Stanhope Beach
A Sand And Dune Beach In The PEI National Park With A Campground, Supervised Swimming, A Boardwalk, A Lagoon And Wide North Shore Views, Quieter Than Cavendish. A Good Base For Camping Near Dalvay By The Sea · Stanhope, Prince Edward Island
Stanhope Beach lies in the eastern part of Prince Edward Island National Park, about 30 km north of Charlottetown near Dalvay-by-the-Sea, and is the camper beach of the island north shore. A long sand and dune shore faces the Gulf of St. Lawrence, with a lagoon behind it, a boardwalk across the grass and wide views along a coast that feels quieter and more open than Cavendish. The park campground sits a short walk from the shore, so many visitors arrive for several nights rather than a single swim, and wooded trails, a freshwater spring walk and a historic lakeside hotel are all nearby. Supervised swimming runs in the summer season, with washrooms and changing rooms close to the main access. Spring and autumn are windy and empty, with shorebirds on the sand and the Gulf the colour of slate. Dunes and fenced nesting areas protect plovers and rare plants, so the boardwalks and signs are firm rules. Sunrise over the water is a highlight for campers who wake early.
Stanhope Beach, in the Stanhope section of Prince Edward Island National Park on the north shore, about 30 km north of Charlottetown near Dalvay; coordinates approximate, Stanhope, Prince Edward Island, Canada
The beach is open at any hour and has no gate. Lifeguards and beach services run a summer season, usually from about late June to late August with supervised hours from about mid-morning to late afternoon - confirm dates and zones with the park. Stanhope campground, washrooms and changing rooms follow a season of roughly late May or June to September or early October, with reservations strongly advised for July and August weekends. Parks Canada visitor services in the Stanhope and Dalvay area keep their own seasonal hours. Outside summer the beach stays open but unsupervised, with cold water and strong winds.