North Vancouver • Ocean Beach Safe to Swim
Cates Park / Whey-ah-wichen
Water Quality is Clean & Safe. Bacterial levels are well below federal health guidelines.
💡 Recommendation: Ideal conditions for swimming, paddleboarding, and water recreation.
Latest Laboratory Test
24 CFU/100mL
30-Day Geometric Mean (Threshold: ≤ 200)
Single Sample: 20 CFU (Limit: 400)
Tested on: 2026-08-14
30-Day E. coli Historical Trend
Weekly sampling results & regulatory threshold limits
200 Advisory Limit
| Sample Date | 30-Day Geo Mean | Single Sample | Water Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-18 | 18 CFU | 15 CFU | Safe to Swim |
| 2026-07-25 | 21 CFU | 17 CFU | Safe to Swim |
| 2026-08-01 | 23 CFU | 19 CFU | Safe to Swim |
| 2026-08-08 | 24 CFU | 20 CFU | Safe to Swim |
| 2026-08-14 | 25 CFU | 21 CFU | Safe to Swim |
Beach Amenities & Details
Tsleil-Waututh ancestral land at the entrance to Indian Arm with totem poles, kayak rentals, and sweeping water views.
🐾 Dog-Friendly / Off-Leash
Yes
🏊 Lifeguards On Duty
Unsupervised
♿ Wheelchair Access Mat
Accessible Mat Installed
🚻 Public Washrooms & Showers
Available
Great For:
Kayaking Indian Arm Indigenous cultural art Family picnics Off-leash dogs
📍
Getting to Cates Park / Whey-ah-wichen
Transit connections, parking access, and GPS coordinates
🚌 Public Transit
Bus #212 from Phibbs Exchange.
🚗 Parking & Access
Ample parking lots inside Cates Park off Dollarton Hwy.
🗺️ Navigation
49.3007° N, 122.9557° W
Nearby Clean Safe Beaches
Verified safe waters within quick travel distance
ℹ️
How Safety Status is Decided
Vancouver Coastal Health & Health Canada E. coli standards
Safe to Swim (Green)
≤ 200 geometric mean
≤ 235 single sample.
Caution (Yellow)
Single sample 235 – 400.
Beach Action Value triggered.
Advisory (Red)
Geometric mean > 200
or single sample > 400.
Unmonitored (Gray)
Off-season or no sample within 14 days.
Recreational season: May–Sept.