Hornby Island: Beaches

If you ever get the opportunity to go to Hornby Island during the Summer months you will definitely want to pack along your bathing suit. Hornby Island does offer some designated places for people to swim in. These places are ocean shore locations but are protected by coves or bays which makes swimming safe and fun. The other neat thing is that the tides go out, way out, which helps warm the water up on hot sunny days on its return.

Tribune Bay (Big Trib and Little Trib)

Tribune Bay, aka Big Trib, is probably one of the most popular beach destinations of Hornby Island. Not only do beach goers love to hang out there all day, but it is also a popular anchoring spot for boats too due to the protection of the elements.

Lots of open beach area when the tide is low offers a great place for many beach type activities; football, bocci, kite flying, skim boarding, shell collecting and more. It is also a great place to find sand dollars (not that you should really ever take the shells from the beach).

Typically family and younger adults can be found on Big Trib. There is also a provincial camp ground next to Big Trib which gets filled up pretty quick!

Little Trib is situated around the corner of Big Trib with a less than noticeable road to get to it. It’s sort of a secret gem and I don’t mind sharing it with people. Little Trib is considered a Nude Beach, but clothing is optional, which is why it is typically more quiet than the other beaches. It is relaxing though and we do prefer lounging there away from the younger crowd of Big Trib. I do not have photos of Little Trib, but it is a beautiful beach. Parking is a bit of a mess and if you don’t get there early you will have to park quite a bit away from it (as with Big Trib too).  Little Trib is also a bit more rocky near the grass line than Big Trib, but once you make it over the little rocks and pebbles the sand is like that of the rest of the island.

With both beaches you do have to watch out for dungeness and spider crabs as they like to hide in the various pockets of crab grass beneath the water.

Whaling Station Bay

To date, Whaling Station Bay is our new choice for beach action on Hornby Island. Located north-east of Helliwell Provincial Park and nestled among various ocean front cottages and when you get there you can see how this particular place got it’s name. The very gentle slope of the land allowed fisherman to haul up whales when they were caught back in the day for their blubber.

These days, it is enjoyed by the residents of Hornby Island as well as visiting families. We enjoyed the really warm temperatures of the mid-afternoon water where you could easily walk out into the water for a long time without it ever going over your head. There are many little beach access points around the perimeter of the bay and even toilets located on the eastern side.

If you ever get a chance to check out Hornby Island during the Summer, Whaling Station Bay is definitely a recommended stop.

Ford’s Cove Marina (area)

Technically the area around Ford’s Cove Marina is not much of a beach. In fact there isn’t sand nearby at all, but it is a great place to go for a late afternoon swim when the tide is high and the sun is hot. The shoreline around Ford’s Cove is made of weather and water beaten sandstone. When the tide is low and the sun is out, these sandstone areas heat up pretty good and when the tide comes back it, it warms up the surrounding water. It’s also a tradition for Robyn’s family to go swimming off the rocks when the tide is right. Quite enjoyable to float around there watching the various boats come in and out of the marina. Occasionally harbour seals poke their head out too. On rare (very rare) occasions transient orcas may be spotted swimming through the channel.

When the tide is ultra-low (sub-tidal) it’s great to go looking for sea critters. We’ve seen starfish, sunstars, bullheads, various crabs, sea cucumbers and more! Just be careful as the lower areas are typically covered with slippery seaweed.

Granted there are other places where one might get into the water for a swim while on Hornby Island, though the ones mentioned above are the easier accessible ones to visitors. They also differ slightly which keeps them interesting.

Have you ever been to Hornby Island? If so, which is your favourite swimming/beach place to go?