6 of the Best Canadian Beaches You’ve Never Heard Of

August 16, 2026

Girl in a purple bikini running through shallow water at a sandy beach under a clear blue sky.

Photo by Andrew Hempstead

Lists of the best Canadian beaches tend to be predictable, featuring popular and easily accessible locations. However, Canada boasts an impressive 240,000 kilometres of ocean coastline and more than two million lakes, making it home to countless lesser-known beaches, often with beautiful sand and warmer water than you may imagine. These hidden gems may require more effort to access than their better-known counterparts and have limited facilities, but that can be part of their charm. Here are som...

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Andrew Hempstead

Banff-based Andrew Hempstead has authored or updated over 120 guidebooks and contributed to various Canadian and international magazines. He has also provided written content for corporate clients like Parks Canada, Travel Alberta, Expedia, KLM, and Marriott.

A Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, he is often consulted by CNN Travel for Canadian travel advice and has been recognized in the Calgary Herald as a “famous Albertan” for his writing achievements.