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Wreck Beach
Category: Active Life Beaches Beaches [Edit]
University Blvd & NW Marine DrVancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
Neighbourhood: UBC
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
28 reviews for Wreck Beach
28 reviews in English
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Review from Bobbin W.
9/16/2011
It is only fitting that my 500th Yelp review pay tribute to one of the most exhilarating days of my life, spent on Wreck Beach. As my boyfriend and I descended the never-ending wooden staircase away from the edge of the University of British Columbia campus and toward the bustling shore, time rewound and the world's purity restored, gently spitting us into the year 1968 or so.
First stop - the hot dog tent, where I scarfed a frank filled with jalapeño and cheddar. While I walked and chewed the dog, men and women of all ages - some fully clothed, some topless, some in the complete buff - wandered around me. No matter where I turned, views of ocean, mountain or woods mellowed me, intensified by the live music. One woman dominated a gender-bending version of "Cocaine."
Families frolicked in the water; friends conversed on beached logs; ladies tried on sarongs for sale.
Aaron, the "mayor" of Wreck Beach, knew we were tourists per our blinding, porcelain skin. "I've gotta say," he gestured toward me, "I'm glad you're down with the nudity."
"Piece of advice man," he turned to my boxer-sporting boyfriend---
"Free yourself." -
Review from Tai V.
Vancouver, BC
2/2/2012
Mmmm... There is nothing better than getting sun where it usually doesn't shine ;D
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Review from Erin U.
12/15/2011
How have i not reviewed my favorite place in the world yet??!! I first came to Vancouver in a Van 4 years ago and wreck beach was my first stop. I ended up being a vendor of fine slushies and vodka here for an entire summer and it was one of the most memorable summers of my life. Since trading in my Van for an apartment and a more permanent spot in Vancouver I can honestly say that wreck beach is one of those things that keep me in this city year after year. Bring an inflatable and float your day away. Swim naked and watch the sunset. Never a dull moment on this beach! It is also voted one of the best 10 nude beaches in the world and from what I haveseen so far, I think it is the best one!! Love you wreck beach, please never ever change!!
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Review from Mathieu Y.
Vancouver, BC
7/22/2011
Wreck beach is where people get naked and do stuff people with clothes do. They play volleyball, drink beer, strum a guitar, bang some drums, or go swimming. And it's also a place some people go as voyeur freaks waiting for a very rare perfect set of tits and hiding their boners in their sweat pants. And then other people go there to fuck semi-discretely in the bushes.
Whatever you go to the beach for don't fall down the stairs, unless you're a very rotund person. There are several hundred of them. Don't think about climbing back up them when you leave or they'll stress you out.
The clothing optional beach stretches for a few kilometers... So if you don't like being naked in public, you can be naked in private too, but I guess it takes the thrill out of skinny dipping if you do it alone.
The people are nice, the beer is expensive if you dont bring your own, and of course it is! Where's the nearest liquor store?!?. Ask one of the regulars what to do when the cops come by for pour outs... They also want you to put out fires!
Laugh at, or with, the one guy who tries to get his friends naked by running around naked. There's always one of them.
And most importantly, enjoy the view of endless ocean, the friendly patrons, etc etc. Here, life's a beach. -
Review from Sarah O.
6/30/2011 ROTD 7/22/2011
Wreck beach has a lot of.... logs.. of all shapes and sizes. I went on a Monday afternoon when the weather wasn't so great. There weren't many people there and I have to admit, I was a little bit disappointed that I didn't get to see the naked man selling weiners. And it's true- out of respect for the people there, you should probably take off a few articles of clothing, or at least show a considerable amount of skin.. hey, everyone is doing it.
The beach itself wasn't very big but it was cozy and the walk down from the street felt like entering a lush rainforest. It was reminiscent of a different era altogether, woodstock hippies, hallucinogenics and fornication amidst a crowd.. wait what? There is something very primative about naked people rolling around on uninhabited land, then walking into the ocean ever so slow-like..praising the sun god or something.. What I enjoyed the most was people walking around butt naked, but with a hat on, because you know, you can't forget to wear your hat.
Overall a very non-threatening, non-intimidating and non-judgemental place to.....study biology. -
Review from David L.
