10 National and Provincial Parks in Ontario to Visit Before the End of Summer!
Written by Kai Abreu
August has officially made its scorching hot grand entrance! The hottest month of the year has lived up to its reputation. If you’re anything like me and constantly check your weather app, you know the “Heat Warning” banner is sticking around longer than a Taylor Swift song in the Billboard Hot 100. Before August slips away like a moment in time (shout out to TayTay), we want to make sure you hit some of the best spots in Ontario to cool off during the heat.
In this article we’ll talk about ten amazing Ontario provincial and national parks with tons of water and land activities to make these last few weeks of summer count. Let’s dive in!
Southern Ontario: Top 5 Destinations
1.5 hours from Toronto, ON.
This beautiful spot, which is part of the Grand River Conservation area, features a two acre limestone quarry hugged by sheer cliffs up to 40 feet high! Now, don’t go jumping off the cliffs as such activities are not permitted, and in this particular location, neither are kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards, but the Elora Quarry is a beloved swimming place for thousands of visitors every year! Hikers can also access a one kilometer loop trail that wanders through the forests. Some spots in the trail even offer grand views of the Grand River! For more information about the Elora Quarry, check out the Grand River Conservation Authority website.
Activities:
Swimming, hiking, and picnicking.
Facilities
Gatehouse, washrooms, and nearby services include grocery, hardware and drug stores in Elora and Fergus.
Elora Quarry. Photo courtesy of Grand River Conservation Authority.
2. Thousand Islands National Park
3 hrs from Toronto, ON.
The first Canadian national park established east of the Rocky Mountains has been around for over 120 years! This slice of watery heaven is made up of over 20 islands between Kingston and Brockville, and it’s home to incredible biodiversity.
Island and mainland camping are available, though the islands are boat access only, so make sure you have a ride if you plan on sleeping under the stars! As far as things to do, this national park has a list of activities longer than a Timmie’s drive-thru line on a Monday morning. So, whether you like to chill by the water or pack your adventure with as many activities as possible, there’s something for you!
You’ll also find accessible parking and accessible toilets at this park along with washrooms and many other amenities. Plan your visit here.
Activities
Camping: Canoe camping, oTENTik, Stay overnight.
Animal watching, beach, bird watching, boat tour, boating, canoeing, cycling, fishing, hiking, kayaking, kitesurfing, mooring, motorboating, paddling, photography, picnicking, playground, sailboating, scuba diving, snowshoeing, swimming, and youth programs.
Facilities and Services
Beaches, camping, canoe rentals, docking, information, kayak rentals, pay parking, and picnic shelter.
Thousand Island National Park. Photo courtesy of Paperkite – Visit1000Islands.com.
3. Point Pelee National Park
4 hours from Toronto, ON.
At the southernmost point of Canada’s mainland, the second smallest national park packs a punch of adventure! Besides the incredible facilities and services here, including a shuttle to the Tip where you can walk the most southern bit of mainland Canada, this park offers tons of water adventure opportunities. Spend the day kayaking, canoeing, cycling, hiking, paddling and swimming! The fun doesn’t stop when the sun sets, though. Point Pelee is a Dark Sky Preserve, which means it’s one of the best places to explore the night sky in Canada. Grab your swim gear, binoculars (or telescope if you’re fancy), and a star chart and head on over to Point Pelee for an unforgettable experience!
Activities
Camping: oTENTik
At-home activities, beach, bird watching, canoeing, cycling, Dark Sky Nights, dog walking, Festival of Birds, hiking, interpretive trail, kayaking, paddling, photography, picnicking, playground, red chairs, swimming, volunteering, and youth programs.
Facilities and Services
Accessible services, gift shop, shuttle to the Tip, rentals, parking, pets on a leash, picnic area, and restrooms.
Point Pelee National Park. Photo Courtesy of KodoDrummer – Tripadvisor.com.
4. The Grotto - Bruce Peninsula National Park
4 hours from Toronto, ON.
Don’t let the clear, turquoise waters fool you – this isn’t the Caribbean! The Bruce Peninsula National Park sits with Georgian Bay to the east and Lake Huron to the west. The shoreline is known for its beautiful rocky structure, including the iconic Grotto, and the unbelievably clear, if a bit chilly, waters. Camping opportunities at this park fill up as fast as seats to a Taylor Swift concert, so you want to make sure to plan your visit. This park is an adventurer's dream with activities from canoeing, swimming, and kayaking, to snowshoeing and bouldering!
Activities
Camping: Yurt, backcountry camping, group camping, fall and winter camping, and stay overnight.
Beach, canoeing, bouldering, hiking, kayaking, paddling, snowshoeing, swimming, and youth programs.
Facilities and Services
Accommodation, bus parking, camping, information, interpretation, lookout, parking, pay parking, and visitor centre.
The Grotto at Bruce Peninsula National Park. Photo courtesy of Allison Batley – Unsplash.
