Eight parks to try this summer
Canadians know just how precious the summer months are and have a natural urge to get outside when the sun is shining. What better way to enjoy the warm weather than camping out at one of Ontario’s many parks? The Ontario park system offers the perfect place to get away from it all and recharge your batteries. If you like to top off your peace and quiet with a side of night life, certain parks are in the heart of major summer hotspots for parties and long-weekend celebrations.
With the summer fast approaching, it’s best to book your campsites now, before the best spots are taken. We’ve compiled a list of favourite Ontario parks from around the province – try one for yourself this summer!
What did we miss? Ontario has more than 100 provincial parks to explore. Tell us about your favourite park and we may share your advice in the summer edition of OTIP Insight.
Algonquin Provincial Park
Whitney, Ontario
705-633-5572
Those who have been to Algonquin know what all the fuss is about. A favourite place for backcountry camping, Algonquin offers thousands of lakes to explore and beaches to enjoy. The interior of the park is only accessible on foot or by canoe, making Algonquin a peaceful place to get away from it all. Stretch your legs along the many hiking paths or make an adventure of it and head out along one of the three overnight backpacking trails.
For those who prefer some of the comforts of home while they camp, Algonquin also offers eight campgrounds along Highway 60, providing access to electric sites, showers, flush toilets and even laundry facilities.
Learn more! Visit the Friends of Algonquin Web site.
Return to top
Bonnechere Provincial Park
Killaloe, Ontario
613-757-2103
Resting on the Bonnechere River, this park used to see its fair share of fur traders and loggers, as they made their living moving down the river. A site rich in history, Bonnechere offers programs to help visitors understand the life of those who lived on the river long ago. Choose from a variety of walking trails that will take you past a pioneer homestead, rapids, a gravesite and an unforgettable panoramic view.
Close by are the Bonnechere Caves, a great place to explore and escape the heat on bright summer days. Go on a fossil hunt organized by the Bonnechere Museum, then cap the day off with dinner at one of Bonnechere’s fine dining establishments.
Learn more! Visit the Friends of Bonnechere Parks Web site.
Return to top
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Tobermory, Ontario
519-596-2233
Nestled in thousand-year-old pine forests with stunning vistas from towering cliffs you’ll find the Bruce Peninsula National Park, a part of the World Biosphere Reserve. This park has something to offer campers and hikers from all levels of skill and experience! Enjoy the peaceful wilderness by camping in the backcountry or make a reservation at one of the park’s campsites where you’ll have access to washrooms and potable water. The park connects to the Bruce Trail, the oldest and longest hiking trail in Canada. Or hop on a shorter path to explore caves and a variety of habitats.
Those with diving experience will love Fathom Five, Canada’s first National Marine Conservation area, offering possibly the best freshwater diving in the world. Take the plunge and swim among more than 20 historic shipwrecks!
Return to top
Parry Sound Campground
Parry Sound, Ontario
1-800-268-7061
Speak with an Edvantage representative who can provide further information and a brochure.
Did you know you own a campground? On the shores of Quinn Lake, you’ll find the Parry Sound Campground, owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Federation. A fantastic place to camp as a family or a larger group, the campground at Quinn Lake offers great fishing, swimming, trails and canoeing. No motors are allowed on the lake and campers show a great deal of mutual respect, so you can rest assured your trip will offer everything you want after a long school year: peace and quiet.
Enjoy horseshoes, volleyball and baseball in the campgrounds or head off to one of the local golf courses for a day on the links.
Return to top
The Pinery
Grand Bend, Ontario
519-243-2220
Known as a party place in the 1960s and 70s, The Pinery now has a kinder, gentler appeal and is well protected to preserve its famous sand dunes. On the shore of Lake Huron, The Pinery contains the largest surviving oak savanna woodland in North America. Boardwalks and bicycle trails allow you to explore the dunes safely, without causing damage. Even though the Pinery has 1,000 campsites, it books up quickly every weekend in the summer, so reserve your spot soon!
Spend your days relaxing on the sunny beaches or swing into nearby Grand Bend for shopping and busy nightlife. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, explore the Pinery Antique Flea Market for great bargains!
Learn more! Visit the Friends of Pinery Park Web site.
Return to top
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Picton, Ontario
613-393-3319
This summer, take a walk among towering sand dunes and bask on the beautiful beaches of Sandbanks Provincial Park. Resting on the shores of Lake Ontario, Sandbanks is a great place to enjoy a hike up the dune stairs to look for rare plant life or to drop your line for walleye, small mouth bass, perch and pike.
After a day on the beach, tour through historic Prince Edward County. The area offers antiques and galleries for art, crafts and photography. Hop on the Wine Trail to sample vintages from Ontario’s newest wine-producing region or tour the Loyalist Parkway and take in historic Loyalist architecture.
Learn more! Visit the Friends of Sandbanks Web site.
Return to top
Sauble Falls Provincial Park
Wiarton, Ontario
519-422-1952
Another great place for relaxing days and exciting night life, Sauble Falls is a perfect summer destination. Spring and fall are the best time to catch rainbow trout and chinook salmon as they swim upstream to spawn. The rest of the year, explore the falls that powered a timber mill and generating station. Sauble Falls is a great place to get your feet wet if you’re new to canoeing. After a long day in the sun, enjoy the village’s world famous sunsets. Because the beach faces west, visitors are treated to a spectacular view.
Looking for a slightly wilder weekend? Try one of the privately-owned campsites nearby. The summer in Sauble Beach is always busy with Sandfest – the annual sand castle contest – and daredevils trying their hands at kite boarding. If you just want to take it easy, stretch out on the sand; Sauble Beach boasts the second largest freshwater beach in the world!
Return to top
Wabakimi Provincial Park
Thunder Bay, Ontario
807-475-1634
True outdoor enthusiasts love Wabakimi. Known for its fly-in fishing and hunting, Wabakimi offers unspoiled wilderness in Ontario’s northwest. The second-largest provincial park in Ontario, Wabakimi covers more area than Prince Edward Island and is home to timber wolves, bear, woodland caribou, otters, eagles and moose. It’s a long trip for some, and Wabakimi is only accessible by floatplane, train or canoe, but it’s well worth the trip. Take the family on an eco-tour with one of the local outfitters to truly reconnect with nature.
Be prepared to backcountry camp or book a room at one of the local bed and breakfasts. Many outfitters rent canoes and lodges inside the park for a truly wild family getaway.
Learn more! Visit www.wabakimi.on.ca.
Return to top
