It’s time to go on an adventure and thankfully Ontario is full of them. If you’re on the hunt for a beach experience where you can bring your furry friend with you, Port Burwell Provincial Park is the place to be. With a shallow, sandy beach, warm waters, and exclusive dog-friendly spaces, here’s why you should add this spot to your summer bucket list.

From Toronto, travel time takes about two hours, southwest. Port Burwell Provincial Park is located off the shores of Lake Erie and is known for its 2.5 KM beach.

According to Ontario Parks, Port Burwell is a popular summer destination thanks to all its exciting activities such as fishing, boating, bird watching, thrilling hiking trails, and, of course, beach.

Out of the two hiking trails available, the Beach trail is by far the most serene. The trail starts at the campground and leads you to the beach. That’s where you’ll find a lookout point with a great view of Lake Erie and the beach below. The trail traverses a 20 m bluff offering that picture-perfect opportunity.

As for the beach itself, per the park’s site, it is one of the high points for most of its visitors due to its shallow and sandy shore. Due to its southerly latitude, the water’s very warm, too.

But in addition to that, there is also a dog beach and pet exercise area for your four-legged friend to enjoy. Dogs are permitted within our designated dog beach and off-leash dog beach, which is located east of P1,” says Ontario Parks. “All pet owners must enter through this designated access point as dogs are not allowed on the beach anywhere else outside of this designated area (service dogs exempt).”

Planning a picnic? Well, your pup can join you as long as it’s by the picnic tables in the grassy area of the park.

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Fee

According to Ontario Parks, the cost of a Day Use permit depends on the time of the year whether it be on or off-season, and by park. Entry fees for vehicles start at $12.25, senior pricing begins at $9.75. “For park-specific fees, please contact the park directly.”

For Port Burwell, per a recent Ontario Parks post, day-use fees are $18.00 per vehicle and should be purchased well in advance in order to avoid disappointment.

“You can also use your seasonal permit. Please note that the purchase of an annual or seasonal permit does not give you priority access to provincial park beach areas. If we hit capacity and close our gates, you will not be able to enter.”

Reservations can be made online or by phone – 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).

Port Burwell Provincial Park is one of many Ontario beaches worth exploring. And there are so many lesser-known beaches waiting to be discovered, too.

Port Burwell Provincial Park

Where: 9 Wilson Lane, Port Burwell, ON

Information on Port Burwell Provincial Park is from Ontario Parks, and is accurate as of publication date.
Karen Doradea

Karen Doradea

Senior Staff Writer, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Netflix, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.

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