5. Sandbanks Provincial Park
2.5 hours from Toronto, ON.
Although the sandy beaches aren’t quite giving Dune energy, and we can’t guarantee you’ll find Tim or Zendaya there, Sandbanks is the home of the largest baymouth barrier dune formations in the world! This sweet swim spot in Lake Ontario has three sandy beaches for days spent splashing in the water, and Outlet Beach in particular is known as a great place for families. Shallow waters and a gentle drop off can make it a little comfier for newer swimmers, but we always encourage you to practice swim safety, including helping kiddos into proper-fitting lifejackets and swimming with a buddy. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at this park, and they offer several different accommodation options. Activities, accommodations and programs are dependent on weather, location, and season, so make sure to check out their website to plan your next sandy soiree.
Activities
Camping: Car camping, group camping, and winter camping (including roofed accommodations).
Biking, boating, canoeing, discovery program, fishing, hiking, and swimming.
Facilities and Services
All-terrain wheelchairs, amphitheater, boat launch, comfort stations, dog beaches, EV charging station, food concessions, group BBQs, park store, picnic shelters, playground, canoe rentals, kayak rentals, stand-up paddleboard rentals, roofed accommodation, showers, toilets, and trailer dump/fill stations.
Sandbanks Provincial Park. Image courtesy of blogTO.
Northern Ontario: Top 5 Destinations
3 hours from Toronto, ON.
I can already hear some of you saying, “That’s not Northern Ontario!” I know. Ontario is a massive province, but just bear (wink wink) with me. Algonquin is Ontario’s very first provincial park established in 1893. In its 7,635 square kilometres, you’ll find beautiful forests, bogs, lakes, and rivers!
Best known for paddling, canoeing, hiking, and swimming, Algonquin offers a wide range of activities, so whether you’re a zen nature lover or a high-octane adrenaline seeker, this park is for you! Whitewater canoeing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, snowshoeing and ice skating are available, but the park takes environmental conservation very seriously (as we all should), and activities and services are dependent on location, weather, and, of course, season.
Tons of accommodation options are available at this park including more forms of camping than I knew possible, but this is a very popular park, so make sure to check out their website to find out how you can camp, where you can camp, and how to reserve your spot!
Activities
Camping:
Drive to Camping: Developed campgrounds, yurts, ranger cabins, camp cabins, RV camping, and lodges.
Backcountry camping: Canoeing, ranger cabins, backpacking, and paddle-in campsites.
Backpacking, biking, boating, canoeing, dog sledding, fishing, hunting and trapping, interpretive walking trails, picnicking, skiing, snowmobiling, swimming, whitewater canoeing, and wildlife watching.
Facilities and Services
All-terrain wheelchairs, art galleries, backcountry access points, boat launches, comfort stations, docks, dog beaches, fish cleaning building, food concessions, historic buildings, laundromat, museums, park store, picnic shelters, bike rentals, canoe rentals, snow shoe rentals, stand-up paddleboard rentals, roofed accommodation, showers, toilets, trailer dump/fill stations, visitor centre, warm-up shelters, and wifi.
Algonquin Provincial Park. Photo by Ethan Mel – Paddling Magazine.
2. Killarney Provincial Park
4 hours from Toronto, ON. 1.5 hours from Sudbury, ON.
Alright, now we’re moving north! If you’re like me and get somewhat unreasonably excited about rocks, this park is a dream. Featuring the La Cloche Mountains (that’s right BC, we have mountains too) and their quartzite composition, as well pink granite from the Georgian Bay Coast, the beauty of this park cannot be overstated. That same beauty is what drew the Group of Seven artists to the park, making the landscape their muse. Thanks to their efforts, Killarney was designated a provincial park! Talk about the power of love.
We highly recommend hiking, swimming, canoeing, and paddling to explore every nook and cranny of this park. Measuring about 645 square kilometres, that’ll take a while, so take a look at their list of accommodations!
As far as accessibility goes, there are one or two accessible trails with firm, stable surfaces. Accessible washrooms can also be found throughout the park, and they offer wheelchairs and/or mobility devices free of charge or for rent. Support persons and service animals are welcome.
Activities
Camping: Backcountry camping, car camping, radio free camping, walk-in camping, and winter accommodations (including roofed options).
Biking, boating, canoeing, discovery program, fishing, hiking, hiking overnight trails, hunting, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and swimming.
Facilities
All-terrain wheelchairs, amphitheater, backcountry access points, boat launches, campsites, RV pull-through, comfort stations, docks, dog beaches, group BBQ, park store, picnic shelters, bike rentals, cross-country ski rentals, snowshoe rentals, roofed accommodation, showers, toilets, trailer dump/fill station, and warm-up shelters.
The Crack – Killarney Provincial Park. Photo courtesy of Lana Law.
