General Info:
– 1 hour and 45 minutes from Toronto
– seasonal camping: April-October
– 8 campgrounds:
High Bluffs
Pines
Maples
Lakeside
Trails End
– sandy beaches
– paved roads and bike lanes
– 16km of hiking/walking trails:
Pioneer and Newcastle (8.1 km)
Marsh Trails (1.2 km)
Owen Point (2 km)
Jobes’ Woods (1 km)
– second oldest operating lighthouse in Ontario
– migration hotspot: bird watchers will love it
Directions:
https://goo.gl/maps/Rn5Zo1bivotaUW9LA
The Good Stuff: Rating and Review
Presqu’ile was an important one. It was here, a year before, that the idea for this project was sparked. Standing on pristine beaches, a lake of shimmering turquoise around me, and the call of seabirds high in the air – I thought, ‘my dad would love this.’
And so began this crazy adventure.
Returning a year later to Presqu’ile, I was excited to see more. The first time I’d been here, my friends and I had stopped by on an impulse. Now I could take my time with this place – watch the sun move across the sky and see all it had to offer.
And it didn’t disappoint. I spent a full day walking its paths and trails, ending at a sandy beach that stretched for 2 km. Presqu’ile is french for “almost an island” and the long peninsulas, curved bays, and beaches of limestone and sand that jut out into Lake Ontario do the translation justice. At under 2 hours from Toronto, Presqu’ile gives the impression of a tropical escape.
During my stay, I discovered that this popular park is deceptively spacious. With eight large campgrounds within the boundaries, there’s plenty of variety of sites and some prime views available from High Bluff and Lakeside. (Places that seem exclusively reserved year after year by seasonals if the little homey placards on the sites and festive lanterns strewn along garden fences are any hints.)
Getting around this sprawling park is a breeze whether on foot or on wheels. Plenty of well-marked and maintained hiking trails intersect the beautiful forests and the flat terrain and paved roads lined with bike lanes make Presqu’ile a great park for bikers of all ages. Getting from one corner of the park to the other is a lengthy and satisfying walk. I loved exploring the joining paths of Pioneer and Newcastle Trail to check out the crisp, white lighthouse at Presqu’ile Point and looping back through to the marsh boardwalks and onwards to Owen Point.
Overall there’s a lot to see here. Sites of every shape and size – some better than others. Beautiful beaches and trails that are well-maintained and family-friendly. Presqu’ile bay offers more contained and calm paddling waters and great views of the peninsulas. And the lighthouse is a picturesque piece of history that adds charm to the park.
At the end of the day, Presqu’ile gets a 3.5/5 for me. As beautiful as the lake is and as large as the park is, it feels overall manicured and paved through. Something that ultimately takes away from the natural experience I’m chasing during this project.
She Collects Campsites 