Spanish Banks Beach

awesome it was beautiful the water was amazing had so much fun playing in the sand water and volleyball with my friends

I don't know about you, but lately I've been feeling a whole lot like Tina Turner about the year 2020 - "Why can't you be ... good to me!?" Please don't sing but scream it out with me! You feel me!? I demand & want a full refund on this year!!! Gosh universe - what happened!?? Bloody bats! 2020 was not supposed to be this way!!! If you think I'm pissed well I ain't got nothing on Floridians!!! So much was weird about 2020 but the weirdest was perhaps this - people rallying against PPE & refusing to wear masks! Check out these clips from Florida!!! Must see TV! https://globalnews.ca/news/7106590/florida-mask-coronavirus-rule/ Well at least summer is upon us now & there's nothing like beach days & a glass of vodka - that can cure our 2020 blues! Damn 2020 the rest of you just better be good to me! Oh & in regards to the beach - do come check out Spanish Banks Beach - an awesome stretched out sandy beach that is a delight to walk on - very soft sand. Lots of activity here in the summer time but with plenty of chill out sections if you need to escape. Excellent views of the mountains & the Burrard Inlet area aka the beach. I also like the fact that because this beach is laid out in an east/west direction facing the ocean - there is usually a slight breeze aka prevailing winds - to cool you down on those hot afternoons. Side note - if you're meeting friends here, make sure you have coordinated a meeting spot before you arrive here!!! This beach is long & has 3 sections! It was funny watching a couple trying to help their friends reach them - it took 30 minutes!!! Better yet use - Google Maps!!! Trust me! Plenty of parking available & still free! This beach gets super packed in the summer! One big note - I highly recommend you come here early in the morning & walk out on the beach towards the massive ships. The low tide allows for this! As you go forward, it seems as though you can almost walk right up to them - reach out & touch ... ! It's a cool feeling! On another note, this beach is slightly rocky (like most west coast beaches) at the point where the ocean laps the shoreline. Folks this beach like many on the west coast, is not like the beaches in the Caribbean or Hawaii!!! So don't show up expecting to swim with the dolphins & turtles - it's not that kind of warm crystal clear blue water! By the way, you do not have to speak Spanish (we'll see how many catch that one LMAO) to come to this beach! Come to Spanish Banks Beach & fall in love with Vancouver! #backtolife #bat #covid-19 #ididntorderbatwings #2020 #citylife #coronavirus2020 #covid-19begonenow #idontdrinkcorona #lifeisabeach #summervibes #chillout #summerinthecity #vancouverisawesome

Another of my favorite beaches in the city. It's just a nice beach, not too crowded, lots of space to throw a football or frisbee around or whatever. You can also play volleyball, and they also have a off leash dog park I think. I usually bike here and then go up to UBC.

A great beach to hang out with friends or spend the afternoon. It's clean and the sand is warm. It's very spacious as well so I didn't have any problems walking while socially distancing.

Went to the off leash dog section of Spanish Banks over the weekend. It was one of the most relaxing days I've had with my husband and dog in a long time. I absolutely love this dog beach because it just gives dogs and dog owners a chance to not worry. The dogs can dig in the sand and swim in the ocean to their heart's content. Owners don't have to feel like their dog will offend anyone if the dog approaches other people. There was plenty of parking spots and space for you to stretch out on the beach. The only thing to keep in mind for you humans is that the washroom is quite a far walk. We can't do what the dogs do. Don't even think about it!

Wonderful place for individuals and families and dog friendly. You can play volleyball or other sports on the beach or swim.

Who doesn't love the beach? We are so lucky to be surrounded by beautiful beaches, trust me I know I'm from Winnipeg. One of the reasons why I moved here. (million reasons but this is one) I love Spanish Banks because it's not as crazy busy as Kits or English bay. And you get an awesome view of the skyline of Vancovuer and the mountains. And its free parking! My favorite time is to come on a week day early afternoon...

