Ah, beaches. They’re the epitome of relaxation. After all, very few people go to the beach to work or to stress about something. Most often go there to take a walk, breathe fresh air, and more. And who can blame them? One look at the beach’s vibe and you can’t help but zone out, take deep breaths, and try to relax.
The only problem is, where do you find a good beach? Are there even good beaches in your vicinity? We bring good news. Hamilton is home to many good beaches, and we’re here to list them all for you.
Top 10 Beaches To Visit In Hamilton
Here are some of the top beaches in Hamilton that you have to visit.
1. Fifty Point
Fifty Point Conservation Area is found on Lake Ontario and has a park of 80 hectares. This conservation area has tons of marine facilities and a beach for anyone, including families. Fifty Point has a clean beach with changing rooms near the beach house.
As for cleanliness, the water quality is often tested to make sure you aren’t dipping in germ-ridded waters. The Niagara Region Public Health tests it weekly to ensure your health and safety. Visit the public health website here.
One thing to remember when you visit Fifty is that when you bring your children, keep watch on them. There are no lifeguards on the beach. When visiting Fifty Point and you’re bringing children, make sure to keep watch of them. There are no lifeguards on the beach. Otherwise, enjoy your day out!
2. Sunset Beach
Just an hour’s drive away from Hamilton is Sunset Beach. This beautiful beach is perfect, especially when, as the name suggests, you visit when the sun sets.
Sunset Beach is found in St. Catharines. This beach is vast, with raked sand and clear water. It’s not too crowded and is near the stunning Niagara Falls, so you can stop by before getting to the beach.
Although the sand is raked quite often, it’s still coarse. It would be good for you to bring and wear footwear such as slippers. The water is also safe to swim in. Overall, the beach is tranquil, calm, and relaxing. Not to mention the view it gets you of the sunset is Instagram-worthy.
3. Beach Boulevard
Beach Boulevard is a part of an area of sand that divides Hamilton Harbour and Lake Ontario. It’s near Van Wagner’s Beach in Hamilton and is often called a barrier beach.
This was home to amusement rides and live music such as jazz. This beach has good quality, safe waters, and it is tested weekly and passes the test 95% of the time. You may check the quality of beach water through the Hamilton website.
4. Van Wagner’s Beach
Van Wagner’s Beach in Hamilton is another local favorite. Here, you’ll swim in safe water tested weekly and enjoy the feel of sand on your feet. This recreational area is found along the waterfront of Lake Ontario.
It has many restaurants, parks, and a campground nearby. Because of its popularity, many beachgoers visit the Van Wagner’s, although it rarely gets overcrowded. The sands might be coarser, but the water is always refreshing.
5. Confederation Beach Park
Located on the same strip as Van Wagner’s is Confederation Beach Park, with fun activities and games as well as water-related activities. Enjoy everything from go-karts and mini-golf to delicious restaurants and water parks.
You can even use trails to take strolls with your families or have bike rides. Grab a beach towel, put on your swimsuit, and get to Confederation Beach Park to enjoy a passive and lazy day out.
6. Christie Lake
Another great place to swim you wouldn’t want to miss is Christie Lake. Dip in one of the most beautiful swimming hotspots in Hamilton. Not into swimming? There are other activities you can also do, including biking, fishing, boating or paddling, and even disc golf, which, for those who aren’t familiar, is a golf course with holes found in different parts of fields or forests.
Disc golf uses flying discs rather than the usual club and ball. This is a fun group or family activity. There are entrance fees for Christie Lake. It’s $15.50 per vehicle and driver, $5 per passenger over the age of 5, $5 for walk/bike-ins, and $20 for equestrians.
7. Kawhia Hot Water Beach
If you plan on visiting the peaceful, beautiful village of Kawhia, why not visit its hot water beach? All you have to do is drive to the end of Ocean Beach Road. If you’re lost, consult a map or ask one of the locals. Most people are friendly here. Once you’ve reached Ocean Beach Road, park your car, walk to the dunes, and then onto the beach.
Kawhia Hot Water Beach is a gem with beautiful black sand and clear blue water. This is a good choice if you’re looking for somewhere almost exotic.
8. Karioitahi Beach
Watch the sunrise or set from the sands of this beach. Fairly popular with its locals, Kariotahi Beach is a place for you to swim, surf, or both. Although it doesn’t have a variety of amenities, it still has places for you to eat, including a cafe and a restaurant.
View stunning landscapes right from Kariotahi’s shores. This beach is open to the public, so you and your family can enjoy it now.
9. Valens Lake
Enjoy the sandy beach and, if you choose, the campgrounds of Valens Lake. With 225 campsites and accessible electrical and water hookups, locals enjoy going camping at Valens Lake. Valens Lake’s water is tested during the summer.
The water is safe for you to swim in. As for fees, entrance fees per vehicle and driver are $15.50. The fee per passenger over five years old is $5. The walk/bike-ins must pay $5.
If you decide to go camping, you have two options. There’s the non-electric option, where you won’t be given water or electricity for the duration of your stay, which costs $44 per night. There’s the electric and water option, where you’ll have access to both, which costs $51 per night.
10. Crystal Beach
Crystal Beach, more popular than Bay Beach, is found in Fort Erie, close to Hamilton. This beach is a tourist attraction with its many enjoyable activities and delicious restaurants. Here’s a fun fact about Crystal Beach.
This once had an amusement park which is why the beach is so famous. The amusement park opened in 1888 and closed in 1989. It was home to many entertaining rides and fun activities.
There are nearby hotels for visitors to access the beach any time they want quickly. A tennis and yacht club now sits where the amusement park once was. As of the moment, those who’d like to visit the beach must purchase a Bay Beach pass.
You can get a resident pass, commercial pass, or day pass. There is a limit to the number of people who can get on the beach. You can track the number of people on the beach and plan your day accordingly through Fort Erie’s Bay Beach capacity tracker and camera.
To get a day pass, you can go to the main entrance of Bay or Crystal Beach. The office is open from 9 AM to 6 PM, so you can purchase a pass till then or until capacity has been reached.
Each day’s pass costs $5. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, day passes cost $10. You can also purchase one online and reserve spots in advance. For those under 12, their entrance is free.
Which Beach Is The Best?
There are so many options. How do you know which one is the best? Which one should you go to first? Although each beach has its pros and cons and many people have differing opinions, there is a majority. Locals and tourists mostly recommend Fifty Point as the go-to beach in Hamilton. It has several marine facilities and amenities for you to enjoy. Fifty Point also has very clean waters, which stay so consistent.
Although you aren’t required to visit Fifty Point, it would be great if you could stop by. After all, you do want to know what all the fuss is about.
The Takeaway
Beaches are a great way to unwind after a stressful week. With summer coming, it’s understandable that you’d want to plan and find a beach to visit. Being able to visit just one of these ten beaches will surely bring a smile to your day.
We might have mentioned Fifty Point as one of the local favorites, but you might also enjoy other beaches. Take the exotic Kawhia Hot Water Beach or the stunning Sunset Beach, for instance. Each allows you to experience something new. All you’ve got to do is enjoy Hamilton’s beaches.
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