Wreck Beach - Wreck Beach Proper

Wreck Beach Proper

While the entire 7 km beach around to Point Grey from Acadia Beach to Booming Ground Creek 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 many think of when they talk about Wreck Beach. The trail is the most developed of the trails down the bluff and consists of 474 wooden steps. This section of the beach is the most heavily used. At the bottom you will find a stretch of sand between two artificial rock jetties as a water breaks lined by a row of licensed vendors selling imported clothing, jewelry, drinks, snacks, and other beach related items. Other unlicensed vendors may be found wander the beach selling alcoholic beverages and other more illicit cash crops of British Columbia.

Nudity is optional throughout Wreck Beach; however, regular beach-goers consider it good etiquette to join the unclothed rather than just observe them. Additionally, due to Wreck Beach's proximity to the University of British Columbia, many students and even faculty, can be found at Wreck Beach. In recent years many beach users have objected, on both privacy and environmental grounds, to the University's plans to construct new buildings too close to the cliff edge and partially overlooking the beach.