PHOTO: ROBERT FOWLER
Point Roberts Maple Beach, one of best Beaches in the U.S. for Shelling!
Internet travel website TRIPS TO DISCOVER recently featured Maple Beach as one of the 14 best beaches in the USA for shelling.
Maple Beach in Point Roberts made TRIPS TO DISCOVER’S list as one of the best 14 beaches in the USA for shelling. This 100-acre beach is a treasure trove for beachcombers and shell collectors alike. But there are more – visitors can engage in various activities such as sandcastle building, skim-boarding, and sunbathing, making it a great spot for families. What sets Maple Beach apart from the other 13 beaches on the list is its location on the Boundary Bay side, offering stunning views of the Salish Sea and Mount Baker. You’ll be amazed by the vast tidelands extending over half a mile at low tide, making it perfect for shellfish harvesting. This beach is truly a gem, and the best part is that it’s easily accessible from Vancouver, BC, or Seattle, WA.
Rejuvenate yourself at Point Roberts Beaches.
Find your perfect beach to rejuvenate in Point Roberts. There’s something for everyone, from driftwood forts and crab hunting to Orca sightings! One of the best things Point Roberts is known for is its peaceful, pristine beaches that attract locals and visitors alike year-round.
Maple Beach
Maple Beach is a very popular 100-acre beach for families to gather with the kids to build sandcastles, skim-board, sun-bathing, and shellfish harvesting. Located on the Boundary Bay side of Point Roberts, the beach provides great views of Mount Baker. The beach is open daily, from 8 a.m. to dusk.
Lily Point Beach
Not your typical sandy beach, Lily Point Beach is a bit rocky, making it good for a chance to observe a variety of sea creatures. Located on more than 275 acres, Lily Point Marine Reserve has 1.4 miles of saltwater shoreline along Boundary Bay. Take the Multi-Use Loop Trail to the Beach Access Trail while observing panoramic views to access the beach.
Bluffs rise from the beach to forested upland trails perfect for the hiker and bird watching enthusiasts. You’ll find an abundance of great blue herons, harbor seals, soaring eagles, and shorebirds fishing the tidelands at this beach. You may even get a glimpse of a passing Orca.
Historically, this area was an important fishing ground of the Central Coast Salish Native peoples and homed the former Alaska Packers Association Cannery in the late 1800s. Today, only the pilings from the old cannery remain in the tidelands.
TRAILS AT LILY POINT BEACH
Lily Point Marine Park is approximately 275 acres with over a mile of saltwater beachfront along Boundary Bay. The park consists of over 262 acres with 2 miles of trails. These trails are:
Beach Access Trail is a 0.4 miles walking trail that crisscrosses down to the beach.
Multi-Use Loop Trail – a moderate 0.9-mile loop trail with saltwater views of Boundary Bay, Strait of Georgia, and a forested environment. A perfect trail for walking and biking
Cedar Point Trail – the 0.5-mile walking trail runs across the bluffs clifftops with fantastic views of Boundary Bay and the Strait of Georgia.
Lighthouse Park Beach
Looking for a beach that’s more accessible and close to a campground and beach activities galore, Lighthouse Park Beach is the place to be. This beach is a great place for families camping, picnicking, beachcombing, and catching glimpses of Orca pods passing through the Strait of Georgia just offshore. A public boat launch is available for those camping with their boat. As for sunsets, this is the perfect spot to capture that perfect shot. The beach is open daily, from 8 a.m. to dusk.
Monument Park Beach
Located in the upper-most northwest corner of Point Roberts, accessing the beach is thru a trail to the quiet beach with a great view of the Strait of Georgia.
Take a short, winding 0.1-mile trail to the beach from Monument Park. The first part of this trail is great for walking and biking. However, the last 0.2 miles are for walking/hiking only. This 0.3-mile trail is considered moderate.
The beach is perfect for those who are not used to overcrowded beaches and like private beach walks. This beach is ideal for afternoon strolls and catching glimpses of soaring eagles with beautiful southwest exposure. The beach is open daily, from 8 a.m. to dusk.
Visit Point Roberts … your fun’s waiting!
