It may be early February but I’m going to allow myself a short daydream about strolling the beach at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. If you haven’t been to this Ontario park, check it out:
If you spend the bulk of your time in the Greater Toronto Area, take the ~150 kilometer drive to Presqu’ile Provincial Park and enjoy the shoreline of Lake Ontario from another angle. With 2.5 kilometers of beach, 16 kilometers of trails, and hundreds of car campsites, you can spend the day or stay the weekend.
Presqu’ile Provincial Park is open year-round, which is great news for avid birders. The park’s marshes see the spring migration of ducks, geese, and swans towards the end of March. The next wave of migration occurs in May with the return of the warblers. Be sure to check the calendar before Victoria Day weekend for the park’s warbler festival.
Take advantage of guided walks with the park’s natural heritage educators. They will happily share information about the species of flora and fauna found in the park, the history of Ontario’s second oldest operating lighthouse, or the monarch migration in September.
If you’re looking for a get-away, load the family in the car and escape the city with an easy day trip down the 401 to Presqu’ile Provincial Park.
Just the Facts
Address: 328 Presqu’ile Parkway, Brighton, ON K0K 1H0
Getting There: Highway 401 to the Big Apple exit (exit 497). Follow signs for the park.
Operating Dates: Year-round (day-use); May – October (camping)
Park Website: http://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/presquile
Friends of Presqu’ile Provincial Park Website: http://www.friendsofpresquile.on.ca/index.php
Kate Monahan Outdoors 