Information AboutWreck Beach |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT WRECK BEACH | |
| university endowment lands, british columbia | |
| vancouver beaches | |
| nude beaches | |
| butoh | |
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ACADIA BEACH - TOWER BEACH - POINT GREY The shore throughout this area is mainly rocky, but there are sandy areas. Consequently, this area is typically less used than others. During the smelt season, there are often many clothed fishers and their families in this area, and that tends to limit the number of naturists. Acadia Beach is a few steps down a gentle slope from Marine Drive. Tower Beach is reached down the much longer Trail 3. Point Grey is near the steeper Trail 4. Also, one can walk from one beach to another, except if the tide is too high. In the section of greater Wreck Beach known as Tower Beach are two tall concrete searchlight towers which are relics from World War II . Just south of the towers is Point Grey, called ''Ulksen'' in the local Salish language. Various wildlife can also be seen, including thick forest, nesting herons, sea lions, kingfishers, and occasionally, bald eagles. WRECK BEACH PROPER While the entire beach within Pacific Spirit Regional Park, clear around Point Grey, is often referred to as Wreck Beach, the large sandy area on the north side of the North Arm Breakwater at the base of Trail 6 is what most think of when they talk about Wreck Beach. The trail is the most developed of the trails down the bluff and consists of 399 wooden steps--or more, as park staff continually construct more. This section of the beach is the most heavily used. Here, vendors sell everything from drinks, snacks and sunscreen to more exotic delights. Nudity is optional throughout Wreck Beach, however, it is considered good ettiquete to join the unclothed, rather than just observe them. Some beach-goers have used logs to section off a part of the beach as Nude Only (indicated with small red signs). TRAIL 7 The area inside the North Arm Jetty, where the breakwater begins, is an extremely gay-friendly section. The trail has recently been improved with the addition of handrails and better stairs. The ocean here is more stagnant and polluted--not usually considered suitable for swimming. At the bottom of the trail you can choose to go right (northwest) or left (southeast). There is a sandy spit several hundred meters to the northwest, where there is often a crowd. There are numerous small pockets of sand along the trail in both directions. There are also a number of small trails, all along this area, that lead into secluded areas in the woods that are sometimes used for romantic trysts. ACCESS Wreck Beach adjoins the University Of British Columbia (UBC) campus, west of the city limits of Vancouver. It is accessible by road, water, and public buses. The most popular part, Trail 6, is 3 km overland from Vancouver. TransLink runs a number of bus routes (4, 9, 17, 25, 41, 43, 44, 49, 84, 99, 258, and 480) to the UBC bus loop. From there it is a five-minute walk west, down University Boulevard, to UBC Gate 6 (from which Trail 6 takes it name). Turn right on S.W. Marine Drive and the trail is immediately to the left about 100 meters. From Highway 99, turn west on one of these roads: S.W. Marine Drive, 41st Avenue (then, from 41st Avenue, turn right onto S.W. Marine Drive), 16th Avenue (then, from 16th Avenue, turn right onto S.W. Marine Drive), or 4th Avenue (then from 4th Avenue, turn right on N.W. Marine Drive). From Highway 1, take the Grandview Highway exit westbound (this eventually becomes 12th Avenue), turn right (north) on Clark Drive, left again (west) on 6th Avenue (this eventually becomes 4th Avenue), and then turn right on N.W. Marine Drive. Wreck Beach lies at the base of a cliff. Therefore, the trails all are fairly steep. Trail 6 and Trail 7 both have stairs, Trail 6 being the better developed of the two. The path from the Acadia Beach parking lot is the most gentle slope and provides the easiest access to a clothing-optional area. When the tide is not too high, it is possible to walk along the entire shore: from Acadia Beach past the base of Trail 7. Erosion can make the route south of Trail 6 a bit tricky, and it can often be quite muddy. PARKING There is a small parking lot at Acadia Beach and a pay parking lot on the UBC campus just south of Trail 6. Parking is also allowed all along S.W. Marine Drive on the east side of the road (opposite the cliff side). Illegally parked vehicles are often towed away. Parking is also allowed along Old Marine Drive. TOILETS A few times over the years, the health authorities have posted the beach as too contaminated for swimming. The GVRD provides sanitary facilities. Outhouses are by the Acadia Beach parking lot and at the tops of Trail 6 and Trail 7. Portable Toilet s are at the base of Trail 6. They have no running water, so many visitors bring their own. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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