The Best Swimming Beaches on Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island is surrounded by water, but not all beaches are created equal. From cold and clear sunrise spots to warm, sheltered bays perfect for little ones, the island has something for every kind of swimmer. Here are our favourites, with one secret held back just for guests.
Beddis Beach
1456-1460 Beddis Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2E2
Beddis is a beauty. The water is cold and crystal clear, which makes it one of the best spots on the island to watch the sunrise with a coffee in hand. The beach is a lovely mix of white shells and rocks, and there's a year-round stream that trickles through, which kids always seem to find irresistible. Parking is easy and ample, and if you feel like wandering, there's an adjacent orchard with a gazebo just waiting to be explored. A peaceful, unhurried kind of beach.
Good for: sunrise walks, easy parking, families, exploring
Menhinick Trail Beaches
We might be a little biased here since this one is right in our neighbourhood and you can walk straight from the cabin, but honestly, bias or not, this trail delivers. The Menhinick Trail is a 3 km loop that winds past three beaches, each worth a stop. The main beach is a stunning white shell shoreline with views that will stop you in your tracks. Bring snorkel gear because the rocky shoreline has plenty to explore beneath the surface. Pack a picnic and plan to stay a while.
*One important note: no dogs on this trail. It's a bird sanctuary, and the feathered locals would like to keep it that way.
Good for: snorkelling, picnics, scenic walks, families
Vesuvius Beach
Salt Spring Island, 127 Langley Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1L2
Vesuvius is the warm one. About a 30-minute drive from the cabin, this community beach is the go-to summer spot on the island, and for good reason. The water is the warmest on all of Salt Spring, which means it actually feels inviting rather than bracing. On summer evenings, it fills up with kids playing in the shallows, parents catching up, and the general happy chaos of a beach that people genuinely love. Grab fish and chips from Seaside Kitchen nearby and stay for the sunset. It's a classic Salt Spring evening and one we'd recommend to anyone.
Good for: warm water swimming, kids, sunsets, summer evenings
Bader's Beach
Salt Spring Island, 498 Collins Rd #424, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 0A3
Baders is the tucked-away one, the beach that feels like you found something. It takes a little more effort to get there, sitting on the same warmer western side of the island as Vesuvius, but it rewards you with shallow, warm water stretching out for nearly a kilometre at high tide. That makes it ideal for small kids who want to wade and splash without going out of their depth. The surroundings feel genuinely remote and enveloped by nature, a rare feeling on a busy summer day. A great one to have up your sleeve.
Good for: small kids, warm water, that tucked-away feeling
And One More...
There is one more beach in our neighbourhood. A sneaky, special little spot that we think is the best of them all. We don't share it publicly, but if you're staying with us, it's yours to know about. Ask us when you book, and we'll let you in on the secret.
Salt Spring's beaches are best explored slowly, with no particular agenda. Bring a towel, pack some good food, and just see where the day takes you.
Staying at Salty Stay Cabin? You're steps from Menhinick Trail and perfectly placed to explore them all.