Get Away to Nearby White Pine Beach
Guest post by Michelle Carchrae. “Father and Sons in Greater Vancouver” (image above) by Sonja Lind.
Sasamat Lake is located in Belcarra Regional Park, just a ten minute drive down Ioco road from the centre of Port Moody. Despite being so close to houses and development, Sasamat Lake and White Pine Beach looks and feels like the middle of the forest. Pine trees line the hill opposite the beach, and hiking trails begin on either side of the beach. There are a few clues that give away the fact that this getaway is so close to the city: high-voltage power lines are visible along the horizon and the beach fills up with people very quickly.
So, on a hot, sunny Friday morning in August, we pulled into the parking lot at White Pine Beach at about 10am. We were definitely not the first people to arrive. The parking lot was already about half full and families were piling out of cars to the left and right of us, carrying inflatables and picnic lunches and sun umbrellas.
After navigating down two very steep hills with strollers, picnics and preschoolers to keep track of, we arrived at the nearest sandy beach of the two at White Pine Beach. There were several families already set up close to the water, so we headed to a shady spot on the side. A couple beside us carried their canoe out to the lake, and kids ran around splashing each other and building sandcastles.
One of the warmest lakes in the Vancouver area, Sasamat Lake is clear and has a shallow entry, which makes it ideal for families with young kids. The lake is also very still, with no waves from motorboats or ocean swells to look out for. Our shady spot quickly turned into full sun as the morning progressed, and I found myself wishing I had a sun umbrella.
Just past noon the beach really began to fill up, with people setting up blankets immediately next to ours and space in the shallow part of the water filling up too. On weekend mornings in the summer the parking lot often fills to capacity by 10am, with cars arriving after that being turned away.
There are plenty of amenities at White Pine Beach, including bus service, flush toilets, changing rooms, picnic tables, a concession, picnic tables, and hiking trails. There are no lifeguards at either of the two beaches or the swimming and fishing docks on the opposite side of the lake. Water quality is regularly tested by the Metro Vancouver Parks Board, and when coliform levels are dangerously high the beach is closed to swimming, so it’s wise to check for any water quality warnings before departing.
White Pine Beach is a great destination for a warm summer day. It’s close, easy to get to, has beautiful clear water and there are lots of things to do while you’re there. The only downside is that it’s so nice, everyone else wants to go there too! If you’re not a fan of crowds, your best bet to enjoy White Pine Beach is either arrive early in the morning or after dinner. If you’re planning on going to White Pine Beach on the weekend, definitely plan to arrive before 10am or choose another destination.
Michelle Carchrae is a freelance writer and mama to two little girls. Michelle writes about attachment parenting, parenting resources and life with kids at her blog, The Parent Vortex.