7/30/2011
Wreck Beach has been rated as one of top nude beaches in the world. This was my first time going to such a place even though I've driven past it for over a thousand times. Interestingly, Wreck Beach is the only nude beach in the world located on a university campus.
After going down the very steep Trail 6 which is the most popular way to get to Wreck, I entered main part of the beach. The sand was filled with broken up driftwood, seashells, and rocks. It was a hot sunny day and the sand was sticky like glue. It's not the place one should go barefoot, unless you like getting pricked by something.
I walked to the left and there was an area filled with vendors selling tie dye apparel, hot dogs, freshly made coconut juice and there was a massage station. One quarter of the vendors weren't wearing any clothes. There was a very hippie feel in the area for sure. I was surprised that I didn't encounter anyone playing bongo drums or people playing hackie sack. However, I almost got hit by someone throwing a frisbee.
I went back right and past the bottom of trail 6. This area of Wreck Beach is more rocky and rugged. There are lots of large rocks and small rocks, and some are very sharp. You'll have to wear shoes or sandals if you're planning to walk in this area. Since there's a cliff in this area, you can get some shade if you don't like the sun.
If you're into clothing optional beaches, Wreck Beach is okay. The sand isn't very pure, as there are lots of sharp objects and lots of chunks of natural debris. I wouldn't call Wreck stunning or even a gem, but it's just another beach in Vancouver which happens to be clothing optional.
There is free street parking along N.W. Marine Drive starting starting at Totem Park Residence and going as far north to The Museum of Anthropology. Don't expect to find a free parking spot on N.W. Marine Drive because that's where a lot of the starving students and cheapo staff/faculty of UBC park.
The nearest pay parkade is West Parkade which on 2140 Lower Mall - I never had a problem finding a parking spot. -
Review from Gev M.
11/8/2011
As close to Utopia as I'll ever (probably) get. One of my favorite things about this great city!
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Review from Gregory C.
8/10/2011
Me at a nude beach? Go figure. Not really my kind of thing, but worth a visit if you are already here.
Wreck Beach is situated behind the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) on the University of British Columbia Campus. UBC is a beautiful campus, and after a couple hours at the MOA how could one not check this place out. Curiosity got the better of this cat.
If you are willing to make the difficult stairway journey, it's actually quite a beautiful walk down to the beach area. Just make sure you rest a while before you decide to come back up. No joke. This was harder than my climb on the Great Wall back in 95.
Beautiful walk, cool beach, tourists taking in the view, and Old Dude locals who frequent this place. Thousand year old eggs are not my thing, and I ain't talkin Chinese food. :-) Worth the time, however, if you are already here. -
Review from Christopher B.
12/19/2011
This beach could actually be one of my favorite places on the planet. The entire experience of a day at Wreck is always an adventure. First piece of advice: Take the bus! Parking is very limited and who wants to drive home after all the debauchery that will be had. The 99 free-line stops a quick 15 mins from the beach including the stairs. Do get naked especially if its not your thing it wasn't my thing till I tried it and now I feel wronged every other time I'm on a clothing not optional beach. The early day is for sun bathing and "baking" if you don't have your own supplies it wont be long until some naked person walks by with some of BC's finest. Later in the day the beach comes alive with drum circles and story swapping. Finally the days are capped off with a standing ovation for our glorious sun's departure. A day at Wreck Beach is the closest you'll come to a festival feel in the city.
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Review from eliot k.
Vancouver, BC
8/13/2011
Wreck is definitely one of my favorite beaches in Vancouver! As others have mentioned, its got a really laid back vibe, and people here are easygoing. I actually feel really comfortable here, even compared to clothed beaches. The crowd is quite mixed with families, hip young things, and old timers.
I love the free enterprise situation in regards to food, drinks, and other treats too. You can pretty well get anything you'd want for a lazy day at the beach. I honestly can't think of any other place around the GVRD like this, probably in part because of its isolation.