This right here is one of the reasons why there are few places like Vancouver. Parking here is absolutely horrendous during the summer months, so try to carpool if you can. There is a ton of parking. Just that there are 2 tons of people. The beach technically starts where the "bend" is on NW Marine Drive, and continues westward. The "eastward" portion is actually Locarno Beach. So what's great here? The geography. There's a path running the length of the beach, with grass on one side, and sand/ocean on the other. There is also an area for volleyball nets. Great area for BBQs. Of course, the entire Vancouver population knows this too. My only complaints? Waaaaay too many people. The entire beach is a war zone. Some more parking (any way to expand the lots?) would be nice as well. Yes that would lead to even more people, but right now people are parking all over the place, including the grass, sand, and gutters. Oh yeah, the washrooms are absolutely disgusting. Hold your breath before using the facilities.

I love coming here. Its a great place with free parking spot. Yes free parking spot. Secondly its in my hood. Love coming here to play volleyball. Or just come to watch the sunset.

How romantico is this beach? This beach has a handful of sections to it and it does span quite the stretch of road. Not far from kits or UBC. Run, bike, surf, play volleyball, practice yoga/tai chi, or makeout at night are all pretty valid things you can do at this lookout. If you don't like the crowds, this beach may be perfect for you.

What a serene and beautiful park to enjoy! I'm not sure if it's actually legally dog-friendly or not. But we had an amazing time running the shores with our pooch for his birthday trip to Vancouver! And no one gave us any hassle about having a dog on the beach. But it was also mid-late April, cold and rainy out. So maybe it would be a different story during the warmer months. However, we did see other dogs running around and specifically came here because it was listed as dog-friendly. I mean, what's better than being able to let your pooch run off-leash in a gorgeous park?! So nice. Since we visited off season, I can't speak to the activities and resources available at the park. But I did like the free parking. And the sights? Breath-taking. We live in Seattle. We're no strangers to natural beauty. If I were back in town I'd definitely come back, with my dog or without. But, let's be real--I'll probably be back with my dog and his new sister!

Sure, I love a hot summer day at the beach--screaming kids, thumping tunes, frisbees, footballs, barbecues, stacks upon stacks of people (who doesn't?)... But the best time to go is a day like today--overcast, a bit of wind, and a full moon (on the lowest low tide of the day). Walk out along the flats for ages to where it feels like you could touch a barge. The view of downtown and the Lions Gate Bridge is second only to that of being on a boat... Seagulls playing, a few crabs scurrying, a heron, a lot of peace and quiet...and all of the cares in the world...all of a sudden just fade away.

The fish at the Spanish Banks concession is a fried formerly frozen triangle and has an overwhelming fishy taste. So sad. Couldn't force myself to finish one piece. The onion rings are a bad choice too, but the fries are real and worthy of the beach. The beach itself is one of the most beautiful places in Vancouver, especially at low tide when you can walk forever on the sand flats, then turn around and feel you are right in the middle of the bay.

I'm not sure how anyone could rate this less than 5-stars. When the weather is good and the tide is out, this place is special, indeed. Great views of downtown. What I'm really dying to know is, how fast does the edge drop off? Because it seems like you could walk right out to where the ships are sailing by.

Breathtaking mountain/ocean views, sunsets, summer days, and strolls, Spanish Banks truly is as good as it gets. Best seats in the house to watch a meteor shower on a clear night. 'Nuff said!

Best dog beach in Vancouver. Owners are pretty good about picking up messes. Dogs there are usually very friendly. Lot's of room to lay in the sun/ shade or take a jog with your pup. Low tide there is awesome! You can pretty much run out into what seems like the middle of the ocean. A clean and amazing place!

This is the summer that just won't quit! Like many Vancouverites, I came to the beach for some fine beach weather. The sun was shining, everyone was in good spirits, and there was a crystal clear view of the ocean and mountains. I love walking way out during low tide. It's such a cool Vancouver experience. I've lived here eight years and I never get tired of wading through the water and looking out at the view of Vancouver, the beach, ocean and mountains. The view alone deserves five stars. Some other activities at Spanish Banks that deserve five stars: skim boarding during low tide, playing volleyball just before sunset, watching the sunset, and walking forever along the shore anytime of day. Cheers to the best summer ever!

One of my go-to places that encapsulates the remarkable beauty of Vancouver. The ocean encircled by green mountain ranges with the city scarpers soaring in one direction! An added bonus of access to UBC in minutes. An idyllic strolling, running, dog walk, biking place. Some enclosed pagodas would've helped encourage visitors to soak in these banks during rain.

Large and enjoyable fantastic Beach which is good about nine months of the year considering we don't get a lot of snow in Vancouver. The park spans for several miles along the southern strip of the inlet near English Bay and close to UBC and downtown. There's lots of free parking and lots of space for relaxing and picnics and barbecues and volleyball and lots of other things. Although we live in Burnaby it's definitely worth the trip out here and is one of the best beaches in Vancouver! It may even rival English Bay.

To me, this is what makes Vancouver so special.I love Kitsilano and wish I could afford living there... Such a nice  long beach with lots of people, shallow water, big lawn makes for perfect pic-nics.The atmosphere just is amazing.This is "cool Vancouver". I can't wait for summer to be back but this beach also makes for a nice stroll during the rare winter clear days.

I love this beach. It's my favorite dog park in Vancouver because it's significantly larger than most/all of them, has porta-potties for us humans, and is off leash throughout and has both grass and beach for my dog to enjoy. I love the vastness of this place. My dog likes it more when the tide is out and she can romp around - she tires out much quicker this way! Only negatives about this location that stops it from being 5 stars for me: 1. There's quite a few cyclists and the paths are shared. Some zip by and are frustrated with off leash dogs (it is an off leash dog park...) and also pedestrians. So it can be quite dangerous if your dog likes to roam and doesn't move when cyclists zip by. 2. There is quite a bit of dog crap around. There are some owners who simply don't pay attention to their dogs when they crap so they don't pick up (because they don't know when it happens). Or there's some owners who don't believe they should pick up dog poop. In any case, there's a bit of dog poop around so be careful where you step (it's on the beach, in the rocks, on the grass, on the paths...everywhere). 3. Pissy picnickers who hate dogs. I don't understand why they choose this part of the beach to use when there's the entire strip of them that are not dog friendly (aka no dogs allowed on beaches and/or dogs have to be on leash). I've heard so many picnickers who don't have dogs complain about how many dogs there are, why they aren't on leash and why they shouldn't be there in the first place. So don't be surprised when you encounter these people there because they seem to think they don't get enough beach as is...*rolls eyes*.

I love Spanish Banks and so does little Bruno! Its one of the few places in the city where he gets to go swimming! At the very end of the beach there is a small off-leash area for all the dogs to get their ya-yas out. The only problem is that Bruno NEVER gets tired. I believe this is because he is a crazy Boston Terrier. The best time to go is when the tide is out, then Bruno can splash around, since he is not a very good swimmer, and I can walk through the sand barefoot. If you're on the dog beach be careful where you step, I have seen some unworthy dog owners ignore their dog dropping a duke, and the first part of the beach does have some clay pockets so your feet sink and get stuck. If you go on a weekend, good luck finding parking after 11am, the place gets so packed people make their own parking spots which usually results in cars being towed and tickets being issued, and there is nothing like ending a great day of not-drinking-sangria-on-the-beach--cuz-its-illegal to find a ticket on your dash, or your car missing. Also, don't come down late at night for a bonfire in hopes that the police will not patrol the beach because they do, and they are not very nice about you having more fun than they are on a Friday night. Be prepared to make a human chain to the water while one person fills up their empty vodka bottle and the last person gets to pour it on the fire to put it out. Not so good times. P.S. do not suggest to pee on the fire to put it out, as funny as it may seem when you are drunk, you have to remember these officers have no sense of humour.

AHHHH...so incredibly beautiful!!!! This body of water is located slightly off the beaten path... fairly secluded... and upon stepping into it.. you're greeted with large pieces of logs just sitting around... very random... the waters and the city in the distance. The only thing I would've preferred was if it were less windy (nothing that I could really do...) and those huge shipping boats weren't sitting off in the distance obstructing views of the island.

I love taking my dog to the off leash beach at Spanish Banks. It's such a relaxing beach despite all the pooches running around. My favourite time is when the tide's out and it seems like you could walk out to the freighters. There's something surreal about walking that far out into the ocean and wading through warm, ankle-deep pools. The only draw back is that the rest rooms are far away. My girlfriend and I have been known to walk across the road for some bush-peeing. Once my dog decided to follow us and stood on the park side staring at us which made all the cars slow down as we were somewhat discreetly squatting. Yeah thanks dog! You're a big help. Having a bike with you makes it easy to get back to the loo and concession stand. In the height of summer you need to get here before noon to be sure of a parking spot. Don't park on the grass along the road. You will get towed. Pack your lunch and blankets and make a day of it. Your dog will thank you.

