San Josef Bay - Rated #1 Wilderness Beach in Canada
San Josef Bay Sand Beaches
Breathtaking San Josef Bay
Breathtaking San Josef Bay
Vancouver Island, known for its rugged coastline, soaring trees and abundance of wildlife, is also home to one of the best beaches in the world, according to a new list compiled by travel experts.
San Josef Bay on northern Vancouver Island cracked number 36 on 2023’s The World’s 50 Best Beaches Ever list and Lonely Plant recently named
Vancouver Island, known for its rugged coastline, soaring trees and abundance of wildlife, is also home to one of the best beaches in the world, according to a new list compiled by travel experts.
San Josef Bay on northern Vancouver Island cracked number 36 on 2023’s The World’s 50 Best Beaches Ever list and Lonely Plant recently named San Josef the #1 beach wilderness beach in Canada.
With a reputation for tempestuous weather and tricky access, northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia excels in wild, lonesome beaches. The 1.6-mile (2.5km) trail to San Josef Bay starts at the end of an unpaved logging road from Coal Harbour. When the forest finally parts, you'll be delivered onto a windswept expanse of crashing surf and forested sea stacks where bushes and trees have been contorted by fierce Pacific storms.
Breathtaking San Josef Bay
Breathtaking San Josef Bay
Breathtaking San Josef Bay
San Josef Bay is a spectacular wilderness beach in a protected bay, with rugged boulders and bordered on all sides by towering pines. San Josef Bay, with its parking lot is roughly one hour west of Coal Harbour (15 minutes from Port Hardy - just much more beautiful), takes about 45 minutes to reach by hike and has been described as “b
San Josef Bay is a spectacular wilderness beach in a protected bay, with rugged boulders and bordered on all sides by towering pines. San Josef Bay, with its parking lot is roughly one hour west of Coal Harbour (15 minutes from Port Hardy - just much more beautiful), takes about 45 minutes to reach by hike and has been described as “breathtaking” and “one of the most incredible unspoiled beaches you will ever see” that should be on every “must-visit” list. The road from the Inn on Stephens Bay, Coal Harbour, is the shortest drive to San Jo. Reach the trailhead in just over an hour compared to 2 hours from the Port Hardy side.
Easy Hike to San Josef Bay
Easy Hike to San Josef Bay
Easy Hike to San Josef Bay
The trail to San Josef Bay is very well maintained. The trail is easier to walk on than many on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
The sand is incredibly soft and so wonderful to walk on - barefoot!
At San Josef Bay you can see the sea stacks and caves by walking to your far right once you arrive at the beach. Please remember though, they are only accessible at low tide, so plan accordingly.
3D of San Josef Bay
Easy Hike to San Josef Bay
Easy Hike to San Josef Bay
Check out the 3d Google map of San Josef Bay
The Inn on Stephens Bay on the way to San Josef Bay
The Best Route to San Josef Bay: It has been a well-kept secret, unknown to many travel writers, that the road from Coal Harbour, along the Holberg Inlet, to San Josef Bay is a far more beautifully scenic and shorter route (less than one hour to Holberg) compared to the road from Port Hardy. More and more of our guests prefer to take the shorter more scenic route where there are opportunities to pull off the road and enjoy the views from the heights while watching whales and sea life in the ocean below. There are also some perfect spots to watch the salmon spawning and the bears catching their meals just below. Although the Coal Harbour route to San Josef Bay is shorter and potentially faster, you may wish to spend some time enjoying the spectacular scenery on your way to San Jo Bay which is rated the #1 wilderness beach in Canada and one of the top beaches in the world.
2024 Jeep Rental
As some of our guests with normal rental cars traveling the Port Hardy route to San Josef Bay have extensively damaged or received exorbitant cleaning bills from the rental car companies, the Inn on Stephens Bay now offers new 2024 plug in hybrid electric Jeeps which provide quiet and economical traveling for sight seeing excursions. An emergency satellite communication device is provided at no extra charge.
2024 Jeep Wrangler 4XE plug in hybrid rental: Guest rate: $100.00 per day (Taxes, insurance and mileage extra)
Extra Cleaning Fee: $20.00 per hour
Advance booking is required:
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