Please
leave these beaches as you find them. They are loved by
local wildlife and island residents alike. Please, help them
remain as special for tomorrow's visitors, as they were for you
today.
1. Arbutus Beach
Access this beach from the end of Arbutus road. Great variety of intertidal rocks.
Long flat outcrops with exquisite sandstone lace-rock formations and
more surprises when you walk off towards the left. Keep going, you'll find them when the tide is
out.
2.
Southey Point Road Access this small rock beach from the end of the road.
Webmaster's
pick
3.Southey Point Trail
aka Jack
Foster Trail (West) Partially hidden access in at Southey Point Road and Sunset Drive.
A few meters up
Southey Point road on the right is a trail marker (small orange
diamond on tree) which indicates the start of a 45 minute trail
of moderate difficulty that winds its way through a pretty and interesting forest down to a gravel/sand beach on
Trincomali Channel across from Wallace Island.
Depending on the day,
you may see freighters, sea mammals, and birds. Interesting rock formations at right. A sand bar
(sometimes there are two) is revealed at
low tide.
This is a particularly magical beach on sunny summer afternoons, when
hot sandbars warm the rising tide, allowing for balmy swimming and
paddling. There is a small rock wall which is just the right size for
beginning boulderers. A calm estuary is the perfect place to skip
stones, but please do so quietly or disgruntled neighbours may appear.
Expect afternoon sun, and a hike back up to your car. Good picnic spot for those who don't mind carrying something on the way down.
4. Jack Foster Trail (east)
Approximately 10 km northwest of Ganges at the junction or North End Road and North View Place. Hiking time is approx. 10 minutes, one way.
Pleasant woodland hike alongside sheep farm (keep dogs leashed PLEASE)
gets a little steep at water's edge. Limited beach access.
5. Hudson Point
Off North Beach Road, north of Fernwood Dock. A launching ramp on tidal sand
(expect mud) flats. A good place to let dogs run during the off-season. In summer months leash-laws are in place.
Webmaster's
pick 6. Fernwood Point
Always pleasant, often fun. Features a nice long Government Wharf off Walker Hook Road. This is one of the island's best beaches at low summer tides. Walk out along sandy mud flats to the sand bar to the left of the dock.
You'll find a variety of sea life including sea stars, kelp crabs, moon-snails, clams and more.
Tread carefully please;
these are the only LIVE sand-dollar beds on the island. Sand dollars
dwell under the dock, to the left of the dock, and to the right.
Walk off to the right and you'll find a rockier shore with tidal pools that are home to sea anemones, chitons, hermit crabs, rock crabs, and more. Watch out for those sand dollars! (The live ones are the black ones.)
7. Foot of Maliview
A long beach that has accesses all along North Beach and Walker Hook Roads. A great spot to watch sea birds and take long walks along the shoreline.
Follow this beach along to the left to reach Fernwood Dock #6,
above)
8. Grantville Street
Small parking space at the end of the street in the Walker Hook area. A good spot to see the teeming tidal flats behind Walker Hook.
9. Beachside Drive
There is a park at the end of Beachside; follow a short trail to the beach and relax with the view of sailboats, and Long Harbour.
A lovely wide sand and shell beach great for the whole family.
10. Ontario Place
Access is at the foot of the south end of Beachside Drive. Ample room for parking and boat launching.
11. Long Harbour/Welbury Bay Park
Access to the shore is beside the ferry staging area. Look for the path
marked by two rock cairns a few meters up Scott Point Drive on the right.
A steep rocky beach which can be explored at both Long Harbour and Welbury Bay. The south end of the 4-acre park has a small low bank beach - very
pretty.
12.
Churchill Road - Sea Star Point
Located at the end of the road.
A lovely little beach with driftwood and rocks for the kids to explore and wonderful harbour views for everyone!
13. Rotary Maritime Park
Located in downtown Ganges, this landscaped park overlooks the harbour. Small dock can be used for kayak and dinghy launching.
14. Price Road
Look for a narrow grass road about 200 meters long between two houses (east of 281 Price Road). A shell beach and at mid to low tide, a pleasant beach stroll. Webmaster's
pick 15.
Beddis Beach
Access - near the end of Beddis Road - is marked with a small sign.
Parking is no longer within the park, but on the road. One of the island's most popular beaches for sunning and splashing. Beautiful white
crushed-shell ocean beach - cold water, fun for all ages. Some tidal pools off towards the right at low tide.
Receives morning sun - this beach is a cool spot on a hot afternoon. Webmaster's
pick 16. Ruckle Park
The entire shore of Ruckle Park is great for walking and beachcombing
over large flat rocks and boulders. A small cove north of the picnic area is great for swimming.
17. Eagles Road
Secluded area at the end of the road off of Forest Ridge Road. Limited parking, but
a nice area with a view of Swartz Bay.
18. Seabright Drive
Access is at the foot of Seabright, off of Menhenick Drive, then a short climb down to the beach. A pretty and sunny pocket sand beach with views of Russell and Portland Islands.
19. Drummond Park
Community park on the southwest shore of Fulford Harbour. Popular family beach for sunning and beachcombing. An added feature is a petroglyph.
Also a children's adventure playground, picnic tables and a pit toilets.
20. Isabella Point Road
Look for a road side pull-off approximately 1.5 km down Isabella Point Road. Access to a wide sandy stretch along the southwest side of Fulford Harbour.
21. Musgrave Landing
Overland access is a challenge. You may need a 4x4 vehicle depending
on road condition. A wonderful place to explore! Nice sunsets.
22. Burgoyne Bay
Park near government dock at the foot of Burgoyne Bay Road, then climb down on the left of the dock to the long, wide sandy shore. Usually calm waters provide a peaceful atmosphere for a long walk.
23. Erskine Bay
Follow Collins Road to the very end, where Maxwell (a.k.a. Cranberry) creek flows into the sea. Lots of room for parking and boat launching, swimming and exploring. Terrific afternoon/evening beach with wonderful sunsets.
Webmaster's
pick 24. Booth Bay - Baker Beach
Access is at the foot of Baker Road, then down a flight of stairs to a flat rocky driftwood-strewn beach. Follow along to the right and this beach connects with the foot of Quarry Dr. trail
(#25) A good exploring place for children of all ages and for those who like to build driftwood forts.
25. Quarry Drive Park - Driftwood Fort
Located near the end of Quarry Drive in Vesuvius, this 2-acre beach front park is accessed by a 10-minute trail with some steep inclines to the beach just north of Booth Bay.
Follow the beach to the right for adventurous boulder hiking. Follow
beach to the left to connect with (#24)
above.
26. Vesuvius Bay
Popular family beach close to the facilities at Vesuvius Bay. Park on Langley Street then go down a flight of stairs to the beach. Amateur geologists will find some deeply inclined rock strata to
enjoy. Warmer ocean waters make it a good spot for swimming. Great sunsets!
27. Zadra Road
Hard to find access off Sunset Drive, just south of Sir Echoes Road. Pleasant 300 meter stroll to west-facing ocean bay.