That said, it is a beach, not a tourist attraction. Sure there are naked people of all ages, shapes, and sizes; if that makes you uncomfortable or worse yet, want to stare, please stay at home and look at naked people on the net. Of course, not everyone wants to go fully naked, and that's understandable. But there's a difference between semi clothed and going about their own business, and fully clothed gawkers. And those of us without nudity and body hangups can really do without gawkers. -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
8/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Favourite place in Vancouver. I don't know what more I can say than that! Completely relaxing, culturally diverse and about a million stairs to keep the yahoos out. An excerpt from a piece I wrote on my blog about Wreck:
"I frequent a nude beach.
But it's not what you think! When most people picture a nude beach, they envision a weirdo hippie swinger commune where love rules and drum circles unite in the sunset. And while I admit, there is that certain element down at my beloved Wreck, its about much more than that. People from all walks of life flock to the edges of UBC to descend the 473 steps to the bottom of a cliff. Wrapping around this steep hillside is a utopic slice of sand, the prettiest you can get in the Lower Mainland and one of the most renowned nude beaches in the world. Hell, it was even nominated to be one of Canada's Seven Wonders!
Part of Wreck's allure is that its location prevents a few things: mass crowds of people and development (there is no road access.) However, that doesn't prevent a ragtag group of vendors from setting up shop, hoisting their ware up and down all those stairs just to make it happen. There are people meandering around selling beer, jello shots, marijuana, homemade empanadas, pizza, hot pork buns (the affable Thai fellow's slogan is "would you like to eat my nice, hot buns?,) sarongs, jewelry, palm readings, portraits, and "icy cold organic soft drinks." The vendors, like most of the beachgoers, are in various stages of undress - the most hardcore among them nude but for their fanny packs....
Lining the back of the beach are more vendors, these ones more professionally set up as seasonal "permanent" stalls. Stormin' Norman's Spirit Burgers is a long time favourite, staffed by surly naked French Canadians and featuring exotic meat burgers. There are also Peruvian, Vegan and Greek take-out joints, not to mention a larger naked lady who braves the spluttering of hot oil as she makes french fries and even poutine. Yes, on the beach.
Getting buck naked is not mandatory, but it is considered polite to get at least kind of nude. I myself go topless, only going for the full monty about 10% of the time. "Tourists," often from more restrictive cultures/countries can sometimes be seen lining the back of the beach and leering, but the Wreck beach police (a groups of scraggy old hippies who have been down at the beach since the 60's, when Vancouver was referred to as "San Francisco of the North") chase them away. You do not want to piss these old timers off - brandish a camera and they turn into pitbulls.
I have been going to Wreck for about 8 years, and in that time have developed a little core crew of friends who also spend 10 months of the year dreaming of the beach. We spend all week holding our breaths and hoping the weather will be at least 25 degrees (Celcius, my yank friends. We're not that crazy) and then Jay makes a vat of sangria, and we wile away the hours gossiping, eating, swimming and even occasionally skim boarding at the water's edge.
But it's not the food or illicit drinking that makes it such a draw for me. Rather, it's the calm, laid back attitude of everyone on the beach, the giggling toddlers wandering around, the puppies playing in the water and the tattooed hipsters catching sidelong glances of their naked crushes. It's this weird feeling of community that keeps all of us trudging down (and back up) those brutal stairs. Gazing out at the water, with no visible buildings or landmass in sight, just forest and sand and waves, I remarked to my best friend Xstina "it's like the apocalyse has happened and we're all stranded here on this beach and we don't care because it is awesome..."
Ok, maybe that was the vendor beer talking, but I stand by it."Listed in: My Very Favourites, Things that are good for the…
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Review from andee b.
Burnaby, BC
10/16/2010
It takes a mini Grouse Grind to get to this hidden gem but it's totally worth it!!! Huffing and puffing is a small price to pay for such a beautiful piece of Vancouver. If a guy on crutches can do it (twice) so can you!
What? A beach where people actually clean up after themselves? Unheard of! Arriving at 11am on a Sunday morning was glorious. The beach was still empty, the tide out and the sun peaking through the clouds. Sigh. No matter what time of day I get here, the beach is a ghost town compared to English Bay.
Now, I absolutely love Wreck but it's not for everyone.
Yes - people walk around naked and 9/10 are dudes...at least all the times I've gone. but don't be stressed to de-cloth with tears rolling down your cheeks the minute you hit sand because this beach is "clothing optional" meaning you can keep your garments on, if you so please.
