Patricia Beach and Beaconia Beach are beautiful and popular twin beaches facing Lake Winnipeg near the southern end of the gargantuan lake, about 90 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg. The two beaches are broken by a channel of water that connects the lake to a marshy lagoon behind the beaches. Patricia and Beaconia are essentially mirror images. Nudity occurs on the northern end of Patricia toward the mouth of the lagoon, and nudity also occurs on the southern end of Beaconia, also toward the mouth of the lagoon. Wading a short distance from one beach to the other across the shallow channel is possible though not necessarily a good idea, especially if lake levels are high. Otherwise, the beaches are disconnected and accessed from different driving routes.

As is frequently the case with such a geographic situation, the two beaches attract different crowds. Patricia is more of a family nude beach. Beaconia attracts a mostly gay crowd. Over the past two decades, both Patricia and Beaconia have evolved from beaches where nudity was discreetly practiced to beaches where nudity is openly practiced. (See the Beaconia entry for more about a late 90's controversy.) Even though there is no legally nude designation, regulars no longer feel the need to suit up when authorities patrol the beach, and these days authorities do not hassle nudists so long as nudity is limited to the appropriate areas and is not visible from the parking lots or traditional textile areas.

Of the two nude beaches, Patricia typically draws somewhat larger crowds. Nudity is possible beginning a short walk past the last of the parking areas. There is a small entry fee during the height of summer, and there are restrooms and a food concession in the textile area.

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 50.4294, -96.5990

city, province, country  (remote), Manitoba, Canada

classification  2 (traditionally nude)

There are 6 placemarks related to these nearby sites: Patricia Beach and Beaconia Beach.