Pinery Provincial Park, located near Grand Bend, Sarnia, which is 3 hours away from Toronto. It was one of the memorable adventures I did after landing in Canada. It is amongst the best places for wanderers who want to explore Canada and mainly for first-time visitors for hiking and camping.
Our college organized this trip to Pinery Provincial Park. We were required to pay a $20 booking fee for reserving our seats, which was refunded upon our return journey to North York. So, basically, our trip was for free, along with breakfast and lunch. It is one of the popular locations for both tourists and the locals.
About Pinery Provincial Park
It is spread across 25 kilometers and easily accessible from the main cities. It is best for hikers, campers, and wildlife viewers. This park is best known for its diverse ecosystem. It boasts unique species of habitats, rare oak savannahs, different kinds of plants and animal species, coastal dunes, and many more.
You can also witness a museum providing great information about the extended species of flora and fauna. They have also provided information about the sand formation, their types, and their ecological importance. They have clearly described with the diagrams, embarking on their journey of creation, evolution, and their significant roles in stabilizing the ecosystem.
Journey towards Pinery Provincial Park
We headed into our bus and commenced our journey at 7.00, and it took almost three and a half hours to reach our destination. There were representatives already present before us from our Sarnia campus location. Each of us was given a form for attendance wherein we had to pick locations we wanted to visit as we were having limited time, not sufficient to cover all points.
Next, they divided groups into 20 people and a representative who took us to all the respective locations. Firstly, we did some hiking and wandering around the woods. We saw some families out there, camping in the woods with the BBQ. There were camping ground offices, and the amenities were provided to everyone. The most thrilling part is a 14 km bike trail where you can ride along, however, if you don’t own a bike you can rent it as well.
Secondly, we went to Dunes beach along the trail side. You can also find comfort stations for washrooms and showers and areas equipped with BBQ grills. There was a wooden boardwalk along the trail where you could overlook the scenic and panoramic views of the coastline.
Must-do Activities
Pinery Provincial Park offers a gateway for adventure and a soothing experience to connect with nature. Especially if you are an enthusiast for water sports, you can experience kayaking and canoeing. The Old Ausable Channel provides a picturesque view bordered by lush greenery and encounters with the birds.
I tried canoeing for the first time, which came out to be the far best experience. We followed all the guidelines before paddling it. After that, we went to see the museum and got to know about many species, their habitat, and their ecosystem. We also saw some turtles in the artificial pond made inside the museum.
Throughout the park, they have placed all the garbage bins and stations to dispose of the waste responsibly. Do not clutter the park or the pathways, and keep the pinery pristine.
Tips before visiting
- Research all the facilities and regulations before visiting the park
- Check the operating hours and parking fees before visiting any provincial park around, as only some of the parks are open year-round.
- Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes for doing outdoor activities.
- Stay hydrated, and bring plenty of water and snacks.
- Keep first-aid kits, maps, and insect repellant while hiking and trailing.
- Do not disturb the wildlife habitats, and keep a safe distance from animals and birds.