Yes - there are crooners singing to the beat of their own guitar. Some may find this annoying but I love it. Makes me feel like I'm not in Vancouver and somewhere far. -
Review from vanessa G.
Vancouver, BC
6/8/2011 1 photo
I almost don't want to write about how awesome this beach is because once i write on here about it, i find that somehow 5 star yelp locations get sort of ruined. Hopefully the 480 steps, and the fact that it's on the edge of UBC may deter you. Oh and parking here sucks, and pay lots are often full.
Wreck beach is also HUGE, and has little shade, so depending on the time of day definitely bring your own. If you don't like nudists then don't come here either because there are lots of naked people. There are all sorts of people here, and tons of families and screaming kids.
Am i making this attractive to you yet?
Also i wouldn't swim in the ocean either, our sewage gets pumped (it is treated), into the georgia straight and it slowly seeps back in towards us, also complimented by the industry and the polluted fraser river combination, not making me mentally or physically the safest place to swim.
The fact that it's at the end of the city, a more challenging place to get to make it all the more amazing. You can sit here for 2 hours and even with the noise of airplanes, you feel rejuvenated and when you leave you crave that open space, and weirdness of people wanted the same thing.. nature. Soak it up kids.Listed in: The impress a girl locales, Best of Kitsilano, Summer Fun
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Review from Mira S.
Surrey, BC
12/18/2010
A few years ago, I would have given this place 5 stars but over the years, the beach has disappointed me in many ways.
Alot of the oldtimer beach veterans act as if they own the beach and power trip on the newcomers. People bumming cigs left, right and centre, drunk and high yahoos being loud and obnoxious, perverts and lookee-loos bothering people, dirty and beach litter, drug dealers etc.
It IS a clothing "optional" beach and some of the power trippers try to enforce "nude only" and I think that is bull$%!t. If I want to wear a snow suit to the beach, I should be able to right? LOL' not that I would do that tho!
On the plus side, I like to not worry about tanlines. I also find the more secluded parts of the beach to be nice and peaceful. Beautiful sunsets, bald eagles flying around and nice view of the georgia straight.
Lucy's empanadas are to die for! Yummy! -
Review from reyz a.
9/5/2011
If you accidently wander down here from UBC and you don't know that this is a nudist beach, then put it in reverse. I think my buddy and I did exactly that many many years ago. OK, nothing against my nudist bros and sistas, but the human body in its infinitely many forms can be found here, including those that I think should be fully clad...however, if you're into this stuff, this place is secluded, it is peaceful, and it is down the cliff near the Totem Park residence of the UBC. Can't say this stuff torqued my dorque on that trip many years ago....but we opted for quick retreat lugging a heavy cooler towards Spanish Banks that day. To each his/her own.
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Review from Lex B.
8/17/2010
Despite all of my complaining every time my friends convince me to trap myself down that dizzyingly endless trail of stairs to a big shadeless expanse of beach like any other, it isn't that bad. Wreck is a laid back beach where everyone is respected no matter how many or how few clothes you choose to wear.
The beach itself is just a beach. The mountains are nice, but you can go almost anywhere in BC for that scenery. There are no rocky tidal pools, no neat places to explore, just a big sandy beach. (I find a big swath of sand pretty dull having grown up on an island.)
The only thing that saves Wreck is that it IS a nude beach. A big open well-known nude beach where anyone can go and do beachy things. There is a sense of taboo that isn't kitsch in this self-governing community - it feels outside of the city, despite the occasional pass of the city police. That in itself is pretty special. And that is what deserves 4 stars.
You'll still find me under a hat, sunglasses, parasol, and at the very least a bikini, if not an entire outfit (I love fashion far too much to go without) and scowling through the stairs. I'll likely also mutter to myself about all the damn bongos playing the same beat for HOURS. But in the end the good outweighs the bad.
(But seriously, get as far away from the drum circles as you can. That shit is annoying.) -
Review from Heather M.
Vancouver, BC
8/15/2010
From the top of the stairs of trail 6, you are 473 steps from the most interesting, relaxed beach in the world.
I go to wreck beach to lie in the sun and soak up that good ol' vitamin D that as animals we all crave like nothing else. I also go to wreck beach for 2 main reasons: 1) There is no pretention 2) being naked on the beach is liberating.
It is a unique piece of culture from Vancouver that you wont find anywhere else in the world. Some would call it Hipppy culture, but anyone is welcome to join in on the good times. There are food vendors galore (sausages, poutine, empanadas, sandwiches, truffles etc.), drink vendors, sun dresses from India for sale, massages, haircuts, artists who will draw you on the beach and psychics. Most of whom stroll up and down the beach all day to serve you. WOW!
It actually surprizes me at how few people have reviewed Wreck beach on yelp. I think this may be because most people would rather keep it more of a secret than a public place. It truely is a treasure. A diamond in the rough when it comes to beaches in Vancouver.
I do have a few complaints about the beach, but I will not let it affect my rating, because i'm willing to push these things aside. Firstly, their is a sewage pipe released into the ocean just west of the beach, leaving the beach unusable every now and then when the e-coli levels get too high. What a turn off! but hey, us dirty apes like to poop and pee everywhere like the next animal, marking our scent on anything we can.
Second complaint is the RCMP officers patroling the beach. I know they are there for our safety, but they do ruin a great party when they spot your beer and write you up a nasty ticket for drinking in public. Make sure to have a proper hiding mechanism to ensure you don't get dinged. I like to dig a hole under a log and place my beer in the hole, and cover up with a shirt or bag. That way the beer stays cool in the wet cold sand, and my day doesn't get ruined.
Happy beaching! -
Review from Emily S.
Vancouver, BC
7/12/2009
I've lived on/near sandy beaches my whole life and visited them (the free ones) around the world. This beach takes the cake--it's the most liberal and non-judgmental I've ever seen.. I love it even though I keep my bikini on.
It's a great place to bring your mom, your new date, your grandma, or if you're a straight guy, that girl (friend) with the huge rack that you're just dying to see.
Of course, I am also a big fan of awkward moments. So my advice may not be the best.
The parking situation is definitely a problem so try to carpool. Also if you are leaving in the middle of the day, be kind and pass down that paid parking slip (sorry City of Vancouver) to the car that takes your spot.
I heard beachgoers used to sell crazy drugs here, but now all that's being sold is cold beer and cocktails. By naked ladies and men, of course. Far left (south) side is the gay area, I believe, but if you're gay, you probably already knew that. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
7/23/2009
I don't know where to begin on this emotional roller coaster: being shocked that people break their bottles on the sand--being disgusted at the site of the old man who gave us the full backside view of his flabby butt as he bent down to pick up the broken pieces of glass-- being thankful that he bent down and picked up the broken glass--being anxious as he almost stepped in more glass behind him. I guess all I can say is thank you to the old fart who was cleaning up the beach...
Trekking down the (how many stairs?) to the beach, it feels like you're entering a whole other world. I veered right and copped a squat away from the crowds...had some peaceful time and watched the sun set...ah, heaven!
And then came the climb back up the stairs...although, after the Grouse Grind, this is like a walk in the park - oh wait, it is! -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
12/4/2008
Culture shock is available in your own city. Just head on down to Wreck Beach and you will find a whole naked world you might never had known existed. No matter how many different nude beaches I've visited all over the world, one thing is always common. Naked old men. They just love to show off their loose skin and old balls. I even saw one doing what appeared to be a geriatric version of yoga at Wreck. It's hard to look, but hard to look away.
There is also a strange atmosphere in the sense that people come walking along wearing a t-shirt (naked from the waist down) and offer to sell you drugs. One guy was even selling homemade pot brownies. If he goes out in public naked, I imagine he is also in the buff while he's cooking at home ... I took a pass.
Aside from the curly grays and drug pushers, Wreck is a truly beautiful spot. It's in a cove so that you can imagine that you are no longer in the city. All you can see is the water and the steep hills covered in trees. In the shoulder season, it's pretty relaxing. But when it's packed, it's a bit much. -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
11/28/2008
Wreck Beach is our lovely waterfront city's most famous beach, I'd wager, all because of it's subtitle as Vancouver's nude beach.
I love the folks at Wreck Beach, being that the atmosphere is far more relaxed here than any of BC's other sandy shores. Expect plenty of vendors selling all manner of yummy eats and small to large crowds, depending on how warm the day is.