3. Blue Lake Provincial Park
19 hours from Toronto, ON. 15 hours from Sudbury, ON.
Told you Ontario is massive. Located between Vermillion Bay and Kenora, Blue Lake, as the name suggests, is known for its beautiful, clear blue waters! If you’re a big fan of hiking or canoeing, this park should definitely go on your bucket list. Canoe Route 12 on Blue Lake is a moderate route that features a 97km loop which takes about 5-7 days to complete. It’s a great way to take in the scenery, wildlife, and explore the various sandy beaches!
For the hike-lovers out there, get your gear ready, because Blue Lake offers four different trails ranging from the easy Boulder Ridge Trail that is a 1km, easy, 30 minute stroll, to the Goblin Lake Trail, running 11km long and taking a full day of adventures!
Activities
Camping: Car camping, electrical camp sites, group campsites, and RV pull-through.
Biking, boating, canoeing, discovery program, fishing, hiking, hunting, and swimming.
Facilities
Amphitheatre, boat launch, comfort stations, docks, fish cleaning buildings, group BBQ, laundromat, park store, picnic shelters, playground, canoe rental, kayak rental, stand-up paddleboard rental, roofed accommodations, showers, toilets, and trailer dump/fill station.
Blue Lake Provincial Park. Photo courtesy of Ontario Parks Blog.
4. Quetico Provincial Park
16 hours from Toronto, ON. 12 hours from Sudbury, ON.
A few hours northwest of Thunder Bay, ON, Quetico Provincial Park boasts 2,000 lakes and 460,000ha of remote wilderness. We share the love for this park with our friends down in Minnesota, USA, as Quetico joins up with the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of the Superior National Forest in Minnesota. You could spend weeks exploring this park and its many amenities, including the John B Ridley Research Library and dozens of activities. One of the best-known activities in this park is the incredible canoeing opportunities, but be warned – some of these routes are definitely not for the faint-of-heart. The Baptism Creek-Cache Lake Loop is 123km long, the Cache Bay Ranger Station: Falls Chain-Loop is 168km long, and the Prairie Portage Ranger Station: Carp Lake-Hunter’s Loop is a whopping 609km long! So, you know, if you have a couple of weeks to just vibe out in nature with some friends and live your best life, definitely check that out. May the odds be ever in your favour.
The hiking trails also pack a boatload of adventure (and effort) with most trails categorized as moderate or strenuous. However, the Pickerel River Trail is barrier-free and great for those looking for an easier stroll through nature.
Activities
Camping: Backcountry camping, car camping, electric campsites, RV pull-through, seasonal campsites, regular campsites, and winter camping (including roofed accommodations).
Biking, winter camping, canoeing, Dark Sky viewing, discovery programs, fishing, hiking, hiking overnight trails, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and swimming.
Facilities
All terrain wheelchairs, amphitheatre, backcountry access points, comfort stations, docks, dog beaches, fish cleaning buildings, historic buildings, laundromat, park store, pet exercise area, playground, kayak rentals, cross-country ski rentals, roofed accommodations, showers, toilets, camper dump/fill stations, and visitor centre.
Quetico Provincial Park. Image courtesy of Ontario Parks.
5. Pukaskwa National Park
12 hours away from Toronto, ON. 8 hours away from Sudbury, ON.
We’re finishing off with Pukaskwa National Park, located on the rocky granite shores of Lake Superior, and I have one specific thing I love about this park: waterfalls. Waterfalls bring me unmatched joy. Watching the white water tumble down the rocky cliffs feels like magic, and Cascade Falls feels like one of the most magical places of all. You can check out the falls by boat or paddling from Hattie Cove, and next to the falls, you’ll find a little beach perfect for setting up camp underneath the stars.
Besides the beautiful scenery and abundance of wildlife, including black bears and moose, we encourage you to explore the rich culture and history of this park. This land is home to the Anishinabee peoples, and visitors are welcomed to learn more about their way of life. The Anishinaabe camp offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the cultural, spiritual, and historical heritage of the Anishinaabek people.
Activities
Camping: backcountry camping and regular campsites.
Anishinaabe camp, beach, geocaching, hiking, interpretive trail, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming, and tours and programs.
Facilities and Services
Accessible facilities: all buildings, including both comfort stations, and visitor centre. Beaches, canoe launch, equipment rentals, and information kiosk.
Pukaskwa National Park. Image courtesy of Lake Superior Circle Tour Adventure Guide.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
As summer (I’ll whisper this part) comes to a close, I hope you get out there and explore the beauty Ontario has to offer by visiting one, or all, of these parks!
We encourage you to please check the website of each individual park for more information on safety rules and how to interact with nature. These parks are not only for our enjoyment, but part of the rich ecology of Canada, and it’s our responsibility to respect and protect them.
If you’re looking for a place to swim in these parks, head on over to the Swim Guide, or download the app, for up-to-date info on safe, clean swimming spots!
