Crystal Beach
Discover clear waters and a vast stretch of sand at Crystal Beach in Fort Erie, Ontario.
Also known as Crystal Sands Beach and Bay Beach, this bustling lakeside community is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, just a 10-minute drive west of Fort Erie.
Visitors flock here for a day of relaxing with family and friends at a picnic table, enjoying swimming and water sports or touring the Crystal Beach restaurants, local shops, bars and nightlife. This sunny beach also features modernized facilities and amenities like lockers, change rooms and a water bottle filling station.
Crystal Beach | Town of Fort Erie
How to get to Crystal Beach
Location: 4155 Erie Road, Fort Erie
By transit: Take GO Transit or VIA Rail to Niagara Falls, then Niagara Region Transit to reach Fort Erie. Use Fort Erie’s On-Demand Transit to get to Crystal Beach.
By car: There are a variety of paid parking options in the Crystal Beach area. Find a municipal parking lot as well as metered street parking available at an hourly rate or a flat fee for the day.
Know before you go
Crystal Beach is open Monday to Sunday (including public holidays) from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
There is a small fee to visit. Buy a Day Pass at the entrance with cash, credit or debit. Entrance for children under 12 is free.
You’ll find an accessible ramp leading to the beach, plus beach mats for strollers and wheelchairs.
Weekends can be busy, so consider visiting on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Things to do at Crystal Beach
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Play all day
Kids will enjoy the beach playground, which was donated by the Ridgeway Lions Club. Other amenities include locker rooms and beach mats that provide access to the water’s edge.
Grab food by the beach
Taste diverse restaurants in Crystal Beach. Start your day with coffee from the Crystal Ball Cafe, sample tacos at Casa Hugo and eat healthy salad bowls at Shaka.
Stay overnight
Make an overnight trip to Crystal Beach and stay at the Long Beach Resort, a 30-minute drive west from the beach.
Splash in the water
One of the main attractions of Crystal Beach is its water sports. You can rent a Sea-Doo or stand-up paddleboard from Adventure Crystal Beach Ltd. or bring your own equipment.
Take a stroll through the park
The Crystal Beach Waterfront Park has been open since 2005. Scenic trails are open for hiking.
Articles and itineraries
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Interesting facts about Crystal Beach
Crystal Beach was formerly the site of an iconic amusement park that drew visitors every summer. Its roller coasters, dance halls and concert venues put this small town on the map. Despite closing down in 1989, some of these old historic buildings are still standing and can be seen around town.
At the time, the beach contained rental units, a snack bar and various fun attractions, drawing crowds from across Canada and the U.S. A showboat and passenger steamer, the S.S. Canadiana, travelled between Buffalo in New York and Crystal Beach to ferry visitors to this popular beach.
Last updated: September 13, 2024