When I first came to vancouver to visit, I went to visit Spanish Banks beach becasue I couldn't beleive there was a REAL beach in Canada. So my boyfriend picked me up from the airport, and drove me there ( after I saw hastings and main.. another story folks.) It was such an unforgettable experience... the vibe is relax, there's so much room and it is much cleaner than Kits beach. You can also do some skimboarding, and if you want to spend a special day with a special someone, I suggest you go to Spanish Banks :) So, after I saw Spanish Banks, I went back to Montreal, packed up my life in 2 weeks and moved to Vancouver.

This beach is the best beach in Vancouver in my humble opinion. Here you have an unlimited view of ocean, mountains, and sky with sail boats floating by against the North Shore backdrop. As Mark H mentioned - this is paradise, and one of the views that Vancouver is known for. The beach is HUGE and almost never crowded. One side of Spanish Banks is designated for off-leash dogs, and the other side is dog free. There are two food cafes (selling fish and chips, hamburgers, hot dogs, candy, ice cream, and more) and public bathroom/shower spots as well. It's ideal for sunbathing, swimming, paddle boarding, volleyball, bocce, barbecues, picnics, or just sitting and enjoying the view. The beach is sandy and soft - not a ton of rocks to stub your toes on. Hit up Spanish Banks at low tide (check your daily news paper for tide updates) and you can walk forever out into the ocean. There is a community shuttle bus that will take you out to Spanish Banks, and it is also easily accessible by bicycle, on foot, or by car (there is ample parking here).

Spanish Banks is divided into three sections: east, west, and extension. At low tide there is a sand bar that appears out in the bay and you can wander out the .5km or so and act like it's a desert island. It only appears, though, when Vancouver has its once-daily true low tide. Extension remains my favorite section of the beach. It's the dog beach and also where you'll find summer drum circles. The grassy fields between extension and Spanish west are also great for barbecuing, should you be so lucky as to have a summer birthday. A new bus route, C19, travels from Alma down northwest marine to the beaches. Good to know about it you're planning on being a frequent visitor this summer. The only problem is that it's a little tricky to bring a barbecue on the bus. My take, though, is it is far too accessible and popular to be Vancouver's best beach. I prefer the secret feeling of Third Beach.

BBW. Big Beautiful Water paradise. What's there not to love? Ample free parking (except perfect summer days), bbq pits, fishing pier, running/walking paths, and one of the best views of Vancouver's skyline, this is the beach to be. Impress your lover (or lover to be), induce meat comas to your friends & family with your bbq mastery or sweat buckets spiking your volleyball. Whatever your beach mission is, Spanish Banks is won't let you down.

Being from the central coast of California, I'm always drawn to the beaches and this was the first place we went in Vancouver. Unbelievably beautiful. I live in a place where everyone is outdoors, but it's also hell of a lot warmer. It was January sunny and near if not freezing when we were there, but it seemed like everybody was out either walking their dog, running or riding their bike. It was great! The views of downtown were nothing short of spectacular. I would recommend this place to anyone who wanted to get away from the city and just chill out.

Today's Spanish Banks Low Tide Walk will likely be my last of this Summer Season. Arrived at the Beach at the mean low tide in the early afternoon. After crossing the rocky beach, I wadded though muddy flats to the exposed sandy banks. Which show wonderful repeating patterns of both the tide and currents. Watching skim borders getting in there last rides of summer. I followed the main sandbar until the current of the low time and high tide converge. It was day of full of blue Sky's and only a modest wind. Scanning the landscape I will try to remember this near prefect weather to give me some balance when fall returns shortly. A lone lifeguard was in his boat closing down his summer assignment. As I walk back to shore in ankle deep water seeing crabs below my feet showing me their claws protecting there small bit of sand. There is No need to leave Vancouver for a labour day Vacation when you can go low tide walking on Spanish Banks.

