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Want to go swimming this summer? So do we! A while ago we asked for your suggestions on the best beaches inthe region - not just any beach - the absolute best beaches for swimming. According to our research and yourfeedback, here are 16 of the best beaches for swimming in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains:

1. Centennial Beach – Tsawwassen:

If you want to feel as though you're on summer vacation in Florida, come to Centennial Beach in Boundary BayRegional Park. A popular swimming destination for generations of local families, Centennial's famous for itsexpansive sandy beaches, its clean clear water abundant with sea life, and its family-friendly environment. Notonly does it have great picnic facilities, change rooms, and concession stands, it also has a large playground,baseball diamonds, and volleyball nets. Come at low tide for miles of sandbars, but come in between tides for someof the warmest saltwater swimming in British Columbia.

2. Wreck Beach - Vancouver:

As Vancouver's only clothing-optional beach (stress on the optional), Wreck has become a bit of an enigma. Nudityaside, it's truly one of Vancouver's most beautiful beaches. You've got the seclusion from the city, the rainforestbackdrop, and unobstructed panoramic views. There's also the cultural aspect of Wreck (vendors, hoop dancers,drum circles, etc.) which can make for a rather eccentric scene. But when it comes for a dip in that water, asummer's day at Wreck can't be beat.

3. Harrison Lake - Harrison Hot Springs:

Although famous for their hot springs, the village of Harrison Hot Springs comes alive in the summer months alongthe shores of Harrison Lake - one of the largest lakes in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains. The sandy beaches foundat the southern end of the lake are extremely popular and it's the perfect place for swimming. It's here whereyou'll find a lagoon made with sandy partition that keeps the water comfortably warm and enjoyable.

4. White Pine Beach – Port Moody:

If you're looking for a nice lake to swim in within a relatively close drive of Vancouver, head to White Pine Beach inPort Moody's Belcarra Regional Park. Situated on the shores of Sasamat Lake - one of the warmest lakes in theLower Mainland - it's a popular summertime destination for those seeking a lakeside swim. Local realtor MarcusCyganiuk recommends it. He writes, “White Pine Beach is very popular for swimming, as it features clean freshwater, surrounded by the vast beauty of greenery that has been preserved by order of the Belcarra Regional Park.Sun tanning on the white sand shores of this beach is a frequent sight with huge crowds of people visiting the beachduring almost any sunny summer day.”

BEST BEACHES FOR SWIMMING IN VANCOUVER,COAST & MOUNTAINS AUG 05, 2011

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Photo: Texada Island's Heisholt Lake. Source: Darren Robinson via Darren Robinson Photography.

5. Heisholt Lake – Texada Island:

Several people in the know (including Powell River photographer Darren Robinson) enthusiastically raved to usabout "Quarry Lake" or "the Rock Quarries" on Texada Island. Upon further investigation, it turns out that this isformally named Heisholt Lake, although apparently nobody calls it that. In any case, Heisholt or Quarry Lake is anabandoned marble quarry which has been filled with blue-green water from a natural spring. The lake looksabsolutely magical and is considered one of the best swimming holes on the Sunshine Coast. The best part? There'srarely more than 10 people there, so it feels as though you have the lake to yourself. While there's not a traditionalbeach (there are rocky outcroppings), we felt it had to be included on our list.

6. Kilby Provincial Park – Harrison Mills:

Several people recommended Kilby Provincial Park as their favourite beach for swimming. Situated west ofHarrison Hot Springs in the small community of Harrison Mills, Kilby offers sandy beaches in a tranquil pastoralsetting along the Harrison River. The water can be cold and there are drop-offs, so it's best to stay within thebuoyed area. Still, if you're looking for a riverfront beach, it's an excellent pick. Check out this YouTube video ofKilby to get a taste of what it's like.

7. Locarno Beach – Vancouver:

Flanked by Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach, Kitsilano's Locarno Beach is loved by many. Unlike Kitsilano Beach,this is a larger, quieter, more family-oriented beach. Part of Locarno's allure is its expansive coastline, the views ofthe city and mountains, the treed park-like environment separating the road from the beach, the great picnic andBBQ facilities, the concession stands, the lifeguards, and the warm, shallow water. At low tide the beach is popularwith skimboarders as the sandbars go out forever, but if you're looking for a swim, come at high tide. And for theultimate blissful summer in Vancouver experience, come during sunset.

8. Brohm Lake – Squamish:

If you don't mind your beaches to be smooth lakeside rockbluffs, then Brohm Lake is for you. Situated in the midstof forest just north of Squamish, it was recommended to us by the folks at the Pemberton Whistler Squamish Bus.A popular swimming hole for families and adventure seekers, it's surrounded by biking and hiking trails thatconnect to nearby Cat Lake and Alice Lake - two other favourite swimming holes.

