Charlottetown 
There are several fantastic beach destinations across Prince Edward Island. These locations offer soft white sand, shallower waters for swimming, and gorgeous ocean views. And while these features are a guarantee for any PEI beach, only one offers singing sand.
Basin Head Provincial Park is on the far eastern tip of the Island and is home to a beach of the same name. And this beach sings! The Basin Head Beach is also known as the Singing Sands Beach – a name given due to the odd and audible noises from walking on the sand.
Relaxing on the Singing Sands
The Basin Head or Singing Sands beach is divided by the entrance to the Basin Head Harbour from the Northumberland Strait. A bridge provides access between both sides of the beach and connects people to the shops and museums north of the beach.
There is also lifeguard supervision on the beach from June to September. Once on the beach, you are sheltered from a lot of wind, thanks to the small surrounding hills. And you will likely hear the “singing” as soon as you step onto the sand.
- The Provincial Park provides several amenities for a perfect day on or off the water: washrooms, showers, change rooms, picnic tables and gazebos, and a boardwalk trail.
- This beach extends for 14km! Adventurous beach-goers or hikers can follow the sand all the way to the next public beach to the north, as there is no private property between the two beaches.
- Kids can get their own relaxation from the Children’s Play Village (beside the museum), or The Scoop, and ice cream and dessert shop.
Basin Head Fisheries Museum
The Basin Head Fisheries Museum is conveniently close to the Singing Sands Beach and Park and right on the main boardwalk.
From June to September, the museum is open to the public with exhibits around the fishing industry’s early days, on local history, and local culture. Exit through the gift shop to find much more than souvenirs, like handmade goods, crafts, and local art. The Basin Head Fisheries Museum grounds are a beautiful spot for a picnic, photos, or a sunrise.
More Nearby Attractions
One wouldn’t need to travel far from Basin Head to find additional beach and water attractions or views. This part of PEI is home to several gorgeous sandy spots open to the public, as well as many other hidden gems off the sand.
- Head north from Basin Head to fish with Jeff! Captain Jeff offers his PEI Tuna Charters from North Lake and a Beach House for rental in Basin Head. These deep-sea fishing charters include a variety of tour package options.
- Red Point Provincial Park is a short drive down the shore from Basin Head and offers even more space for beach time and swimming. Plus, the park has a large campground, playground, and several amenities like laundry and showers.
- The East Point Lighthouse is a historical landmark known for being as old as the country itself (est. 1867). The lighthouse is open to the public for guided tours and has a gift shop for local goods.
- While at East Point, take time for nature photography, birding, and wildlife viewing. This is a hot spot for the spring and fall migrations!
Hiking the Confederation Trail
The shoreline areas like Souris, Red Point, Basin Head, and North Lake all offer excellent waterfront hiking opportunities or beach walking. For more hiking, visit the eastern section of PEI’s 400km Confederation Trail. A branch leads north from Souris to connect to the main trail at Harmony Junction (5km one-way).
- From Harmony Junction, hikers can follow the Confederation Trail to the end of the line. This is a much longer section at 16km one-way.
- Both sections of the Confederation Trail near Basin Head are the perfect way to see the Prince Edward Island countryside, smaller communities, nature, and wildlife.
- The trail is open to hikers and cyclists, and leashed dogs.
Dining in Souris
On Basin Head Beach, there are two takeout options: the Cliffside Café and the Scoop ice cream shop. And for more coastal or local dining, the town of Souris to the southwest of the park offers several more options.
- Find more waterfront dining options in Souris like the Red Claw Bistro, Shirley’s Place, 21 Breakwater Restaurant, Second Side Taps & Apps, The Fiddling Fisherman Lookout, or the Poke Shack.
- Enjoy takeout or snacks from Greco Pizza, Evergreen Café, or Over the Top Ice Cream.
- North Lake, north of Basin Head, is a small community with an incredible seafood spot. Grab the famous PEI lobster and more from North Lake’s Boathouse Eatery.
Planning your Trip – Basin Head Provincial Park
What: a day-use park in the eastern community of Basin Head. Basin Head Provincial Park covers a little over 14km of sandy beach on the North Umberland Strait. The park is also known as the Singing Sands Beach due to the unique noises due to the high amount of quartz and silica in the fine grains of sand.
Best time to go: June-September
Cost: free
Location & how to get there: 336 Basin Head Rd, Route 16, Kingsboro
95 km from Charlottetown and 14 km from Souris
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