Recreationskip to main content City of Vancouver 
Search 
Help 
      Vancouver Park Board     Parks and Gardens     Recreation     Board Meetings     For Your Information     News Printable Page  


One of the natural amenities which makes our city among the most livable in the world is public access to the waterfront. Almost 18 km (11 mi) of beaches surround Vancouver including ten expansive ocean side locations and one fresh water lake. Enjoying waterfront access can take many guises: observing the beautiful landscape while cycling, walking or driving by; playing in the sand, swimming, windsurfing, sailing or merely sitting. We have special areas that have been cordoned-off for swimming, ensuring maximum lifeguard coverage.

Enjoy our designated "quiet beaches" (Locarno, Spanish Bank West and Sunset Beach), where amplified music is prohibited.

The beach could be a unique setting for your wedding. Find out more about wedding ceremonies in Vancouver parks and beaches.

Beaches

  1 Spanish Bank Extension
  2 Spanish Bank West
  3 Spanish Bank East
  4 Locarno
  5 Jericho
  6 Kitsilano
  7 Sunset
  8 English Bay
  9 Second Beach
10 Third Beach
11 Trout Lake


For beach information, call 604-738-8535 from mid-May to mid-September. During other times of the year call 604-665-3424.

Beach Name Location
Quiet Beach1
Sand Volleyball
Courts2
English Bay (First Beach) Beach Ave. between Gilford St. and Bidwell St.
-
 2
Jericho Between north ends of Wallace and Discovery St.
-
 2
Kitsilano Waterfront north end of Yew St.
-
 7
Locarno West of Discovery to Tolmie St. on NW Marine Dr.
6
Second Beach (Stanley Park) Stanley Park at North Lagoon Dr.
-
 -
Spanish Bank East West of Tolmie St. on NW Marine Dr.
-
 8
Spanish Bank Extension West of Spanish Bank West on NW Marine Dr.
-
 -
Spanish Bank West West of Spanish Bank East on NW Marine Dr.
8
Sunset East of English Bay on Beach Ave. between Thurlow and Bute Sts.
1
Third Beach (Stanley Park) Stanley Park north of Ferguson Point
-
 -
Trout Lake3 2100 block East 19th Ave. off Victoria Dr.
-
 -
  1. Quiet Beaches - no amplified music permitted.
  2. Sand Volleyball on Vancouver Beaches
  3. Fresh water beach.
Lifeguards

Lifeguards are on duty from Victoria Day until Labour Day from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm (11:30am - 9:00pm mid-June to mid-August) except when red light is on.

paniniFood Concessions

There are food concessions at all lifeguarded beaches except for the Spanish Bank Extension.  Many of the concessions are seasonal, open on a daily basis during the summer, weather permitting. The following concessions are open year-round on sunny days:  Spanish Bank East, Sunset, English Bay, Second Beach, Third Beach and Lumbermen's Arch in Stanley Park.

Feature story (May 28, 2007): Fish and Chips at the Beach - Make that to Go!

Some Pertinent Park By-laws for Beaches

Prohibited are:

  • dogs - except at Spanish Bank West (200m west of the concession), Sunset Beach (bay behind Aquatic Centre) posted areas, from 6 am to 10 pm, and west of the Maritime Museum on Kits Point from 6 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 10 pm
  • fires (barbeques permitted in containers)
  • ball playing (except in designated areas)
  • inflatable devices in water
  • alcohol
  • kite surfing
  • horses
windsurferWindsurfing

Board rentals are available at the Jericho Sailing Centre. Call Windsure Windsurfing at 604-224-0615. Windsurfers are required to launch and land their windsurfers between the yellow buoys only at Locarno and Kitsilano Beaches. Windsurfers and boats must stay at least 300m away from swimming beaches. Kitesurfing is not allowed on Vancouver beaches.

Kayaking

Ecomarine offers kayak rentals and tours from the English Bay Bathhouse from June to September. Call 604-689-7575 for details and to make reservations.

Indoor secure storage space is available year round for kayaks at the English Bay Bathhouse. Contact 604-684-4922 for details.

Access for Persons with a Disability

Generally, there are two beach wheelchairs available for public use - one is at Jericho Beach and the other at English Bay. There are also 'Path' kits for wheelchairs located at English Bay. Phone 604-738-8535 to make sure the equipment is available for your use at those locations.

day campInformation for Groups, Schools, and Daycare Centres
  • while in the water, the ratio of supervisors or leaders for children under 8 years is 1 to every 5 children - mandatory;
  • the ratio of supervisors or leaders for children 8 years or above is 1 to every 10 children - recommended;
  • all leaders are required to be in the water with their groups.
Beach and Water Safety Tips

Beach and Water Safety Tips 

beach patrolSafe Beaches

The Vancouver Police Department is once again partnering with the Vancouver Park Board to patrol the city's nearly 18 km of beaches during the summer of 2009. A special Police Patrol Unit will use a combination of patrol cars, bicycles and horses for quick and easier access to Vancouver's most popular seaside locations augmenting the authority of lifeguards and Park Rangers in the enforcement of park by-laws.

Related Information

For more infomation, contact Glenn Schultz at 604-665-3418.
Beach Locations
Click image for a large version
Vancouver Beach Locations
Beach Bus Service
NEW COAST MOUNTAIN BUS SERVICE TO THE WESTERN BEACHES

A new community shuttle service runs from Broadway & Alma to UBC via Spanish Bank, running by Jericho, Locarno and Spanish Bank beaches, on to UBC and return. The bus runs hourly Monday to Friday into the early evening. As well as serving the residents and the beach-goers in the area it is one of the most scenic drives in the city for tourists. Next summer, consideration will be given to additional stops as well as possible weekend service to the beaches. Look for the shuttle 'C19 UBC/Alma via Spanish Bank'.


Bus Schedule | Route Map
Pleasurable Beaches
Help keep everyone's beach experience a pleasant one. Follow these simple suggestions and rules:
  • Refrain from smoking. If you must smoke, please remove all cigarette butts.
  • Pack disposable plastics and other garbage back home.
  • Pick up any litter near you and dispose of it in beach receptacles.
  • Dogs are not allowed at public bathing beaches. Please leave your canine friends at home out of the summer sun. Off-leash beach access information can be found at the Dogs Off-Leash Areas.
  • Follow all posted waterfront rules.
  • Our Lifeguards are your best beach friends - listen to them.
  • Leave only footprints on Vancouver's beaches.

City of Vancouver 2010 Winter Games © Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation 2003-
2099 Beach Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6G 1Z4
Tel: 3-1-1 (Vancouver), 604-873-7000 (outside Vancouver), 604-873-7193 (TTY)
Privacy Statement  |  Freedom of Information  |  Feedback / Contact Us
External sites will open in a new browser window and
are not endorsed by the Vancouver Park Board.