Wreck Beach is one of the best-known nude beaches on the globe. Located on the western edge of Vancouver adjacent to the University of British Columbia campus, this huge beach—several kilometers long—draws enormous crowds and has a legal clothing-optional status. From Spanish Banks Beach on English Bay (directly north of the University Golf Course), the clothing-optional zone extends along the shore westward and then southward all the way to the Musqueam Indian Reserve on the North Arm of the Fraser River (across from Vancouver International Airport). The length of the beach is roughly delineated by the red line.

Unlike the vast majority of nude beaches, you do not have to walk through a textile area before finding the nudists. All of Wreck Beach is nude, and you will encounter nudists as soon as you descend to the beach. The number of visitors climbs into the thousands on peak summer days. Most visitors go nude.

There are several steep trails that access Wreck Beach. Trail 6 has a long staircase that leads to this pinpointed area, which is the most populated part of the beach. This main beach has plenty of sand and the water is good for swimming (if you can stand the cold), but in other areas the beach is very rocky. The main beach is the hub of social activities such as volleyball, and there are vendors here that sell a huge variety of food and beverages.

In addition to the main beach, there are several satellite areas that are quieter and less crowded. From the Trail 6 area, the nude beach extends north and east about 2 kilometers. Northern areas of the beach can be directly accessed via Trail 3 and Trail 4 (both pinpointed) from Marine Drive. About 1.5 kilometers south of the main beach, the area around Trail 7 (pinpointed) is visited mostly by gay men. Getting from the Trail 6 area to the Trail 7 area involves going through parts of the beach that are frequently muddy and messy. You can avoid this by walking along Marine Drive instead.

Wreck Beach Preservation Society

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 49.2608, -123.2620

city, district, province, country  Vancouver, Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

classification  1 (freely nude)

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