Sandbanks

Just a 4½ hour drive from Montreal, Sandbanks Provincial Park is located in Ontario’s picturesque Prince Edward County. Tourists flock here in the summer to enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches and large dunes along the turquoise waters of Lake Ontario.

The park is also a great starting point for exploring the area, which is renowned for its bicycle touring, wineries, gourmet food and numerous antique and second-hand shops. The three main towns on the peninsula are Picton, Wellington and Bloomfield. Enjoy your stay!
 

Sandbanks Provincial Park

As in all Ontario provincial parks, a permit is required to enter the park. The Visitor Centre is located at the West Lake Campground entrance, across from the Dunes Day-Use area, and provides a host of information about the park. Don’t hesitate to talk to the park naturalists and ask them questions.

3004, County Road 12, Picton / 613-393-3319

Beaches

The beaches are the main attraction of Sandbanks Park with their beautiful fine sand and clear, fresh and relatively warm water. Waves on Lake Ontario can vary, depending on the weather. The park has three natural sand beaches. Please note that there are no lifeguards posted at the beaches, so be careful and stay within the designated swimming areas.

• Outlet Beach : Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, this is the most popular and busiest beach in the park. It is 2 km long and gently slopes into the water, making it perfect for families with young children. At the south end of the beach, Outlet River flows into Lake Ontario from East Lake.

• Lakeshore Beach : About 7 km long, this beach stretches from West Point to the town of Wellington in the north. It is the perfect place for walkers. There can be large waves on windy days.

• Dunes Beach : Many consider this to be the most beautiful beach in the park. It lies on the shore of West Lake and is sheltered from the wind by a series of large sand dunes. The swimming area is smaller and the water is calmer.

Hiking

If you want to explore nature in the park, there are several choices of short trails that will take you to the hidden corners of Sandbanks. They are easily identifiable on the park map, and are accessible for children. The most popular trails are:

• Dunes Trail : an easy 2.5 km loop that lets you explore a unique dune habitat along boardwalks and sandy trails.

• Cedar Sands Trail : an easy 2 km loop that leads through the cedar forest along the Outlet River and offers scenic views of the marsh.

• Woodlands trail : a 7 km round-trip trail, rated easy to moderate, leading through old agricultural fields and a mature, deciduous woodland with lots of wildlife viewing opportunities.
  
   

NEARBY

North Beach Provincial Park

This provincial park lies along the western shore of Prince Edward County. Less spectacular than its famous neighbour, but also much quieter, it’s a lovely spot to take a break and relax or for a stroll along the beach at the end of the day. This small park is 1200 metres long by 200 metres wide and is almost entirely made up of beaches. The water is usually calm. Open from mid-June to mid-September, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (until 9 p.m. on weekends).

440, North Beach Road, Consecon / 613-393-2030

Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park

From a height of 60 metres above Lake Ontario, this provincial park offers lovely views of the Bay of Quinte. The lake on the mountain is a natural curiosity, having a constant flow of clean, fresh water with no apparent source... Great picnic spot if you are exploring Prince Edward County. There are no facilities in the park, apart from an observation platform and a sign illustrating the unusual formation of the lake. Open from mid-May to mid-October, for day use only.

296, County Road 7, Picton / 613-393-3319

Wineries

Visiting one or more of the region’s wineries is a must. Wine tasting, guided tours, local products to discover, walks through bucolic countryside, picnics… It’s a great outing to enjoy, even with children. You have many options to choose from. Here are some of them :

• Waupoos Estates Winery : Set amidst picturesque vineyards sloping down to the water, Waupoos Estates was one of the first wineries in the county. Guided tours available in high season. The estate also features a  restaurant and a Cider House. Children will enjoy the chocolatier and petting zoo. 3016, County Road 8, Picton / 613-476-8338.

• Grange of Prince Edward : This vineyard is owned and run by a mother and daughter duo also known as ‘The Granger Girls’. Their practices in the vineyard are focused on the health of the natural ecosystem, the health of the vines, and the health of the people who work with and drink the wines. You can enjoy a guided tours and tastings, as well as a picnic: picnic baskets filled with tasty items are sold on location. 990, Closson Road, Hillier.

• Sandbanks Estate Winery : Located along the shores of Lake Ontario, this winery features a tasting room and boutique, a barrel room, unique tasting experiences, a large outdoor picnic area, and tasting bars with lively events in high season. 17598, Loyalist Pky, Hwy 33, Wellington / 613-399-1839.

• Karlo Estates Winery : The wines produced here are some of the best in the province. Karlo Estates is also the first vegan certified winery in the world, proving that it is possible to make good wine while respecting the planet. 561, Danforth Road, Wellington / 613-399-3000.

• TerraCello Winery : Beautiful vineyard in a charming, rustic setting, offering a small wine cellar and authentic woodfired Neapolitan pizza. 2436 County Road 1, Bloomfield / 613-243-2523.