WRECK BEACH - Condensed Guide to print

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For more information see www.cocreation.net/wreck_beach.htm

Getting To Wreck Beach Trail 6 (main beach)... From Downtown Vancouver:  Take Burrard St. South, go west or left on 4th Avenue:  Head west on 4th Ave.& follow all the way to UBC till it turns into N.W. Marine Dr. Watch for vertical UBC signpost "Gate 6" at University Blvd. & you will have found Trail 6 to Wreck Beach. A well marked trail, it is by far the easiest, most accessible for everyone.  On the west side of N.W. Marine Drive look for 6 yellow & green garbage/recycle bins, a big directional map,  bike rack area & 2 porta-potties marking the top of the trail.

Map courtesy www.wreckbeach.org 

Weather camera: www.katkam.ca  Point of land usually centered in live photo is beginning of Spanish Banks, Jericho Beach.  Wreck Beach & UBC is around corner (assuming the camera faces usual direction).  Weather website: http://www.weather.yahoo.com

Parking: Free on Street 6am-11pm daily.  Park along NW Marine Dr. from the Anthropology Museum at Trail 4 or just before, at & just past Trail 6 at UBC towards SW Marine Dr. and Trail 7.  Parking available for UBC students & beachgoers. Check signs carefully as they tow religiously. Drop gear & friends at the top of the trail then get a parking spot if you have lots to carry.  Main Parkade: Open 24 hrs/ tickets good 7am-7am next day .  Wknds/Hols $3.50 a day.  M-F $1.25 for 30 mins. or $12 max.  Go east on University Blvd from NW Marine Dr. Almost directly across from Trail 6 at Gate 6 of UBC off University Blvd. is the many-leveled parkade visible about a block east of the trail. Attendant weekdays 7am-llpm to take your money when you leave.  After hours they leave an envelope on your windshield for your cash or check.  Loonie Lot: 7am-10pm daily. $1 hr. or $5 a day max. til 10pm that day. Located just south (2 blocks) past Trail 6 & Gate 6 on Marine Dr.  Small lot of 50 spaces this is a better lot weekdays for the price.

What you must know about the Beach...

What to bring to the Beach... Travelling light: Show up, have a good time & just bring cash as most things are available to purchase summertime.  Bring basics like a sheet or towel, sunscreen, water, light snack & a plastic bag for your garbage. 

Travelling prepared: Be prepared. The key is light, compact & easily portable or you'll be groaning on the 400 stairs back up the trail at the end of the day. Bring coins for parking & cash for purchases.  Consider: Back pack, small soft portable cooler with ice, snacks, water, beverages, plastic grocery bag for garbage, beach sheet or towel, suntan lotion, sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella, windbreaker, long pants as it cools towards sunset, runners for the trail, thongs once there, small fanny pack for valuables, kleenex in case toilets out, damp washcloth in ziplock for hands, pen or paper, musical instruments, percussion, drums to jam.

What it costs for a Day on the Beach... Food ranges from $1 - $8 on average for item or  plate.  Beverages $2 - $5.  Beach sheets $20, sarongs from $7.50 -$10.  Clothing $4 & up.  Massage $1 minute. Jewelry ranges $2 - $50. (It is illegal to bring or sell alcohol & authorities will have you pour it out or fine you.   Vendors take American $ at par or with exchange depending on individual.  Visa or MasterCard is taken at the Massage & First Aid stand with Brad & Diana in vendors row.

Massage on the Beach at Trail 6... There is nothing like having a massage on the beach on a glorious day as it takes relaxation  of the body-mind-spirit to a whole other level.  Ever-changing people do various forms of massage on the beach.  Diana & Brad have a permanent location in the quiet zone towards the back of the beach. Available May - Sept. 11am-evening most sunny weekends for sure, days of the week will vary.  Massage on Beach call 604-216-0260 to confirm our beach attendance or book in Studio.  Cash, Visa, MasterCard Amex. accepted.  See our website for more info at www.cocreation.net

Local Tides  www.tides.info  Ocean & Shoreline Inhabitants www.oceanlink.island.net 

Motorboats & Boating Etiquette... Up until the summer of 2003, boats were allowed to anchor in at the beach amongst the swimmers.  Finally, after much protest from all the beachgoers about the gasoline, fumes, noise and danger to swimmers we were granted immunity from anymore problems with motorboats in the main beach area as is enforced in all other public beaches.  Although not marked at the moment, the swimming area is the whole length of the beach and motorboats are asked to anchor behind the bouys.  The Coast Guard now actively enforces and fines any motorboats ignoring this fact.  It is no problem to bring in your kayaks, canoes or sailboats if they are not motorized.  Please be very careful of the many submerged rocks that lie hidden just below the water surface as the tide comes in.  Keep a close eye on your boat as the tides are quite dramatic at Wreck Beach.  Many a boat has gone adrift or has been anchored out so far as to leave the owners swimming to it later in the day.

Other wildlife of a more human nature... Music - Drumming - Singing - Many musicians frequent the beach on any given day including our resident Rekkerz (beach north) & the acoustic accoutrements of Lookinglass (beach central) plus  many other single artists & talents.  Feel free to join in the jamming, singing & drumming that occurs in many areas on the beach & goes into the evening with sunsets "Salute to the Sun".  Bring instruments, voice, percussion, drums & join others at Trail 6.

Other Trails and Special Spots to Explore...

Standing at the bottom of Trail 6 as you face the ocean & head right or north...

Standing at the bottom of Trail 6 as you face the ocean and head left or south...

Products and Services to watch for... Many services & products are available on the beach.  Wandering vendors offer their wares as they walk through the crowd.  Listen to their by-lines to see what they sell.  Other vendors market their healing, jewellery, art, carvings, clothing etc. & although some are regular vendors each year, only a few set up in the same location to find them easily. Whatever you indulge in, be conscious of others personal values and right to comfortable enjoyment on the beach with their families & small children.

Food and Beverages... Local food and beverage vendors work diligently to bring you treats as all is hauled up & down the trail daily.  Feel grateful to pay the prices asked as they are extremely committed & labor long & hard in the hot sun to provide you with lots of variety & goodness. Wreck Beach community has joined with the Parks Board to align licensed food vendors to prepare you wonderful treats in rustic flavored beachside stands. Licensed vendors have to pass food safe & are regularly checked by the Parks Board for cleanliness.  Other vendors wander the crowds selling wares out of a cooler & may or may not be licensed.  If you are concerned about this factor, feel free to ask if they are licensed.  Wares include sandwiches, samosas, Chinese buns, pop, juice, water, beer, tropical mixed drinks, special coffees, banana bread, brownies & cookies.  Be conscious & confident of what you are buying before you buy.

Food and Beverage Vendors to watch for at Trail 6... Most vendors listed are fairly regular on any given sunny day throughout the summer months May - August.  Following list is according to where they hang out beginning at the bottom of Trail 6 at the back of the beach and heading south towards the rock pier...

Lost and Found... Keys often left hanging on the sign at the top of Trail 6 or on the metal signpost at the base of Trail 6 if found on the beach.  You may check out Stormin' Norman's Spirit Grill under the green parachute as people often turn things in there.  Other options for lost & found include the WBPS. 

More Info: Call Wreck Beach Preservation Society www.wreckbeach.org  604-856-9598 

Map courtesy of www.wreckbeach.org