Our snazzy new Swim Guide lets you locate beaches near you, figure out which ones are safe for swimming (the green ones!), and plan your next trip to the beach. It’s free, and it’s fun, and it’s available now online and for your smartphone.

Bowmanville West Beach and Bowmanville East Beach: Bowmanville Beach is found on the east and west sides of the entrance to the Bowmanville Harbour at Port Darlington. The area’s sandy beaches are away from main roads and surrounded by rural properties. They are great places to enjoy an open view of Lake Ontario or to watch boats move in and out of the Harbour. The nearby Conservation Area also offers many hiking and biking trails, making the waterfront a great full-day destination.

Frenchman’s Bay West Beach and Frenchman’s Bay East Beach: Take in breath-taking sights of Lake Ontario at Frenchman’s Bay. This strip of sandy land that separates Frenchman’s Bay from the lake is a “barrier beach”. The strong winds that created the barrier beach also make the spot fantastic for windsurfing and kite boarding. On the north side of the barrier, you will find the east and west bays. This is an environmentally sensitive area managed by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority. The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station dominates the landscape on the east side of the bay. This is one of the largest and oldest nuclear power plants in the world (opened in 1971).

Lakeview Park East Beach and Lakeview Park West Beach : he east and west beaches at Oshawa’s Lakeview Park stretch across a long sandy shoreline located within an expansive waterfront recreation area. Soccer fields, slow pitch diamonds, picnic facilities and outdoor and indoor concerts can all be found in the area. At the most eastern end of the beaches, you will see the industrialized harbour. Across the harbour is Gifford Hill, a historic site that served as a trading post during the 18th century. One of the few remaining pioneer cemeteries in Ontario can be found. Beyond Gifford Hill is Second Marsh, a 123 ha coastal wetland that is home to extensive biodiversity such as reptiles, mammals, birds, fish and insects. Walking trails, viewing platforms, and benches are among the many things available in the green space of the beaches where everyone can find something to appreciate and enjoy outdoors.

Newcastle Beach: Newcastle Beach is a remote and quiet place to go for a swim or a walk. It does not appear on the Waterfront Trail map, but it is used regularly and cherished by local residents. You will find smooth sand and large clusters of rocks here. At sunrise or sunset, there are stunning views of Lake Ontario as boats travel to and from the port of Newcastle. This is one of the many hidden gems along the shores of Lake Ontario.

Pickering Beach: Pickering Beach is located in the community of Ajax just off the shore of Lake Ontario. Pickering Beach was an important cottage destination for upper-class Torontonians in the 1920’s. Some famous figures that lived in the community are T. P. Loblaw and artist Florence Helena McGillivray. Today the beach is a great place for swimming and fishing. There are volleyball courts, picnic areas, and a beautiful lakeside boardwalk for biking, running, and walking. Bird watching in the area is reputed to be fantastic, as are the neighbourhood restaurants.

Whitby Beach: Whitby Beach is close to the harbour and the Iroquois Park sports complex. About 4 km west of the harbour you can find Lynde Shores Conservation Area. This spot offers you a 500-acre wilderness oasis that has managed to elude industrialization. About 4 km east of the harbour, you can find the entry to Camp X (aka, Intrepid Park). This site commemorates the covert Canadian/British School for Secret Agents that occupied this site between 1941-1946.