Considered to be Canada’s first and legal nudist beach, Wreck Beach enjoys visitors that amount to 12 to 14,000 on a daily basis in the summer. It’s a popular clothing-optional beach, which means you have the option of going full monty, taking your top off only, or being fully clothed – as long as you respect and abide by the beach’s proper etiquette. Or else, you’ll be thrown out.
About Wreck Beach
Wreck Beach is a legal clothing-optional beach in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the Pacific Spirit Regional Park and can be accessed through several beautiful trails.
It is a 7.8 kilometer beach with a large sandy area, although the rest of the adjoining shoreline is mostly rocky. It is a secluded beach where you have to go down several steep stairs to reach the area, so there’s no need to worry about creepy gawkers who are accidentally passing by the area. Although, there have been instances wherein visitors have misbehaved, such as taking photos of people without permission, Wreck Beach’s community spirit is strong and active and people would usually call out such behavior.
Facilities
There are no actual restrooms by the beach but there are plenty available by the trails. There are two restroom stalls at the entrance of Trail 6, which is the most popular trail. There are also portable toilets along the other trails that lead to the beach but there is no running water.
Vendors Row is an area on Trail 6 wherein vendors sell snacks, beverages, and other items such as towels, umbrellas, and costume jewelry. Vendors that offer massages, yoga lessons, and umbrella or chair rentals are also available. It is important to note that the months of July to October are the best times of the year to visit the beach. Vendor availability during other months of the year may not be as frequent.
Access
As a public beach, Wreck Beach is easy to locate. There are many public bus routes that bring you to the trails that head to the beach. There are no main roads that bring you right on the beach – you’d have to literally hike to reach it.
TransLink bus number C20 will bring you to the Trail 6 entrance.
Several buses also bring you to the University of British Columbia campus, which adjoins the beach. Once you reach the campus, simply take the UBC bus loop where the beach can be accessed through Gate 6.
From there, turn to the NW Marine Drive, and Trail 6 is about 100 meters to the left.
Wreck Beach Etiquette
- Taking photos is not illegal but it is highly prohibited at the beach unless there is proper consent.
- There are no smoking and drinking alcohol at the beach, although some visitors do sneak in some drinks every now and then. The key is to keep things low key – hide the bottles in a bag or cooler and don’t place them where other visitors can see.
- Kiteboarding or kitesurfing is not allowed but skimboarding and body surfing are.
- Jamming, live music, hula hooping, and frisbee are constant activities at the beach, which has a general hippie atmosphere. If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet, Wreck Beach may not be for you.
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