17 BEST Beaches in Oakville, Burlington + Hamilton

With Lake Ontario and lots of smaller bodies of water in the area,

finding a great beach near the city is as easy as watching the video below! 

While I’ve decided to stay pretty local with this one,

there are even more within an hour or two drive so if you’re

looking for a day trip, the options are quite diverse!

Today we’re exploring a total of 17 local beaches,

some big, some small, some well known

& some lesser-known local gems…

- 1 -

Burlington Beach

- 2-

Beach Boulevard

Continuing along the path & heading over the lift bridge, you first come to Beach Blvd...

This stretch of around 4km of sandy beaches & protected dunes are the beginning of the Hamilton Beach Trail.

There is a small building off the paved trail just after the lift bridge with a

water refilling station, an accessibility path to the beach & washrooms.

There are also some playgrounds along the trail, but there are large gaps between them.

This stretch is typically quieter than the beaches on either side of it since it has limited parking & is surrounded by many historic as well as newly renovated homes in the Hamilton Beach community. 

- 3 -

Van Wagners Beach

If you were to drive along the street called Beach Blvd, you can take a left at the southern end (stop lights) which marks the beginning of Hamilton’s Van Wagners Beach. 

It's 1.5km of waterfront with a mixture of sandy /rocky beaches. 

Considered a part of Confederation Park, there are a lot of great amenities!

 There's the Lakeview - which hosts lakeside events, has washrooms, a splash pad,

the City run pool, near by go-karts, not to mention volleyball & basketball courts.

Or stop by Hutches for your classic casual food options with a side of delicious ice cream🍦

There's lots of parking & ways to spend the day, making this a busy place on those hot summer days!

- 4 -

Confederation Beach

Continuing along this stretch, when you come to the parking lot just beyond Barangas - which is one of

my favourite Greek restaurants in the city & only open through the warmer months

for a beachside patio - you’ve arrived at Confederation Beach.

The stretch of Van Wagners & Confederation Beach makes up the

Hamilton conservation area known as Confederation Park, which I did cover in another video.

 But, Confederation Beach is generally a little quieter as much of it is blocked off by

the waterpark known as Wild Water Works, picnic spaces, mini putt, batting cages, etc.

This 2 km section is the southernmost tip of the sandy dune barrier

& tends to be a little shadier as the trail meanders through the more dense tree canopy

making for lovely strolls on those hot summer days.

With a lot of options to explore, many people who come to this section are not

coming specifically for the beach making it quieter to explore than

Van Wagners & with the rocky beach transitioning to a bit more sandy quality,

it’s generally more comfortable for laying out.

Unlike most conservation areas, there is no cost to access Confederation Park

& you can park in one of the many large parking lots.

Bonus for those with kids, this is one of my favourite playgrounds
with a washroom & easy beach access beside the pirate-themed playground. 

- 5 -

Fifty Point Conservation Area

The next main beach is another conservation area in one of Hamilton’s most desirable

Stoney Creek waterfront communities - Fifty Point.

It’s known for the marina with amenities like Limani restaurant, fishing, pavilions,

RV lots, calm ponds for hobby boats & some lovely trails to walk.

The almost 1km of beach here is sandy & can get busy on those hot summer days

so be sure to arrive early to save yourself a long walk to the beach. 

If you’ve got a boat, this beach is another popular one to hang out by on the lake. 

- 6 -

Casablanca Beach

As you cross over into the Niagara Region, you’ll find a few more beaches along Grimsby’s shoreline. 

Continuing south, we come to Casablanca Beach with a lakeside trail, a gravel as well as a more sandy beach on the almost 1-kilometer shoreline, & a small pavilion. 

It’s not the biggest beach around but it is a lovely place to explore if you’re in the area. 

- 7 -

Nelles Beach

Heading along, we pass some smaller waterfront parks better

suited for launching a SUP or kayak than to take a dip…

You can even explore Grimsby Beach with it’s

gravely beach but home to the painted ladies cottages!

But if you’re looking for a family-friendly

lakeside park, Nelles Beach has you covered.

With a playground,  waterfront access to approx.

500ft of gravel beach, picnic tables,  beach volleyball court

& on-site washrooms, there’s something for everyone.

- 8 -

Binbrook Conservation Area

Heading up the escarpment, let’s head back towards Hamilton to

one of the fastest-growing neighbourhoods in the city… Binbrook. 

With a 391-hectare man-made lake, you can enjoy the

Binbrook Conservation’s beaches. This is a unique conservation

area because it offers so much variety!

There’s Treetop Trekking for all ages, with a kid-friendly area

as well as a challenging course for older kids & adults.

You can bring your own paddle boat or rent one on-site,

but it’s the beaches we are focusing on today, so with a splash pad,

washroom facilities, pavilions you can rent and picnic tables throughout,

this is a great place to have a beach day!

 One of my kids' favourite things to do here is the water obstacles.

