Pinery Provincial Park
Description
Pinery Provincial Park, Grand Bend ON, on the shores of Lake Huron. Open year round for camping and day use. Great biking, hiking, canoeing and skiing. Here on Lake Huron, vast waves of sand dunes roll back from the shore to meet groups of towering oaks, the largest oak savanna woodlands remaining in North America. These ancient trees preside over a mosaic of prairie grasses, wildflowers and shrubs. Sun-drenched meadows teem with rare and unique butterflies, songbirds and reptiles. Go softly here along boardwalks and bicycle trails and endless sand beaches. Come, too, in winter to camp, stay overnight in a yurt, toboggan and ski on groomed trails.
Pinery has a total of 1000 campsites in three campgrounds, 404 of which offer electrical hookups.
Riverside Campground is located beside the picturesque Ausable River, and has electrical and pull-through sites. Besides being the largest campground, Riverside is also open year round.
Burley Campground open from May to September, is the farthest away from the main gate, but is well worth the extra drive! These smaller, more secluded sites are nestled between older pines and within close walking distance to the beach. These campsites are perfect for those campers that don't need electricity or pull-through site capabilities.
Dunes Campground is within easy walking distance to the beach, outdoor amphitheater and Visitor Centre. Dunes campground provides a mix of electrical, pop-up trailer and tenting sites from May to September.
Twelve furnished campsites have just been located in Area 1 of Riverside campground. Each site includes an 8 sided tent-like structure called a "Yurt" that is attached to a wheelchair accessible platform. Each "Yurt" includes bunks for sleeping 6 people, table and chairs, electric lighting and a heater for cool weather camping. In addition, a gas barbecue and picnic shelter is supplied with each facility.
Group Camping
There are three group camping areas, with a total of ten sites that accommodate up to 35 people. Water taps and vault toilets are on site. The sites are located near the beaches, though transportation is required to reach comfort stations.
Winter Activities
Pinery offers a full range of activities during the winter months. Visitors can camp on electrically serviced sites, ski on the 38 kilometres of cross-country trails or walk along one of the trails. In the centre of the park there is a heated chalet and toboggan hill.
Cross Country Skiing
38 kilometres of trails form a series of loops, providing a variety of challenges for the beginner and advance skier alike. Trail maps can be picked up at the main gate, trail entrances and the Visitor Centre. Cross-country skis and snowshoe equipment rentals are available through the Visitor Centre on Saturday and Sunday from 10-4. A volunteer Ski Patrol is often found along the trail to assist skiers
Tell your friends
RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS
facebook.comOne of the easiest ways to help out plants & animals is to reduce the amount of outdoor lighting you use, or even just turn out lights when you don't need them! Nocturnal animals need darkness to be active, diurnal animals (including us) need darkness to rest, and too much night lighting means we all miss out on the spectacular night sky. The Dark Side of Light: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-00665-7
Winter has returned to Pinery with a few more inches of snow. There are still lots of Tundra Swans resting on the fields just outside the park; come see them before they resume their journey to the arctic, then join us for a guided hike this Saturday on Heritage Trail at 11am. We have lots of activities planned every day of March Break, so make sure to come out and get your dose of nature! http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/active.pdf
Join us March 10-March 18 for outdoor family fun! We have activities scheduled every day that will get you outdoors and active, learning about Ontario's natural heritage. For event details, go to http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/active.pdf
Tundra swans continue to arrive at the flooded fields southeast of Pinery. With today's blue skies and fresh dusting of snow, the sight and sound of over 1000 swans is breathtaking. The swans will only be here long enough to refuel for the next leg of their journey, so this weekend would be a great time to visit. Most of the birds can best be viewed from Greenway Road; be sure to stay in your vehicle, as the sight of people makes the birds quite shy. While you're here, enjoy the fresh air on one of Pinery's hiking trails. Join a Naturalist at P9 beach on Saturday at 11 am for an up close experience with our overwintering birds, and enjoy a special screening of the documentary Waterlife in the Visitor Centre on Sunday at 3 pm. http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/active.pdf
Tundra Swans have started to arrive in the flooded fields outside of Pinery. A small group (~30) can be seen from Greenway Road behind the Lambton Heritage Museum, with a larger flock (~100-200 birds) resting just off of Northville Road south of Bog Line. For the next week or two, flocks will be flying over Pinery between the fields and the lake; listen for their distinctive "kwoo" call. These birds are in the middle of a long journey from Chesapeake Bay to their arctic breeding grounds, so please avoid disturbing them. Make sure to stay in your vehicle, as the sight of humans makes the birds quite shy and they may retreat much farther from the roadside. More birds are expected to arrive over the next week or so. We'll update flock numbers as often as possible. For sound recordings and more information about Tundra Swans: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tundra_Swan/overview
Our snow may be almost gone, but there is still lots to see and do at Pinery this weekend. Go for a hike, look for the first returning birds of the season, and ask our naturalists at the Visitor Centre all of your nature questions. http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/active.pdf
An ice dam at Port Franks has caused the Old Ausable Channel to reverse it's flow and has quickly raised water levels. Stay safe and keep back from ice and shorelines!
Pinery trail conditions: Ski trails are open but quite icy and conditions are poor. This may not be the best weekend to try skiing for the first time! Rentals will be open. Snowshoes are recommended if you're heading out for a walk as the hiking trails are also quite slick. Toboggan hill is open but packed and slippery. Skating rink is closed; the recent warm temperatures have destroyed the ice pad. There is still lots to see and do at the park; check out our activity schedule for more information: http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/active.pdf Have a great Family Day weekend!
Looking for something fun to do for family day? Look no further than a trip to Pinery! This weekend we have lots of activities for family and friends. Spend your day cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and tobogganing (snow conditions permitting). Explore the visitor centre, warm up in the wood stove heated chalet, get an up close look at birds with a naturalist, and pick up a photo scavenger hunt to explore the park. Don't miss Saturday evening's owl prowl.... this weekend is sure to be a hoot! Rain, snow or sun... we promise you can find some family day fun! #FamDayPPP http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/active.pdf
Quiz
