OpenAir
Atlantic
Live conditions · Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island
beach
A quieter stretch of PEI National Park — warm red sand, dunes, and calmer surf than Cavendish.
Best calm beach option right now.
Excellent conditions at Brackley Beach. Calm, comfortable, and uncrowded. The Gulf water is warm and the dune boardwalk is in great shape. A perfect beach day.
Right now
6.3°C, feels like -0.2°C
Wind
10.1 km/h WSW
Paw index
Comfortable temp, clean air, easy on paws
Water temp
14°C — Cold — brave swimmers only
3-hour window
Conditions hold steady
No near-term weather shift is showing up in the current forecast window.
Insight of the day
Kayaking from Brackley Beach is excellent in calm conditions like today — the gulf is flat and the shoreline heading east toward Stanhope Bay is one of the best paddles on the north shore.
Map context
Wind is mild enough that the temperature will be the thing you notice first.
10.1 km/h WSW · Gusts 37 km/h
Air is clean and easy on lungs today.
AQHI 1.59 · Visibility 24.14 km
Pressure is healthy enough that this window should stay composed rather than jumpy.
1019.7 hPa · Clear sky
Daylight today
Shorter daylight window — front-load outdoor time.
Sunrise
7:50 a.m.
10h 14m of daylight
Sunset
6:04 p.m.
Air quality
Air is clean and easy on lungs today.
UV timer
Burn window: about 120 min
This is how long fair skin can be in direct sun at UV 0 before it starts to burn — calculated using the standard Health Canada formula (150 ÷ UV index). Apply SPF 30+ before heading out and reapply every 90 minutes if you stay longer.
Today's Questions
Cycling
1 route within 20 km
Activity matcher
swimming
Water-side temperatures still feel too chilly for a comfortable swim.
hiking
Conditions line up nicely right now.
kayaking
Conditions line up nicely right now.
Tides
High tide
10:16 a.m. · 0.4m
Low tide
2:12 p.m. · 0.3m
Water temperature
14°C
Cold — brave swimmers only
Visitor information
Parking
Paid
Parks Canada day pass required — purchase at the gate or online in advance
Pets
No pets
Pets not permitted on PEI National Park beaches
Accessibility
Accessible
Accessible washrooms and paved path to the beach entrance
Washrooms
Available
Accessible change rooms and washrooms at the beach entrance — open during park season
Paw index
Comfortable temp, clean air, easy on paws
Air temp
6.3°C
Comfortable range for most dogs
Pavement
Safe to walk
UV 0 · 6.3°C air
Wind & air
Clean air
AQHI 1.59 · 10.1 km/h wind
Frequently asked questions
Brackley is quieter and less commercialized than Cavendish — no boardwalk strip, just dunes, sand, and the Gulf. The beach itself is just as beautiful, and you'll often find far fewer people, especially on weekdays. It's the locals' pick when Cavendish feels overcrowded.
Yes — the Gulf of St. Lawrence is one of the warmest saltwater swimming destinations in Canada north of the Carolinas. Water temperatures typically reach 20–22°C in July and August. The OpenAir water temperature card on this page shows today's reading from the nearest ocean buoy.
It's one of the best on the island for young kids. The water is shallow and calm near shore, the sand is soft and fine, and the dune boardwalks are an easy walk. There are washrooms and change facilities at the main entrance. Lifeguards are on duty during peak season.
Brackley Beach is part of PEI National Park, so you need a Parks Canada day pass to enter. Passes can be purchased at the gate or online in advance. The parking area is large and rarely fills up the way Cavendish does in summer.
Morning visits (before 10am) give you the best light for photos, the calmest surf, and the most space on the beach. Evenings after 5pm are equally peaceful and the light turns golden on the red sand cliffs. Midday in July and August can get busy — check the UV index on this page and bring SPF.
Visitor reviews
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