Wreck Beach

  • Wreck Beach - Canada
    © Colin Knowles / CC BY Pinterest
  • Wreck Beach - Canada
    © Xicotencatl / CC BY Pinterest

Located in Vancouver, BC Wreck Beach is a 7.8 km long nudist beach, making it the largest naturist beach in North America.

Just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, the beach wraps around the western tip of Point Grey Headland and is fairly easy to access down one of the steep trails with wooden stairs (about 500!) from Marine Drive. There’s a car park (fee) and toilets at the head of Trail 6 on the campus and free street parking on Marine Drive.

Threatened with development, pollution, erosion and deforestation, in 1974 concerned locals formed the Wreck Beach committee which has successfully preserved it in a natural state.

Wreck Beach borders the University of British Columbia campus within the Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Open from 8am to sunset, the beach has no lifeguards and very little in the way of amenities. However, some vendors ply their wares including drinks, snacks, clothing and souvenirs on the beach.

It has smooth sand and larger rocks at the water’s edge. Occasionally huge logs wash ashore from logging ships coming into the port.

It’s a great beach for walking, shelling or just relaxing (with or without your duds!) There’s a large rocky breakwater at the far end which helps reduce wave erosion and creates calmer sea conditions for swimming, smelt fishing (mid-June to August) and boating. The large number of visiting jet skis and noisy party boats are frowned upon and will hopefully be banned in the near future.

The sea is cold but calm with no rip currents. The only dangers to look out for are occasional jellyfish.

Nearest town/city

Vancouver

Nudist/naturist beach

Yes

Activities

  • Swimming/bathing

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Current weather (Mon Mar 18th 21:00)

Clear sky

(Clear sky)
12.8°C / 55°F

Sea temperature

8.3°C
47.0°F

Wreck BeachFull weather & tide times info »