Best Beaches in Canada

In Canada, a trip to the beach entails more than just ice cream, sunbathing, and a chilly dip in the water. If you’re fortunate, it might also involve seeing a bear, taking a windy stroll through some driftwood, and having the opportunity to throw a snowball rather than a stone into the waves.

Your sandcastles might not necessarily be destroyed by the approaching ocean tide depending on where you are. Only six of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories have access to the open ocean without ice, therefore many of the country’s best beaches are located next to sizable freshwater lakes. 

#10 Scarborough Bluffs Beach, Ontario

The Scarborough Bluffs are located along the coast of Lake Ontario. From the Eastern Beaches of Toronto in the west to East Point Park in the east, the bluffs reach for about 15 kilometres along the waterfront. The Scarborough Bluffs are a notable geological feature formed around 12,000 years ago by the deposition of sedimentary layers. Natural forces such as wind and water erosion from Lake Ontario shaped them.

The bluffs are quite hazardous. However, it appears that some people require continuous reminders to be cautious around them. With a beach, park, and marina nearby, the enormous escarpment is a popular destination, especially at this time of year. If you want to see the actual Bluffs beaches from the bottom, go to Buffers Park at 1 Brimley Rd. At the fork in the road, turn right into the parking lot. Parking is free on weekdays until 5pm.

Address: 1 Brimley Rd S, Scarborough, ON

#9 Parc le Bic, Quebec

Located in the St. Lawrence Estuary, Parc national du Bic is glued to the sea, which allows people who decide to escape by camping to enjoy the sea air. Hiking trails that bring you to breathtaking views, small islands and memorable sunsets have made the reputation of this place. Parc du Bic is also the perfect place to observe seals. At the end of a beautiful hike in the forest, you can observe them basking in the sun at the edge of the coast, during the high tides. Parc le Bic is so worth it, just for the view. I believe that in the distance, it’s a cumulus cloud is the evaporation stage. If you were passionate about your high school science class, you’ll know what I mean from the cycle of water.

Address: 3382 Rte 132 O, Le Bic, Quebec

 

#8 Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario

You’re going to need a floral shirt for this one! The Bruce Peninsula is one of the most beautiful places in Canada during summer. In recent years, it’s become a popular destination, with iconic landmarks like the Bruce Trail and the Cyprus Lake Grotto attracting visitors from all over the country. The Peninsula is located in the dazzling blue – Georgian Bay; which is part of the great Lake Huron, in Ontario. During the summer, the Peninsula transforms into a tropical ecosystem that will make you believe you’ve landed in the Caribbean.

 

#7 Sandbanks Dunes Beach, Ontario

Sandbanks is run by the government of Ontario, with areas for different types of recreation. Parks and surrounding beaches are visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, with the Outlet Beach being the most known. Careful, Outlet Beach has become a bit of a tourist trap and now has an entrance fee. But only a few minutes way is the majestic Dunes Beach which is hidden on the south-western shore of West Lake and is easily the most visually stunning beach at Sandbanks. There are no entrance fees for the Dunes and is a lot less crowded.

Address: Sandbanks Dunes Beach, West Lake, ON

 

#6 Sauble Beach, Ontario 

In the northern region of southern Ontario, Canada, Sauble Beach is a beach village and unincorporated territory in the town of South Bruce Peninsula, Bruce County. On the northern border of the Saugeen First Nation, it is located on the Bruce Peninsula, along Lake Huron’s eastern side. The name of the beach was first given to the sandy Sauble River by early French explorers, who called it “La Rivière Au Sable” (literally, “the Sand River”), implying that the river empties into Lake Huron at a sandy beach. Prior to 1881, the river was referred to on maps by its French name before being renamed the Sauble River. A sawmill and a hydroelectric plant were first constructed on the river in its early years.

Address: 609 Lakeshore Blvd N, Sauble Beach, ON 

 

#5 Wasaga Beach, Ontario

Located in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada, is the town of Wasaga Beach. It is a well-liked summer tourist destination since it is situated along the world’s longest freshwater beach. It is situated along Georgian Bay’s southern shore, roughly 150 kilometres north of Toronto and 40 km northwest of Barrie. Most of the year, Collingwood and The Blue Mountains to the west are popular tourist destinations.

The village is located between the meandering Nottawasaga River and a very long sandy beach on Nottawasaga Bay in Georgian Bay. The 168 hectare Wasaga Beach Provincial Park includes the beaches as part of its grounds.

Address: 11-22nd St. North Wasaga Beach, ON

 

#4 Cavendish Beach, PEI

Cavendish Beach in PEI and Red Beach in Greece both have distinctive reddish-orange sands, making them distinct spots to visit. With miles of unspoilt sand dunes, magnificent red sandstone cliffs, and salty ocean waves calling your name, you may find yourself at the beach often. This large natural sand beach spans for 8 kilometres along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from the entrance to New London Bay in the west to the red sandstone cliffs at Cavendish East in the east. Cavendish is a popular summer vacation spot on the Island, with family-friendly attractions, lovely beaches, and scenic golf courses. It is strategically located on the North Shore of the Island, wedged between North Rustico and Stanley Bridge, and was made famous by Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables novels.

Address: 80 Rue du Gulf Shore Parkway West, Cavendish

 

#3 Thunder Cove Beach, PEI

Thunder Cove Beach is one of those local secrets that folks prefer to keep hidden. In Darnley, just outside of Kensington, it’s off the beaten road. Thunder Cove is a far cry from the rest of PEI’s north shore, which is noted for huge rolling dunes and wide beaches of fine sand. The beach is only a short drive from Cavendish Beach, which is popular with Anne of Green Gables fans and is a great place to get away from the throng. It’s not uncommon to have the entire beach to yourself here. The red colour derives from the presence of iron in the worn red sandstone on the beach. As a result, the intensity of the red is proportional to the amount of iron present. Thunder Cove Beach is a hidden gem on Prince Edward Island if you want to see red sand. The shore and beach are geologically diverse and serve as a live demonstration of how water and wind shape and change the terrain on the Island. The cliffs, columns, and cave formations made of sandstone are never the same twice, and they are fully at the mercy of nature! You can picture yourself standing in the Arizona desert if you look in the correct direction.

Address: Thunder Cove Road, Kensington

 

#2 Kitsilano Beach, BC

Vancouver residents frequently visit Kitsilano Beach, also referred to as Kits Beach for short. Along the southern border of Vancouver’s renowned Burrard Street Bridge, Kitsilano Beach is located west of the city’s core between Jericho Beach and Arbutus Street.

It offers a stunning view of English Bay and the mountains on the North Shore. Additionally, Kits Beach is a well-liked location for picnics, meetings, swimming, and sunbathing due to its expansive sandy beach and big grassy area. At Kitsilano Beach, a different location to take in the Celebration of Lights, you can expect to see a lot of other people taking advantage of the warm weather during the summer.

Address: 1499 Arbutus St, Vancouver, BC

 

#1 Crystal Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia

Sambro Creek is home to Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park. This fantastic park features three white-sand crescent beaches, two vault-toilet facilities, and boardwalks to the first two beaches. It is located 8 kilometres south of Halifax centertown and is known for its scenic beauty. All of the beaches have white sand and are ideal for snorkelling due to the abundance of marine life. The Pennant Point route is a famous tourist attraction and a wonderful hiking path. The trek spans for approximately 11 kilometres and might be hard for inexperienced hikers.

Address: 220 Sambro Creek Rd, Sambro Creek

 

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