Pinery Provincial Park

Pinery Provincial Park Pinery Provincial Park, Grand Bend ON, on the shores of Lake Huron. Year round camping and day use. Water taps and vault toilets are on site.

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 sa

nd 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, 531 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. Fourteen furnished campsites have just been located in Area 1 of Riverside campground. Six of these sites include an 8 sided tent-like structure called a "Yurt" that is attached to a wheelchair accessible platform and has bunks for sleeping 6 people . Eight of these sites have rustic cabins with bunks for sleeping 5 people. All roofed accommodations have a 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, open from June to September, with a total of ten sites that accommodate up to 35 people. 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.

Pinery's iNaturalist project has recently passed 4000 unique species observed in the park by visitors just like you!iNat...
06/17/2026

Pinery's iNaturalist project has recently passed 4000 unique species observed in the park by visitors just like you!

iNaturalist is a community science platform that allows you to post any and all wildlife photos mammals, birds, plants, even fungi! Those observations are then confirmed by experts and used by scientists and researchers across the world.

Get out in the park and find something new! Help us reach 5000 species by joining iNaturalist and uploading what you can find!

Here at Pinery, we're always excited to be a part of your celebrations, but we don't want the party getting out of hand!...
06/12/2026

Here at Pinery, we're always excited to be a part of your celebrations, but we don't want the party getting out of hand! Be careful to make sure that everything you use for your celebration ends up going home with you at the end of your trip, or in the garbage and recycling.

Balloons both in the air and on land can be confused for food by wildlife. Make sure they don't fly away, and end up in an appropriate location at the end of your visit!

Turtles have begun nesting in Pinery! Here are 4 easy things that YOU can do to protect our turtles:1. Report sightings ...
06/05/2026

Turtles have begun nesting in Pinery! Here are 4 easy things that YOU can do to protect our turtles:

1. Report sightings of turtles on land to Pinery staff in person, over the phone at 519-243-8537, or using nesting QR codes deployed around the park.
2. Obey speed limits and drive cautiously, as female turtles often nest on roadsides and may need to cross roads to find their perfect nest site.
3. If you see a nesting turtle, STAY BACK. Turtles are easily spooked when nesting so make sure to stay back at least 10m.
4. Keep your campsite clean and leave no trace on the trails. Garbage a.k.a. “free snacks” contributes to increased populations of a variety of critters who will happily feast on our turtle eggs before we can get there to protect them.

Thank you for helping to keep our nesting turtles safe!

If you ever come across a leaf that looks like it's caught the chicken pox, or a branch that has a stye, chances are you...
06/02/2026

If you ever come across a leaf that looks like it's caught the chicken pox, or a branch that has a stye, chances are you've come across a gall!

Often, these structures are created by an insect laying an egg in the plant tissue. Each insect that does this results in a different type of gall, as the plant isolates the egg from the rest of itself for protection. The gall acts as both a food source and a home for the larva living inside, until it emerges as an adult to find another plant to lay more eggs in. Some gall huh!?

You’re hiking on the banks of the Old Ausable Channel and… Meow! 🐈 Did your cat follow you here? No! Well, probably not....
05/28/2026

You’re hiking on the banks of the Old Ausable Channel and… Meow! 🐈 Did your cat follow you here? No! Well, probably not. This is the call of the Grey Catbird!

When they’re not making their “meow” calls, they are likely babbling a long, chatty song, which might even be mimicking other bird sounds. They’re like the friend that never stops talking!

Though you’ll likely hear these birds before you see them, look for a robin-sized bird rummaging in bushes for insects and berries. They don’t have fancy feathers, but you will be very charmed by their black caps and big eyes.

Find them in thickets, shrubby spots, and edge habitats. They're the cat's meow!😼

At Pinery Provincial Park, you can help streamline your entrance at the main gatehouse, especially on busy weekends.Here...
05/21/2026

At Pinery Provincial Park, you can help streamline your entrance at the main gatehouse, especially on busy weekends.

Here's what you need to know:

🌲 Check in online. You will receive an email on the day of your trip to check in online. This allows you to confirm or update your licence plate and the names of all campsite occupants.

🌲Purchase your additional vehicle permits in advance of your arrival.

🌲 Carry a digital (saved to your device) or printed copy of your confirmation letter on you while in the park. This will be your permit.

🌲 There’s no need to display a permit on your vehicle dashboard or campsite post. Your licence plate will be used to verify your permit.

🌲 Have questions or need directions? Need to purchase an additional vehicle permit? Have last-minute changes to your vehicle licence plate or campsite occupant information? Stop in at the gatehouse and our friendly park staff will still be able to assist you.

🌲 If your day use permit was obtained using your seasonal vehicle permit, remember to display your seasonal vehicle permit in clear view on your mirror/dashboard.

🌲 When available, permit holders can use the dedicated "permit holder" lane to enter the park without speaking to an attendant.

This spring... LOOK THROUGH!Spring is one of the best times of the year to see flowering trees and shrubs through the ca...
05/18/2026

This spring... LOOK THROUGH!

Spring is one of the best times of the year to see flowering trees and shrubs through the canopy. These trees and shrubs will flower early in the year before leaves of taller trees fill the canopy. If you're lucky, you may see returning or migratory birds, such a Magnolia Warbler!

This spring... LOOK IN!The Old Ausable Channel runs the length of the park, a healthy habitat where you can see reptiles...
05/17/2026

This spring... LOOK IN!

The Old Ausable Channel runs the length of the park, a healthy habitat where you can see reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and wetland plants that all depend on this clean water source.

A paddle along the channel is highly recommended!

This spring... LOOK DOWN!With the sun still reaching the ground, the forest floor in spring is filled with wildflowers, ...
05/16/2026

This spring... LOOK DOWN!

With the sun still reaching the ground, the forest floor in spring is filled with wildflowers, mosses, and ferns. This is a great time to learn new wildflowers and plants, and capture their beauty before shrubs and trees leaf out.

This spring... LOOK UP! You might just see some aerial courtship displays by Bald Eagles such as these captured by one o...
05/15/2026

This spring... LOOK UP!

You might just see some aerial courtship displays by Bald Eagles such as these captured by one of Pinery's naturalists.

Address

9526 Lakeshore Road RR 2Grand Bend
Thedford, ON
N0M1T0

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