Warm sand. Pebbles. Salt water. Fresh water. Swimming. Sunbathing. Treasure hunting. Discovery. Saint John is surrounded by water! And our beaches provide rest and recreation.

West
The St. John River and the Bay of Fundy border the west side of the city. Bayshore Beach, MacLaren's Beach and Saint's Rest Beach (in the Irving Nature Park) all display the rugged beauty of the Fundy coastline; all have a fabulous view of the bay. These beaches are perfect for strolling, beachcombing, and wading. Be warned! The water in the Bay of Fundy is very cold! Parking is limited at Bayshore and MacLaren's Beaches and the beaches are unsuper-vised. (15 minutes from the city center)

Also on the west side is Dominion Park. Tucked into a cove on the St. John River, this sandy beach has picnic tables, washrooms, a canteen and playground. This beach is supervised during the summer months. (15 minutes from the city center)

North
Rockwood Park, the largest urban park (2,200 acres) in Canada, is nestled in the heart of Saint John. Rockwood Park had very practical beginnings. Today, its lakes, trails and activities offer year-round recreation and leisure for citizens and visitors alike.

But the lakes in the park originally served a very practical purpose. In the early 20th century, Lily Lake served as the city's water supply. The Fisher Lakes (or "Arches") were built as an additional supply of water during summer droughts. The first of these lakes was completed in 1904. In the winter, these lakes also supplied ice.

Today, city residents rely on other sources for their water. However, Lily Lake and the Fisher Lakes supp-ly plenty of fresh water for swimming. Lily Lake has a sandy beach and play-ground and wash-rooms nearby. It is unsupervised.

The Fisher Lakes are set amongst trees; the sandy beach is surrounded by a playground and picnic tables. The beach also has washrooms, a canteen and it's supervised in the summer months.
Both beaches have plenty of parking (although it's a short trek through the park to get to Fisher Lakes. (10 minutes from the city center)

East
Mispec Beach Park is another Fundy Beach that offers sand, surf and sun! Although the water
is just as cold on the east side of the city, Mispec is a summertime favourite. Facilities include picnic tables, washrooms, and a canteen. The beach is at the base of a steep hill but there is a stairway. There is also plenty of parking. (25 minutes from the city center)

In the middle of the Little River System, a series of streams, small rivers and lakes that runs through the east side of the city, sits Reservoir Lake Park. Soft sand and refreshing lake water provide bathers with an enjoyable break from the summer heat. There is a playground, lots of parking, and the beach is supervised during the summer. (10 minutes from the city center)

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