Ontario Parks
Pinery Provincial Park
Ontario Est. 1957 25.3 km²
Rare Oak Savanna and 10 km of Lake Huron sand — one of Ontario's most-booked parks.
Overview
Pinery protects one of the few remaining Oak Savanna ecosystems in Canada, plus a 10 km stretch of soft-sand Lake Huron beach that produces some of the province's best sunsets. Three car-camping loops (Dunes, Riverside, Burley) host families in summer and yurt-goers in winter. The Old Ausable Channel is a paddle-only dead-arm of the river — quiet, warm, ideal for kids and beginners.
- 10 km of Lake Huron sand beach
- Ontario's top-ranked sunsets
- Rare Oak Savanna ecosystem
- 12 winter yurts, one of Ontario Parks' biggest yurt clusters
Quick facts
- Size
- 25.3 km²
- Established
- 1957
- Beach
- 10 km
- Campsites
- 1,000+
Things to do
Beach swimming and sunsets
Old Ausable Channel paddle
Cycling 14 km paved loop
Winter yurt stays
Camping
Reservations: Required · Frontcountry: Yes · Backcountry: No · RV: Yes · Glamping: Yes
- Dunes, Riverside, Burley loops
- 12 yurts open year-round
- Full-service RV sites
Campgrounds in and near this park
- Pinery Provincial Park
Grand Bend, Ontario · In-park
Hiking
Cedar Trail
Easy · 2 kmFamily boardwalk through old-growth cedar.
Nipissing Trail
Moderate · 2.5 kmDune-crest walk with a Lake Huron viewpoint.
Wilderness Trail
Easy · 3 kmThrough the Oak Savanna, best at fall colour.
Wildlife
Common
White-tailed deer, Wild turkey, Chipmunk, Bald eagle
Signature
Eastern hognose snake, Red-headed woodpecker, Prothonotary warbler (rare)
Viewing tips
Deer everywhere at dusk; hognose snakes on trail edges in June.
Safety
Ticks common May-July. Swimming: watch for rip currents when winds are onshore.
Photography
- Lake Huron sunset from Dunes beach
- Oak Savanna in autumn colour
- Old Ausable Channel morning mist
- Winter yurt at sunset
Best time to visit
spring
May-June: warblers migrating, cool paddling.
summer
Jul-Aug: peak beach; book 5 months out.
fall
Sept-Oct: gold oaks, warm days, cool nights.
winter
Yurts and snowshoeing across the savanna.
Peak: July-August + Thanksgiving weekend · Shoulder: June, September
Family & accessibility
Family
- Multiple beaches with lifeguard-adjacent zones
- Junior Ranger program
- Rentals: canoes, bikes, SUPs
Accessibility
- Accessible beach mats at main day-use
- Accessible yurts and campsites
- Paved cycling loop
Reservations
Book through Ontario Parks Reservation Service — opens 150 days ahead of arrival.
Reserve nowSuggested itineraries
family
Beach Yurt Weekend
Two nights in a Dunes yurt, beach + Old Ausable paddle, sunset dinner.
day-trip
London Day Escape
Under two hours from London or KW — early beach, late sunset.
FAQ
How competitive are reservations?
Very — the July-August window sells out on release day (5 months ahead).
Are yurts open in winter?
Yes — all 12, with heat, electric and beds.
How's the Lake Huron swimming?
Warm by late June, clear water, gentle slope; watch onshore wind days for rip current.
Nearby
National parks
- Point Pelee National Park · 155 km
- Bruce Peninsula National Park · 221 km
- Rouge National Urban Park · 224 km
Nearby cities
- Toronto · 203 km
- Niagara Falls · 223 km
- Algonquin · 374 km
Other provincial parks
- Cyprus Lake (Bruce Peninsula) Provincial Camping · 222 km
- Awenda Provincial Park · 231 km
- Killarney Provincial Park · 309 km
- Grundy Lake Provincial Park · 316 km
Road trips
Plan this trip with a human
Our Travel Concierge builds custom itineraries around Pinery Provincial Park — permits, campsites, driving times, and shoulder-season strategy included.
Talk to the Concierge
