Georgia by the isthmus at Sechelt, the park is home to rolling grassy hills and long stretches of pristine beaches – perfect for the last-minute day trip.
Where: Sechelt, BC
And that’s a wrap on some must-visit beaches in British Columbia to discover before summer ends.
Happy beaching!