This is the best beach in Vancouver, in my books~it offers so much! Very long stretch of beach, slightly tucked away, and away from the crowds at Kits Beach- the view of the city makes you feel a long ways away, but you aren't....Grass, picnic tables, excellent washroom/change rooms, and good concession stands, with coffee, ice cream, and both hot and cold food available make it the best. There is tons of parking, all the way to pacific spirit park, free, in several grouped lots all the way down the beach strip. I come for walks here even during rainy winter weather, this place always picks my spirits up.

Everyone loves this beach. Kids playing in the sand and digging for clams when it's low tide. Lovers going for a stroll, holding hands. Families and people out for BBQ's and sunworshipers. Even car clubs will come here and show off their fancy 4 wheeled wares for others to see. And Joggers who jog for the view as well as the exercise. Great place. great beach. Lets hope for a great summer!

Sunny Sunday, this beach is less crazy than Kits or English Bay. This is where you send the lanterns in the air to celebrate end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Beach Vollyball nets are setup permanently here, I always see someone playing. Nice walking trails for humans and animals. Doesn't matter the temperature, you will see people walking around, riding their bikes and having picnics here. On Sundays mornings, you will often see car guys hanging out and showing off their pride and joy or start a cruise around, sometimes they also do that on Friday Nights. Lovely views, this is one of the nicer beaches in the city.

A hot gorgeous labour day weekend in Vancouver is not complete for me unless I visit UBC's Cecil Greene Park and Spanish Banks. Difficult to park here today because of the holiday. A great place for Volleyball, strolling, watching the boats go by, looking at the mountains and staring at the profile of Vancouver. This has not changed since I was a little boy here. Spanish Banks needs a review in Espanol: Un fin de semana magnífico en Vancouver no es completo para mí a menos que visite a parque de Cecil Greene en Universidad de B.C. y playa de Spanish Banks. Difícil parquear aquí hoy debido a el día de fiesta. Un gran lugar para el voleibol, dando un paseo, mirando los barcos pasa, mirando las montañas y mirando fijamente el perfil de Vancouver. Esto no ha cambiado desde que era un niño pequeño aquí. ..or in my bad French: Un week-end il fait chaud à Vancouver n'est pas complet pour moi à moins que je visite parc de Cecil Greene et Spanish Banks. Difficile à se garer ici aujourd'hui en raison des vacances. Un grand endroit pour le volleyball, flânant, observant les bateaux vont près, regardant les montagnes et regardant fixement le profil de Vancouver. Ceci n'a pas changé depuis que j'étais un petit garçon ici.

Undoubtedly one of the best public parks/ beach in Vancouver. And the one of the largest. Spanish Bank reminds me of the Presidio in San Francisco. A former military base, decommissioned and re-opened to public visits, and fantastically located on the water, right near a great city. While Spanish Bank, with so much to recommend it, we find ourselves gravitating again and again to our favorite spot, first via the Visitors Center to get a beach pass, and then heading down to park near the east shoreline beach. The beach here has what my daughter calls "pirate glass" which is basically sea glass, and makes for a wonderful treasure hunt for any little one. Whenever I go through my California withdrawals, I bring the family down to Westbank with our beach chairs, shovels and blankets and marvel at the million dollar views of Puget Sound that we can all enjoy for free.

I can imagine this place is gorgeous on a hot summer day! But it's also amazingly beautiful on a sunny (but somewhat chilly) autumn morning! And a lot quieter! It's an awesome place to go with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and take a walk with your best friend. Or a nice drive detour if you're heading to UBC via W. 4th Ave.

I am trying to find out if there is a beach in Vancouver that actually sucks..? I don't think i can find one. Spanish banks is an awesome place because it's far enough away from the city and on some days you can be the only person out there. Other days you feel like you one of thousands enjoying the epicness of summer in Vancouver. Low tide provides a endless walk, and a perfect place for skim boarding or a place to let you furry friend run free. There is tons of parking, and also public washrooms which do come in handy. Volleyball nets get set up all summer long Spanish Banks provides the perfect ambience for almost any mood.

My favourite beach in Vancouver. There is always a nice breeze, so that even on the hottest of days you can lie in the sun without feeling like you're frying. Low tide is amazing as you can walk and walk before reaching the shoreline. Fries at the concession are delicious and even the coffee is okay. The best part of Spanish Banks is that it is free of the annoying muscle heads and bimbos that populate Kits beach!