9. Savary Island - Sunshine Coast:

Considered the Hawaii of the north, the Sunshine Coast's Savary Island is a beach bum's dream with its white sandbeaches and clear warm turquoise waters. As explained on BigPacific.com, "Savary is almost completelysurrounded by beaches. When the sun bakes them, they are white. The Island itself is largely composed of sand.The main exception to this is Mace Point, the rocky eastern tip of Savary which is about a mile off the coast ofLund. In addition, as Savary is about five miles long and averages half a mile wide, the ratio of beach to land mass isunusually high". While it takes a bit of coordination to get there, it's certainly worth the effort.

10. Alouette Lake - Maple Ridge:

It seems fitting that local farm Alouette Fresh recommended Alouette Lake to us! Situated in Golden EarsProvincial Park, Alouette Lake is a massive lake nestled within the mountains. Although it has several swimmingareas, the most popular is South Beach. This is a sandy beach with a roped off swimming area. Be aware that thereare no lifeguards at Alouette Lake, but this is the case for all provincial parks. South Beach also has many BBQ pitsand picnic sites, so it makes for a great afternoon outing. And if you're wanting to make it a weekend getaway,there are even campgrounds!

Photo: Davis Bay, Sechelt. Source: K8 via Flickr

11. Davis Bay – Sechelt:

It was Coracle Cove B&B who recommended Davis Bay at low tide, as that's when the tidal pools and sand barsemerge. "With the sun shining, it doesn't get any better!" they claim. It's also a popular beach for families. NorthVancouver bloggers Find Family Fun spent a weekend on Davis Bay where their kids enjoyed playing in the sand."There's a sandy section of beach towards the south end of Davis Bay. The kids built a huge dam on the beach tokeep the tide back, but the tide eventually won out."

12. Kawkawa Lake – Hope:

It was TravelTheCanyon.com that recommended Kawkawa Lake. They considered it one of the best places to beatthe summer heat in the Fraser Canyon. It has a sandy beach, boat rentals, and even accommodations with privateaccess to the beach. And as of August 4th, the Kawkawa Lake Municipal Park has new public playground.

13. Chilliwack Lake – Chilliwack:

Tourism Chilliwack gave us the head's up about Chilliwack Lake. “It’s a lot quieter” they tell us “due to the 40kmride”. But if you can make that drive (through old growth temperate rainforest, no less), it’s worth going the extradistance. You're unlikely to find crowds along this beach of fine powdery sand, but that's half the attraction. Notethat the swimming's great, but the water is very cold. According to the Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park website,the area is prone to high winds in the afternoons, however, it's worth it - the views of Mount Corriveau from thebeach are spectacular.

14. Katherine Lake – Pender Harbour:

Katherine Lake is one of several popular swimming lakes in the Pender Harbour area and it has a pretty little sandybeach - popular for families. Sunshine Coast Tourism told us that the lakes in this region (Garden Bay Lake,Katherine Lake, Hotel Lake, and Mixal Lake) are special because they're glacial remnants. And North Vancouverblogger Trudel's Knapsack confirmed it for us. They wrote, "The Pender Harbour area has four amazing swimminglakes all within walking distance of each other. And because they're pretty much at sea level they can be bathtubwarm."

Photo: Lost Lake in Whistler. Source: Raul P via Flickr

15. Lost Lake – Whistler:

If you're not mountain biking, hiking, or playing golf in Whistler, you may want to go for a dip in Lost Lake. Knownfor its shallow waters and sandy beach, Lost Lake is considered one of the best lakes in Whistler for swimming. Thebest part is that it feels secluded, but you're really not too far from the village. With its grassy parklandsurrounded by forest, it also makes a great picnic destination, whether you want to have a BBQ or eat at theconcession stand. This is summer in Whistler at its finest!

16. Barnet Marine Park - Burnaby:

Definitely a well kept secret, Barnet Marine Park is Burnaby's only saltwater swimming beach. A family favourite,the beach is large and sandy and swimmers enjoy a designated swimming area. The views across the inlet to DeepCove in North Vancouver are spectacular and it's a great spot for watching freighters and marine traffic. If you'reinterested in taking a stroll, there is a lovely (and short) shoreline walk with lots of spots to spread a blanket andgaze out at the water. There are picnic benches scattered around the park and in summer there is a concessionstand and showers. A must visit for those looking for beaches in Metro Vancouver!

COMMENTS:

CRYSTAL

Good question - Savary Island and Texada Island are included in theVCM Region because they are accessible from the Sunshine Coast.BC Ferries has a route from Powell River to Texada Island.

VINCE

Just wondering how Savary Island and Texada Island make the listbeing Islands offshore from the mainland? What's the differencebetween Texada and say Hornby Island? I get the Sunshine Coastlocations because that's part of the mainland still... Anyways thataside, good list. I know everyone here has a favorite and nobody ishappy with the current list because it missed "their" special lake likeCultus or Buntzen or whatever. If everyone were to be happy, mightas well list every lake, river or seaside beach in the 604 area ;)

HARRY ROBERTS

Sandy beach in downtown Roberts Creek trumps Davis bay all day,same goes for Ruby Lake in pender >>> Katherine lake

HOLLY MCDONALD

Buntzen lake HELLO!?

