6 places in BC with bright blue water, from tiny islands to secluded beaches (PHOTOS)

Kalamalka Lake

This massive lake is set in the Okanagan region of the province, south of Vernon. While it's just an hour away from the famous Okanagan Lake – which is known to have the warmest freshwater swimming in the country — it's Kalamalka where you'll find tropical hues and clear water.

This is the spot to go for an epic summer vacation. In between lake swims you can tour around the stunning Okanagan Valley, enjoying the sunny weather while sipping wine at local vineyards or wandering around the small beach towns.

You could spend an entire trip just relaxing on the shores of Kalamalka Lake though. There's a bunch of beautiful beaches along the lake — Kal Beach and Cosens Bay Beach being popular choices – and some of them have facilities like bathrooms and parks.

The Kalamalka Lake website says that it's actually considered a glacial lake, but it boats water temperatures between 22°C and 27°C in the summer months. So, you get the beauty of glacial waters, but the signature warmth of the region.

If laying out on the beach isn't your thing you can stay entertained here with boating, fishing, and hiking trails around the lake.

Tribune Bay Provincial Park

It doesn't get more idyllic than Hornby Island's Tribune Bay, with it's clear blue waters, soft sand, and toasty temperatures.

From Vancouver you'll have to take three rides on BC Ferries to get to the island – going to Nanaimo first, then Buckley Bay to Denman Island, and finally to Hornby Island. It's worth the journey to get to this stunning place though.

The island is famous for Tribune Bay Beach, the picturesque sandy shoreline that boasts the warmest salt water swimming in the province. It's almost a kilometre long and has even earned the nickname "Little Hawaii" thanks to it's beautiful white sand and, according to the BC Parks website, the water here meets "near tropical temperatures during the summer."

Although the beach is a big draw here, there's a lot to do on the island. It has three provincial parks that you can explore, soaking in the pristine nature, from lush forests to breathtaking coastal scenery. Then you have the lively local businesses, farmers market, and tour options.

Lindeman Lake

The water here is more green than blue, but it's stunning nonetheless, and just a couple of hours from Vancouver. This emerald lake with mountains wrapped around it is in the Chilliwack area, and requires a bit of a hike to reach it.

It's a popular day trip stop, but there's also camping sites around here if you want to make a longer trip out of a visit. To reach the alpine lake you'll hike — following the Lindeman Lake trail — about 1.5 kilometres though a tranquil forest. The hike is a bit steep up, but you'll be rewarded with the untouched beauty of this lake. In total the hike is about 3.4 kilometres long and will take around an two hours.

The water is a icy here, but after the hike up you might just want a refreshing dip.

San Josef Bay

If you like a salty ocean breeze over lake views, then this beach is as stunning as it gets.

Set on the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island it's removed from crowds, even in the height of summer, and feels like a secluded bit of natural beauty. Sea stacks are scattered around the sandy beach, and sea caves hug the rugged shoreline — which is all framed the waves of turquoise water.

To reach San Josef Bay you have to hike about 45-minutes into Cape Scott Provincial Park, which adds the the remote feel of it. Here you'll feel tucked away from the rest of the world, completely immersed in some of the most incredible nature the province has to offer.

Marine Provincial Park

Nothing says summer than and island vacation, and you can make the hour-long BC Ferries trip from Vancouver to Galiano Island and be greeted by this pristine shoreline.

On the island you'll find Marine Provincial Park, one of the most popular parks in the Gulf Islands. It's famous for it's white shell beach, where the smooth shells cover the beach instead of sand. According to the BC Parks website Montague Harbour is "heir to a rich history," with archaeological excavations that "have unearthed arrows, spearheads and stone carvings, helping to unravel the stories of earlier cultures."

"For thousands of years, it was the location of a midden used by Coast Salish people," the Galiano Island website says.

It's not the only beautiful spot to check out on this island. Retreat Cove's sandstone caves here are also breathtaking, and there's networks of incredible trails throughout the parks here.

Joffre Lakes Park

This popular hike is a popular day trip from Vancouver, about a two and a half hour drive away. You'll go past the famous ski town of Whistler, and find the trailhead not far from the picturesque small town of Pemberton. It's a backcountry hike so you prepared with the proper equipment and be ready for a climb.

The good news is you can make this hike as long as you want to. The first lake, called the Lower Lake, is just a few minutes from the parking lot. While it's not the brightest water, it's still a beautiful sight to take in. From there you can keep going, making the uphill trek to the Middle Lake. The trail features incredible views of meadows, jagged mountain peaks, and lush forest.

The Middle Lake is a brilliant blue, which according to the BC Parks website is because of the "'rockflour' (or glacial silt) that is suspended in the water and reflects green and blue wavelengths of sunlight."

Past that is the Upper Lake, which is a more clear blue, and incredibly scenic. You can relax and enjoy the view before heading back down, but the water is cold enough that you probably won't want to go for a swim.

Round trip the hike is about 10 kilometres and will take about 4 hours to complete, according to Vancouver Trails.