This part is not as beautiful as the rest, however, it is less busy during the week than the other areas. It is such a relaxing place to walk, hang with a friend and enjoy the rarity that is the few days of sun that we get in a year.

love this beach... but never again am i coming here without a car. i did that once years ago, and i am still scarred by the HUUUUUUGE almost-vertical hill i had to climb to get back to kits. there's free parking, and this is a great beach to chill at because it's usually pretty quiet and not that busy because there's sooooo much space. meeting up is quite difficult at this beach though since so much of it looks exactly the same... so i would suggest meeting up beforehand and going there together to avoid any confusion and hassle. here is a true story: me: "i'm by this orange umbrella... and can see ships that are directly in front of me... and there's an old lady sitting under the umbrella..." my friend: "yes... i see that too..." me: "ok why don't i see you?!" turns out we were on two different parts of the beach that happened to have an old lady sitting under an orange umbrella... and when you look out to the water, everyone can always see those huge cargo ships that look like they are directly in front of you no matter where you are because they are so big.

I am rating this beach on a jogging location for those of us who dislike asphalt and value our knees. And this place is the PITS! Would rather a concrete sidewalk than here. Cigarette and pot smokers blowing their crap in your face. I choked more than once. Come on people, can you at least take it off the trail? A million charcoal BBQs bellowing nasty smoke and worst is the dusty trail. Can the city not tamp it down some? The ground is too soft but doesn't have to be. Its like running in a gravel pit. And its not a little area, its from one end to the other....DUST everywhere. And if you are a biker, just forget that any pedestrians know what bike lanes are. I'll stick to less populated and polluted forest trails from now on. As a place to go do other things people have mentioned....I'll give 3 stars... only for the free parking and the stunning views. Kits beach and English bay fail to compare for the view I admit. . But at least I don't feel like I'm gonna puke when I go to those places. This place could be the best on the mainland if they could put better rules in place. Instead, its the toilet beach worth a few pictures and 5 minutes of your time.

This park is minutes away from UBC, and the parking is free and there is a lot of green space to have a picnic, run, jog, and just have some fresh air of the Spanish banks. The roads aren't the best, so I would advise wear running shoes. There are two roads on the park, one of walkers and joggers and the other one is for cyclist. I would advise people not to go here during the winter time or when it rains as there are huge puddles on the trails. I ended getting my pants all dirty.

One of the nicest beaches near Kitsilano. I saw people parasailing, cherry blossom in the sandy beach, and walking trail along the beach. It's beautiful and relaxing.

this is such a beautiful beach. It is out of the way, but luckily we were in kits anyway and had the car, so we drove a little further to get here. It was a partially sunny day, and the views of downtown Vancouver were absolutely beautiful. If I were a local I would be here all the time in the summer months chilling out on the beautiful beach with my friends. When the tide is out you can walk super far, which is awesome. Beautiful! So glad we found the time to come here.

There's nothing like spending a sunny afternoon on the beach that is Spanish Banks. The view is stunning, there's lots of space, and if you stay for sunset, you're in for a spectacular treat as the sun sinks behind the North Shore Mountains. Parking here on a hot day is next to impossible, so you might want to bring your bike instead, or get here good and early to avoid the parking bedlam. Of all the beaches in Vancouver, this is possibly the best!

What's not too like about this beach! Soft endless sand when the tides out, volleyball courts, playgrounds, bike paths, picnic tables, view of the north shore mountains and sunshine when I'm here! Ever since I was an undergrad at UBC Spanish banks has been a fond place for me as it was the scene of many great and not so great memories if you know what I mean! By not so great, I mean not so great the next morning but great during! As I digress, this beach had to be one of the longest beaches in Vancouver and is a great place to enjoy for everyone, bachelors in uni, couples and families! At the end of Spanish banks they also included a lit turf field that is great for playing soccer or field sports too. I've always enjoyed running along Spanish banks and will always enjoy the scenery and the natural beauty this place has to offer!

My favourite view of Vancouver.... Find out when low tide is and go for a long walk out as far as you can. There is a sand bar quite far out with sand that if you strip down and close your eyes almost feels like your lying on some beach in the carribean. Once you open your eyes take in the best 360 degree view of the city! Mountains, parks, buildings and the occasional cruise ship going by. Who wouldn't fall in love with this wonderful city