There is a fee to enter the conservation area &

a fee to use the obstacle courses - check their website for current costs.

- 9 -

Christie Lake Conservation Area

Heading along the escarpment, Hamilton’s Valley community of

Dundas is home to Christie Lake Conservation Area.

With 360 meters of sandy beaches, washrooms on site

& moving water to help keep the lake clean for swimmers...

This quiet escape in the City is one of my

kid’s absolute favourite places to explore!

The parking lot is a bit of a walk, so you may find it

easier to use the drop-off area for your beach things & then go park the car. 

There are almost 10km of hiking trails that circle the lake which

are great for biking, as well as disc golf & paddle boat launches.



Being a conservation area, there are fees associated with

entering the park space - check current pricing.

- 10 -

Gullivers Lake

There’s a cute RV camp ground on the escarpment not

too far from Christie Lake known as Gulliver’s Lake.

Being a 14-acre lake with floating docks, sand pit, scuba diving,

& paddle boat or kayak rentals (check hours)

Gulliver’s Lake offers a wonderful opportunity to spend

some time outdoors on this calm spring-fed lake.

- 11 -

Valens Lake Conservation Area

Ready for another Hamilton Conservation Area that offers a variety of things to do…

Valens Lake is about 140 acres & was created in 1968 to help prevent

flooding in the surrounding watershed & has become a

local favourite for camping, fishing, swimming & more.

With cottages, campsites & RV spots, this beach has lots of

 swimmers every summer & offers washrooms, volleyball courts & shade from the hot sun.

Find out more about their current pricing here...

- 12 -

Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is another RV and Camping location

that features a lot of options for water activities making it a local favourite!

There’s a 200 ft water slide, 3,400 ft2 splash pad for

the younger kids, boat rentals, washrooms & a snack bar.

Add in the 5-acre spring fed quarry which offers swimming,

diving area, water trampolines, rock-climbing wall

and a water obstacle course (with separate course for younger kids)!

With picnic areas, kiddie pool for littles, playground,

beach volley & basketball courts, sandy beache, picnic tables

throughout as well as pavilions you can rent...



Emerald Lake is an amazing place to visit

for the day, or stay for some camping!

- 13 -

Kelso Conservation Area

We come east along the escarpment to Kelso Conservation Area in Milton. 

Known for its mountain biking trails, skiing in the winter months &

summer camps for kids out of school, but it’s sandy beach with boardwalk,

washrooms & snack bar are what we are looking at today!

The beach is one of the few to have a lifeguard on duty

in the area & while the swimming area is a bit smaller than others,

the scenic views & paddle boat opportunities make this beach a little extra special. 

Again, being a conservation area, there is a cost

to enter - Click here for current pricing.

- 14 -

Coronation Park

Let’s head back to Lake Ontario to start covering some beaches in Oakville!

Coronation Park is a very popular summer destination with one of

the best splash pads in town, public washrooms, snack bar, pavilions for rent,

beach volleyball courts as well as a playground designed with both big & little kids in mind.

The beaches here are rocky but people love to frequent

this beautiful 650m shoreline & enjoy a day lakeside. 

Being a Town of Oakville park, there is no cost to visit

& there are two parking lots with lots of space for visitors. 

- 15 -

Bronte Beach

The shops & lifestyle of Bronte is unique in Oakville offering one of the

only true waterfront communities despite much of Oakville’s south end being lakeside.

With 2 marinas, playgrounds, shops, delicious restaurants & so much more,

Bronte holds a special place in my summer stroll heart.

While some people assume the beach is a part of the Bronte Heritage

Waterfront Park system, it’s actually a little further west off of West River St.

Bronte Beach is unique as it is a shale beach with a sandy shoreline. 

In the mid-1800s this was a bustling port,

but today the area offers a horseshoe beach with around

100m of sandy shoreline before turning into steep sand dunes you

can explore via the walking trails & stairs.

Oh, and there are public washrooms in the free parking lot - just

watch the signs & do not park in spaces reserved for marina members.

Of course, if you decide to explore, please stay on the marked trails

to protect these fragile eco systems & prevent erosion to the bluffs. 

- 16 -

South Shell Park

As you approach the border of Burlington and Oakville,

you come across Oakville’s hidden gem - South Shell Beach.

During lockdowns, the secret started to come out, but even locals often don’t

realize there is a sandy cove here, perfect for a sheltered & shady beach day! 

There is a small playground with a rocky beach, but if you take the trail heading west

towards Burlington, you come across the access stairs to this lovely Lake Ontario enclave.

You can also stay on the trail & come around the far side for the

accessibility ramp, but there have yet to be access paths added across the sand.

This location does offer a water refilling station, pavilion,

public washrooms & free parking in the very small/often full lot.

If you're curious about Burlington or have any questions about living in the area,

feel free to reach out - I'm happy to chat 😊

Your Genuine Realtor®,
Rochelle Edwards

Broker