Brunswick Beach

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Tags: British Columbia, Canada, North America, Pacific Northwest, and Vancouver
No
No
None - limited parking available off the highway
Nudity is not required

The Good

  • Plenty of Space: Even on a hot summer day, the beach never feels crowded, offering lots of room to stretch out and relax.
  • Breathtaking Scenery: With its stunning views of Howe Sound, this beach boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Vancouver.
  • Tranquil Waters: The sheltered bay ensures the water is usually calm and perfect for a peaceful swim. The water is normally crystal clear.
  • Famous Nude Beach: Known for its long history as a nude beach, Brunswick Beach welcomes those who enjoy swimming au naturel, making it a go-to spot for naturists most days.

The Bad

  • Limited Parking: Parking is restricted to residents and permit holders, making access quite difficult. The only available parking is near the Sea to Sky highway exit, with just a dozen or so spots. From there, it’s a 500m walk down a moderate hill. Be cautious—Lions Bay's sole bylaw officer is very active on weekends, frequently issuing fines for unauthorized parking.
  • Unfriendly Locals: Lions Bay is an affluent area, and some residents aren’t particularly welcoming to visitors. There have been reports of locals telling people the beach is private, but this isn’t true. As long as you stay on the pebble shoreline, the beach is public and open to all.
  • No Amenities: There are no public washrooms, showers, or vendors, so be sure to bring everything you need for the day.
  • No Sand: If you're hoping for soft sand, you won’t find it here—the beach is made up of pebbles and rocks.

The Naked Truth

Brunswick Beach is a breathtaking spot, perfect for a relaxing nude day in the sun. However, accessing it can be a challenge due to the highly restrictive parking enforced by the Lions Bay locals. If you manage to find a spot and don’t mind the occasional unwelcoming glances as you make your way to the beach, you’ll be rewarded with a peaceful, one-of-a-kind experience, complete with jaw-dropping views of Howe Sound. Rest assured, going nude here is nothing new—locals have been embracing it for the last 40-50 years, so at least you won’t be bothered for that.

Insider Tip

The nude section is to the far left of the beach past the houses

Who's Here

Locals in the know. Mostly women and couples.

Beach Surface

Small pebbles and rocks

Access Difficulty

Medium - a 500m walk from the side of the highway is needed
Booking.com
Booking.com

Photos

Our Visit

Matt & Megan
Nude Beach Map. Visited 2024

Despite living in Vancouver for years and exploring nearly all of the Lower Mainland nude beaches, Brunswick Beach remained the final frontier for us. Part of the reason is that every time we tried to visit, we either couldn’t find parking or felt discouraged by the less-than-welcoming stares from the locals. Seriously, the Lions Bay residents do not like visitors. If the heavily restricted parking isn’t enough of a clue, the Google reviews will make it clear. Many people have been told the beach is private, that they aren’t allowed to visit, or that it’s closed. There are also several news articles like THIS explaining why the locals dislike visitors to this slice of paradise.

Click to see more

Determined to give it another shot, we decided to visit on a weekday, thinking we’d have a better chance of finding one of those elusive parking spots. Wrong! By 10 AM, all the spots near the highway were already taken, and we saw several people risking parking illegally in permit-only areas. You could try your luck with that, but be warned—the sole bylaw officer in Lions Bay is known for being very active in catching beachgoers.

For research purposes, we decided one of us would drop the other off at the beach for the day. Driving down the narrow Brunswick Beach Road felt like we were being watched by every resident, like hawks—or meerkats peering out from their massive homes. But once we made it to the beach… wow. Just wow.

While most nude beaches in BC offer stunning views, Brunswick Beach might just take the top spot. It’s paradise—the water is crystal clear, the beach is almost deserted, and it’s not uncommon to spot whales or dolphins. The pebbles are surprisingly comfortable to sit on, and the remote feel adds to its charm. With a history of being clothing-optional for over 40 years, Brunswick has a strong nude beach legacy. If it weren’t for the parking restrictions, this place would likely be much more popular (though I hesitate to say that’s a good thing!).

During our visit, we saw a few nude couples, mostly women, and some textile families scattered at the far end of the beach. It was incredibly relaxed and peaceful.

All in all, Brunswick Beach is absolutely worth the visit—if you can overlook the chilly reception from the locals and manage to snag a parking spot. Just don’t linger past closing time or make too much noise, because the residents will likely be on your case. Feel free to call me out if I’m wrong, but we’ve had our fair share of struggles trying to access this beach, which makes Wreck Beach or Crescent Rock Beach seem like much easier options. That said, Brunswick is undeniably stunning and well worth the effort!

Questions? Comments? Add your thoughts or photos below!

Map

Getting There

Brunswick Beach is nestled along the Sea to Sky Highway, halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, offering one of the few accessible beach locations on the stunning Howe Sound. While there is a small store in Lions Bay with limited supplies, it's best to bring everything you need with you. From the parking area, it’s a 500-meter walk down a gentle hill to reach the beach. The nude section is to the far left when looking at the Howe Sound.

By Car: Brunswick Beach is easily accessible by car, with a drive of about 40 minutes from Vancouver or 1 hour from Whistler. However, parking is a challenge. The only available spots are located near the highway exit, and with only a dozen or so spaces, they fill up quickly. Once those are taken, parking is restricted to residents and permit holders, which is one reason the beach remains less crowded—much to the satisfaction of the affluent locals.

By Public Transport: Lions Bay is serviced by a daily bus from West Vancouver, with hourly departures between 6 AM and 7 PM. The bus departs from Caulfeild Village, which is also connected to downtown Vancouver by public transport. While it’s possible to reach Brunswick Beach from downtown Vancouver, it requires transferring buses and takes roughly 90 minutes.

 

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