Vancouver Island is located in the southwestern-most point of Canada and known for it's beautiful natural spaces. Not surprisingly, it's also a tourism hub during the peak season (May-September). While international travel to Canada has been placed on hold, I wanted to show appreciation for my home and encourage locals to perhaps indulge in stay-cations. With
BC Provincial Parks now open to the public, they provide a great opportunity to explore the Island while also maintaining proper social distance.
I’ve created a list in no particular order of some of the best beaches found on Vancouver Island. Some are rocky, while others are sandy. Some are accessible by vehicle, while others are not. But each is spectacular in their own way. I've chosen not to include any beaches located on the nearby Gulf Islands, as I plan to create a separate list for these. Do you agree with my list? Let me know!
East Coast
Transfer Beach
Transfer Beach is known as a community hub for the town of
Ladysmith, particularly in the summer months. It features a sandy beach, playground, water spray park, amphitheatre and grassed fields for sports and games. There was also the recent inclusion of a separate dog park, as dogs aren't allowed in some areas of the park. This beach is very accessible.
Blueback Beach
One of
Nanaimo's best kept secrets! This beach is mostly rocky, but expansive and sandy when the tide is out. The only catch? It's roughly 300 steps to get here. But if you're looking for a beautiful beach with few people, and a killer leg workout, be sure to check it out.
Parksville Community Beach Park
One of the best community parks on the Island, it's not to be confused with the neighbouring community of
Qualicum Beach as often happens.
The Parksville Community Park, much like Transfer Beach, is a community hub, where major events and activities often take place. The most notable is the world-reknown
sand sculpting competition, which hosts artists the world over. The Parksville Community Park features a large playground including a smaller water park, a snack bar, board-walk, large sanded beach, and grassy fields for sports, games and picniking. This is a great place to take the family for the day, and accessible for those of all ages.
Rathtrevor Beach
Rathtrevor is the ultimate spot for beachcombing, especially with the new
tidal treasures activity. Bordered by a beautiful forest on one side, and a meadow on the other the beach itself is large even when the tide is in. Rathtrevor Provincial Park is also home to a popular campsite, making it a wonderful spot to spend a weekend with family and friends. I would also consider this spot relatively accessible.
Saratoga Beach
Saratoga Beach is located between
Campbell River and the
Comox Valley in central Vancouver Island. It's known to be a pristine shoreline that stretches for over a mile. Perfect for beachcombing, swimming or spending the day with family and friends.
Kye Beach
Kye Beach is located in Comox, close to several local bed and breakfasts and a children's park. Like many of the sandy beaches on the east coast of VI, Kye Beach is the perfect place to spend an afternoon with the family. The beach is located at the end of Parkway Road and is fairly accessible from the parking lot.
Storey's Beach
Storey's Beach is located further north in the town of Fort Rupert, and is a part of a system of parks and trails in the area. Like most parks in northern Vancouver Island, Storey's plays host to an abundance of wildlife. It isn't surprising, then, to learn that there are also several bed & breakfasts in the area making it the perfect gettaway.
West Coast/Pacific Rim
Tonquin Beach
Not as popular or well-known as the other beaches that draw thousands of tourists to Tofino each year,
Tonquin Beach is within close proximity to the town itself. A relatively short walk down trails and boardwalks built by locals brings you to a lovely, smooth, sandy beach that is the perfect place to watch a sunset or enjoy a quiet moment.
Long Beach
Cox Bay Beach
Cox Bay is another beach located within the Pacific Rim National Park, steps from both
Cox Bay Beach Resort and
Pacific Sands Beach Resort. Cox Bay is another great spot for surfing. The only draw back is that it can be difficult to access Cox Bay Beach if you aren't staying at one of the nearby resorts. However, right beside Cox Bay Beach is Chesterman Beach, a favourite of tourists and visitors alike.
Pachena Beach
Pachena Beach is one if the hardest beaches to access as it is located on the
West Coast Trail, a multi-day trail system that takes hikers from the town of
Bamfield to the town of Port Renfrew. Both of these towns lie along the west coast and have an abundance of gorgeous beaches to choose from without all the tourist traffic of Tofino. Still, there is something very special about roughing it through the temperate rainforest only to find oneself on a beautiful sandy beach with nobody else around.
West Coast/Highway 14
Botanical Beach
Botanical Beach is located in the Botanical Beach Provincial Park on the
Juan De Fuca Trail. Close to the town of
Port Renfrew, it is a place best known for it's abundance of plant and sea life. Not surprisingly it is also visited frequently by black bears, making it a great place to get a photo (while maintaining a respectful and safe distance).
Sombrio Beach
Sombrio Beach is located southeast of Mystic Beach along highway 14, and connects along the Juan De Fuca Trail. This beach is more rocky than sandy and can be accessed by a series of trails and boardwalks. It's well-known for its hidden waterfall hike that can be found by following a stream that runs into the ocean. We weren't able to find it on our visit, but we did run into some interesting locals...
Mystic Beach
Mystic Beach is a favorite among locals due to its picturesque waterfalls and the well-known rope swing! Unlike some of the other beaches along highway 14, Mystic features several sandy sections that are ideal for spending the day with friends or family. It should also be noted that during the spring and fall seasons it's sometimes possible to catch sight of
grey whales as the migrate from their feeding grounds near Alaska to their calving grounds along south western Mexico.
China Beach
China Beach is located at the end of a somewhat steeper hike than some of the other nearby beaches. However, the views of Washington state across the water and the warm, welcoming sand certainly make it worth it! China Beach is a great place for surfing, hiking, or beachcombing. Meander along the shore or take the time to absorb some sun.
Sandcut Beach 
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