Woods Road Beach is a beautiful west-facing, off-leash dog beach on the northwest side of Bowen Island, BC. The beach is mostly pebbled but there are some sandy patches and there is plenty of room for your dog to have a play or go for a swim.
Located at the end of a long, narrow road (Woods Road) you will find a small parking area for about four or five vehicles. The access point to the beach starts with a steep dirt path, lined with roots and loose rocks. After that the path levels out and it is a short walk to the beach.
Our Visit to Woods Road:
We visited the beach in August on a fairly high-tide day. Even with the tide up there was plenty of beach to play on with your dog and logs to sit on and have a break while you enjoy the view.
We did notice there were some “unfriendly” signs at the beach that may have been put there by locals. At least one stated “private beach” which as you can see from the pictures, clearly is not accurate. The official municipal signage states that it is a public beach and that the trail is a “public beach access”.
Off-leash Dogs on Bowen Island:
Bowen Island’s municipal website says that, “dogs are currently allowed off-leash in all municipal parks but must be kept under control by owners.” It also says that “dogs are not allowed on Tunstall, Sandy or Bowen Bay Beaches in July and August,” however, “at all other coastal access points, leashes are optional, so long as your dog is under control and kept within 3 metres of you.”
“Public beach,” as defined in Bowen Island’s Animal Control Bylaws, “means those public lands located between the low water mark and fifteen (15) metres upland of the high water mark of any body of salt water”
