It’s rainy.
It’s cold.
So, I thought I’d round out CVK’s Summer beach reviews with one last great beach to spot creatures, wander in the sand and hang out – even when the weather is ho-hum.
Kye Bay Beach is one of those spots that is well off the main drag, but definitely not off the radar for local residents looking to spend some serious time on the beach. At low tide, its expansive sandy beaches, great views of the Mainland and cottage family atmosphere makes it a truly fun locale.
Kye Bay is made for families - with a playground near the parking lot and public flush toilets that are open and fairly well-maintained from sun-up to sun-down.
Once you get out to the beach, it’s all about the sand and the creatures. This is definitely a beach that you’ll want to hit as the tide is headed out as that’s when the sandy flats reveal themselves. The tide comes in fast just feet from the rocks and turns the beach into a lovely place to watch from one of the many houses out there.
The shallow sandbars run well into the bay, making wading out into the water and checking out some of the amazing sea life relatively easy and safe.
We spotted probably our greatest find of the summer out at Kye Bay this year - a huge moon snail – which our daughter quickly picked up and checked out thoroughly before making sure he was well taken care of, underwater. Sea Stars, red crabs and some amazing anemone packed the outer reaches of the sand bars as well.
I was surprised, a while back, to read that this beach was considered an excellent tide pooling spot, since it is mostly sand, not the excellent rocky patches that draw cool creatures. But, it is definitely hot in that department.
Compared to its sandy counterparts Miracle Beach and Saratoga Beach, Kye Bay has a very different, local, vibe.
Where we almost always run into people on vacation at Miracle or Saratoga, nearly everyone out at Kye Bay is from the Valley. You’ll more than likely run into someone you know and, it being just down the hill from the airfield, will most definitely get the sights and sounds of the airport and Comox 19 Wing.
It’s a short wander from just about anywhere – you can take Anderton Road to Knight Road, then out to Kye Bay Road (make a left) and follow the road to the beach. You can also take Lazo Road past Pt. Holmes to get there. Parking can be a little crazy on a bright, sunny day. But, shoulder parking is allowed and we have yet to walk very far to get to the beach.
Make sure to bring lots of water, snacks and some shade, as none of those exist out there – and be aware that the lagoon near the parking lot is most definitely OFF LIMITS for swimming or wading.
If you are looking to make one last beach run this summer, Kye Bay is an excellent choice.