CHARLIEVDK

Rolley Lake is warm but very peaty, Hayward Lake has a greatbeach, clear water but cold, Whonnock Lake is warm and very busy,Jones Lake is close to hope in the mountains a bit but a great placefor a dip.

CHARLIEVDK

The lagoon in Harrison is only half decent in July. In August forgetabout it. It usually gets an algae bloom and the weeds are ridiculous.Very disgusting to swim in. Yes it's warm but not very sanitary witha swimmers itch notice coming up all the time. The main Harrisonlake is clear with a beautiful beach but very cold. If you are inHarrison and want a warm beach,make a 15 min drive past the townto Hick's Lake. http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g154931-d2423221-Reviews-Hicks_Lake-Harrison_Hot_Springs_British_Columbia.html

JAMES REYNOLDS

What about two of the best lakes in the Metro Vancouver region,Cultus Lake and Buntzen Lake?? Most of these are at least a halfdays travel away. Cultus is exceptionally warm with a wide beachand a huge dock setup, plus there's the biggest waterpark in BC rightnext door. Buntzen has a nice beach, beautiful mountains all aroundand clear, warm water.

VANCOUVER COAST AND MOUNTAINS

Okanagan Lake is a great place to swim, but it's not a part of theVancouver, Coast & Mountains region. This blog just focuses on theone region of BC (mainland, southwestern BC) - hence the lack ofOkanagan destinations.

VANCOUVER COAST AND MOUNTAINS

The Nanaimo River is not a part of the Vancouver, Coast &Mountains region. This blog just focuses on the one region of BC(mainland, southwestern BC) - hence the lack of Vancouver Islanddestinations.

SHAYD

Honestly, Vancouver's beaches are pretty clean, but still in the city.Im sad to see that Nanaimo River isn't on this list. It's gorgeous,clean and very diverse.

PAT

The lagoon at Harrison is awful.

JAMES

Hands down! The Okanagan lake should be near #1. Kelowna is theHawaii of Canada, with beautiful Sandy beaches, warm water andshallow water that extends a 100 meters! Most other beaches in BCare rocky foot hazards!

BERNIECE

FYI: Only non-locals call Heisholt anything but....the name is stillvery much in use by Texada Islanders.

SEAN ORR

Cascade Falls, Whytecliff, Crescent Beach, Cultus...

MICHELLE V

Misprint - there are no boat rentals at Kawkawa Lake.

MICHELLE

Where do you rent boats at Kawkawa Lake? I've been going there fora while now & I have Not seen boat rentals there ever!

CRYSTAL

Kalamalka Lake and Okanagan Lake aren't mentioned because theyare not in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Region :)

GARY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDY8xbPabhU video of theswimming hole on Texada Island

TRACY RAE

If u wanna,swim with canadian geese then u should check out whitepine beach then,just watch out for the geese poop

TRACY

I'm sorry but if u wanna swim with canadian geese,by all meanswhite pine beach it is

LYNNE

Just an fyi although # 5 is quite lovely, the entire area is on privateproperty and you are trespassing. It is classified as an active minesite.

CHELSEA

How was Kalamalka lake not mentioned? Or okanagan lake??

STEVE SAKAI

3rd beach in Stanley Park is my fave local swimming beach.Whytcliffe in West Vancouver is great as well.

STEPHANIE

Heisholt lake is by far the best lake i have had the pleasure to swimin, crisp clean water and so many areas to explore. It will be worththe trip :)

JACOB KETLER

I can definitely vouch for #5 & #9!

CRYSTAL

Yes, you have to take a ferry to Texada Island (from Powell River) inorder to get there.

HEATHER

Do you need a boat to get to Heisholt Lake? How do you get there?

KATE

Ruby Lake on the Sunshine Coast beats Katherine Lake in my opinion

CLAUDE

I am looking for the best sandy saltwater beach on the main BCcoast, please forward to clajoie@ymail.com

MAGGIE

CAT LAKE!!!!!!

ROBYN

Rathtrevor and Hornby Island are great places for swimming, butthey're not a part of the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region. Thisblog just focuses on the one region of BC - hence the lack ofVancouver Island and Gulf Island destinations.

R U KIDDING>

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what about Rathtrevor or Hornby Island

BARB

International Youth Day Beach Clean-up Party Friday, August 12thNoon – 2 PM Centennial Beach Everyone Welcome! FUN Free FoodPrizes Gifts Community hours certificate for all high school studentsLook for the blue tent in front of the pond http://bit.ly/oYRAT9 orbarbwired2blogspot.com/

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