Despite Wreck Beach being on the doorstep of UBC, thankfully it's not overrun by students. Do go here to have fewer tan lines, relax, and enjoy seclusion of this beach protected by thick slopes of forest. Don't go here to be a weirdo. Thank you. -
Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
9/25/2008 1 photo
One of the first places I went to when we first moved to Vancouver was Wreck Beach and I fell in love with the care-free anonymity and natural beauty of this haven. The walk down to the beach is a series of what seems like a gazillion steps, through a majestic forest of massive flora. If you haven't heard, it is a clothing-optional beach so get comfortable or get out. The attitude here is...there isn't any attitude! Everyone is overwhelmingly friendly, open and giving.
There are vendors selling their wares, clothing, scarves and jewellery along with some of the better food vendors around. A particular gentlemen sells exotic meats in burger and hot dog form, try the kangaroo burger, amazing! There is also a fresh, home-made fry stand with miso gravy, as well as a plethora of less obvious folks selling their drink concoctions, treats and whatever else you think you might enhance your Wreck Beach experience....
For me, there is no better escape in the city than Wreck Beach. -
Review from Tim L.
8/21/2008
This is one of the largest swathes of clothing optional beach and is pretty well known amongst locals and is a well kept secret giving its size.
Buried around the edge of UBC it's a great place to hang out as long as you're not a perv.
The clothing optional culture proves to be incredibly friendly whether you're comfortable to go completely nude or not which makes it an enjoyable environment to be completely care free. -
Review from Luke A.
Toronto, ON
8/30/2008
The best way to get to Wreck Beach is the entrance right off Place Vanier Residences on the the west side of UBC. While the beach technically wraps around farther, it's inaccessible at high tide, and not great for exploring.
In addition to being clothes-optional, the beach also seems to be irony-optional, since there are a number of naked guys wandering around selling hot dogs. All the same, it has a family-friendly atmosphere, and you wouldn't feel out of place with or without a bathing suit. -
Review from Darien C.
BC
11/26/2008
Famous Wreck Beach, satisfying all Vancouver's naked needs. Yes, this is the nude beach. Nudists and semi-nudists rejoice. The beach has a section where you simply must bare it all, else wise you'll find the clothed intermingling with the wild.
This location was a favourite spot for beach parties in high school. Many, many stairs lead the way down to the beach. Such grueling physical demands ensured the lack of any police presence. Mind you those selfsame stairs were arduous for the drunken climb to civilization.
The beauty is picturesque, but I'm of the mindset that a day at the beach should be as the saying suggests: no work. Not a billion stairs. However the scenery is great and the characters colourful. I fondly remember a friend of mine being chased by a homeless man labeling himself "The Raven" and uttering incoherent rants about his "coven".
Fun times had by all.
Another undeniable selling point of Wreck is the vendors. We all know that police officers hate fun, it's apart of who they are. The RCMP would outlaw dancing if they ever got the chance. At risk of losing calories they remain at the top of the stairs, and so a veritable market thrives on the beach. You can buy anything.
Bring cash and suspend modesty. Wreck is a great day. -
Review from Karen R.
Once I figured out just where it was, then got my summer-clad butt down that monster stairwell... Wow what a cool and relaxing place. Hard to believe I am still in Vancouver. Everyone although mostly nude, seemed totally respectful of everyone's space. I've not had a more enjoyable beach/ocean visit than today. Frolicking in the refreshing surf, sun basking... Awesome
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Review from Bea Y.
11/7/2008
One of my favorite beaches in Vancouver, and for good reason too. It's located on campus, and it's one of the more pristine and beautiful beaches, with great views of the ocean. It's truly representative of what Vancouver is all about.
You can park along SW Marine Dr., but it gets really crowded during the school year and at peak hours. Park on campus and walk there. Be prepared to walk down a few steps. Have fun and remember, it's clothing optional! -
Review from Reena M.
1/25/2010 11 Check-ins Here
I think this is one of vancouvers best beaches! So sandy, serene, and secluded during the off season, it's the perfect place to go relax and ponder. Sure there may be some nudists but it's a free community. Just get ready for the stairs back up.
