Municipal Beach is located on the Southern shore of Lake Ontario in St. Catharines and offers amazing sunset viewing opportunities. It is described as a hidden treasure as most people don't know about it and go to other more well known beaches such as Port Dalhousie. It is a very quiet beach with lots to offer including a beautiful waterfront trail that runs along the shores of the Lake, a sandy beach, playground, public washrooms (open seasonally) and a boat launch. There are also benches along the trail facing the lake which offer the perfect area to relax and watch the sunset. Enjoy a walk along the beach at sunset to see the beautiful colours reflecting off the water as the sun disappears below the horizon, relax along one of the benches, or even bring a picnic blanket and relax under one of the oak trees.
Municipal Beach also offers a free public boat launch for small watercrafts during the boating season and daylight hours, and what better way to watch the sunset than from on your boat floating amongst the beautiful sparkling waters of Lake Ontario at sunset.
Municipal Beach is St. Catharines' largest, offering 1,200 feet of sandy beach area. The locals refer to it as "the Garden". It can be reached through Malcolmson Park.
The entrance to the Welland Canal and Lock One are just a short walk from the beach. This beach offers amazing photo opportunities at sunset, as it is very quiet and photographers are able to get the shots they want without people interfering. This is also a good place to go for a romantic walk along the beach or the Waterfront Trail with a little bit of privacy. It is also a great area to take the family and the dog for a walk, while soaking up the picturesque views of the sun setting over the lake. Other recreational activities visitors can take part in aside from watching the sunset are cycling, jogging, swimming, boating, fishing, picnicing, and even cross-country skiing in the winter months.
The time of the sunset varies throughout the year. For photographers, lighting can make a huge difference in your photography. Consult this sunrise and sunset photo calculator prior to your visit. |
Open year-round.
Public washrooms - open seasonally, July 1st to Sept. 1st (8am to dusk)
From Toronto:
Take the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) to exit 42 Ontario Street, St. Catharines
Turn left (north) onto Ontario Street
Follow Ontario Street to Lakeshore Road
Continue on Lakeshore Road (west)
Turn left (north) on Arthur Street
Turn left (west) on Lombardy Avenue
Follow Lombardy Avenue to Sunset Beach
From Niagara:
Take the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) to exit 46 toward Regional Road 44/Lake Street
Turn right toward Lake Street
Take the first left onto Lake Street
Take the first right onto Scott Street
Turn left onto Geneva Street/Regional Road 46
Turn right onto Lakeshore Road
Turn left onto Arthur Street
Turn right onto Beachhaven Drive
Take the first left onto Bogart Street
Follow to Sunset Beach on Lombardy Avenue
Sunset Beach is historically important to the development of the Welland Canal and City of St. Catharines. The beach and surrounding land at one time was home to the pioneers who constructed the Welland Canal.
The park area is a combination of land and aquatic ecosystems with surface features ranging from sand and grass to water. This habitat is home to wildlife such as migratory birds, fish species, small mammals, insects, and reptiles.
Sunrise and Sunset Time/Date Calculator
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunrise.html
Sunrise and Sunset Photo Calculator (For photographers)
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/sunrise-sunset-calculator.htm
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/2011/07/07swim-guide-highlights-niagara-region-beaches/
City of St. Catharines
Accessible waterfront paved trail.
Phone: | (905) 688-5600 |
Sunset Beach (formerly Municipal Beach)
1 Lombardy Avenue
St. Catharines, Ontario
L2M 1H8 Municipality St. Catharines
Latitude: | 43.223451 |
Longitude: | -79.220038 |
Mike Anderson
Administration
Parks and Recreation
City of St. Catharines
St. Catharines, Ontario
Tel (905) 688-5600
Fax (905) 682-3631
Email http://www.stcatharines.ca/index.asp
Surface features: Pavement, gravel, grass, sand, dirt path
Trail linkages: Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail