Approximately 12,700 years ago when the great glaciers receded into what is now the area known as Southern Ontario, one of the most fascinating and finest baymouth and coastal sand dune systems in the world was created. This area is known as Prince Edward County, Ontario Canada where you will find the Sandbanks Provincial Park.
It is difficult to visualize that only a 2½ hour drive from Toronto or a 4-hour drive from Montreal you can travel to and experience sandbar dunes which form the Sandbanks Provincial Park.
The Park is located along the north shore of Lake Ontario and contains three of the largest and most beautiful and wide beaches in Ontario. Many visitors compare the beaches to Florida’s West Coast, where you have the spectacular golden sand and exquisite water.
Outlet Beach, the most popular of the three, contains warm and shallow water. Dunes Beach, the newest beach is located on West Lake and is very popular for boats and jet skis. On windy days this beach provides a protected reprieve for visitors.
The third beach is Sandbanks Beach, which is less crowded than the other two.
All three beaches provide excellent swimming facilities, which are very safe for families with children. However swimmers should be aware of the steep drop of the Dunes Beach.
The beaches in the park are not supervised and it is up to the parents to watch their children.
Many different species of vegetation are found in the Park such as bluets, hoary, puccoon, butterfly weed, sea rocket and sand spurge. If you are interested in plant life you surely will be fascinated with the abundance of plants. A wide variety of birds have been sighted such as the long-billed marsh wren, swamp sparrow, pileated woodpecker, blue jay, white throated sparrow, northern oriole, ruby and golden crowned kinglets, flycatcher, little gull and many more far too numerous to mention.
As for small mammals you may find yourself one day looking into the eyes of a raccoon, fox or deer. If you’re lucky you may also spot a reptile or two!
Camping is very popular with five different camping areas comprising 549 campsites. As with all popular camp sites it is important that reservations be made during the busy summer season.
If you enjoy fishing, the East and West Lakes contain sizeable populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, pike, perch and other panfish.
For those who are into motorboating, small craft sailing and canoeing, the waters located around the park provide excellent launching facilities.
The Cedar Sands Trail provides hikers with a chance to appreciate the ecology of the dune forest. This is a self-guided trail, that meanders through several and open forested sand dunes on the East Lake sandbar.
To learn more of the area, its history, geography, as well as the usual information
concerning accommodations, restaurants, etc you may refer to the following sites: