One of the best spots for surfing in Ontario, Kincardine is home to a number of scenic sandy beaches along the shores of Lake Huron.
With cool breezes and soft, white sands, the beaches of Kincardine range from tranquil spots to relax with family to hot spots for water sports, like parasailing, kayaking, and freshwater surfing.
Whether you plan to lie back on the white sands of Saugeen Beach (formerly known as Sauble Beech) or check out the magnificent views at Point Clark Beach, here’s everything you need to know before visiting the best beaches in Kincardine, ON.
Kincardine Beaches: Station Beach
Located in the heart of town, Station Beach features a boardwalk, golden sands, and a shallow, gradual slope into the water that makes it ideal for families with young children that want to have some fun in the sun.
Station Beach was also named one of the top destinations in Canada for freshwater surfing thanks to its powerful north westerly winds that generate steep waves on par with anything you’d see in warmer climes. While lacking the strong deep-sea currents of saltwater surfing, the powerful winds that rock the Great Lakes make freshwater surfing a thrilling experience all on its own.
Though the pastime is most popular in the warmer months, there’s a growing community of cold-water surfers who descend on the beach in the fall and winter when the winds and the waves are at their strongest.
For those who’d like to try out this exciting sport, Station Beach is home to a number of surf shops that offer boards for rent.
Kincardine Beaches: Saugeen Beach
There aren’t many white sand beaches in Ontario, which makes Saugeen Beach on Lake Huron that much more special. Widely regarded as the best white sand beach Ontario has to offer, Saugeen Beach is also the second longest freshwater beach in the world. Located on the western side of the Bruce Peninsula by Owen Sound, the area was named “La Riviere au Sable” by French explorers, meaning “River to the Sand.”
Stretching a full 11km long, Saugeen Beach is a popular location for water sports like windsurfing, water-skiing and beach volleyball. In fact, the beach has hosted the Canadian National Volleyball Championships in the past, and the local Sauble Speedway hosts a number of automotive events. However, the beach’s most competitive event might be SandFest, an annual sandcastle building competition and classic car show. The best time to visit Saugeen Beach is in the summer, as the waters of Lake Huron can remain cold well into the spring months.
Kincardine Beaches: Point Clark Beach
A sandy beach on a small peninsula extending out onto Lake Huron, the highlight of this destination is the historic Point Clark Lighthouse. One of the six Imperial Towers built by John Brown in the 1850s, the Point Clark Lighthouse was originally constructed to warn passing ships of the shoals along the coast of Lake Huron.
Named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1966, visitors can book a guided tour of the lighthouse and the lighthouse keepers’ cottage, which has been converted into a museum. Be sure to visit in the evening in order to catch one of Lake Huron’s beautiful sunsets from the top of the tower.