Pinery Provincial Park Review & Camping Guide

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Pinery Provincial Park Reservations – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Booking a campsite at Pinery Provincial Park is pretty easy.

Just like all the other Ontario Park campsites, you can book your campsite up to five months in advance of your arrival date through the Ontario Parks reservation system.

In order to make a reservation online though, you will first need to have an Ontario Parks account.

We found that Pinery’s electric sites booked up super fast, so we would recommend planning ahead and booking as soon as your date opens up.

Registrations begin at 7 am EST.

The majority of Pinery’s campgrounds are open for camping from the middle of May until after the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend in mid-October.

However, the Riverside Area 1 campground is open all year long for winter camping.

Pinery Provincial Park Address:
9526 Lakeshore Road RR2, Grand Bend, Ontario N0M 1T0
https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/pinery

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Arriving at the Park

Once you arrive at the park, you will head to the first set of gates. This is where the park staff check if you have a camping reservation, or if you need a day-use pass.

They will normally give you a paper map, and let you know that you will need to check in at your actual campground.

But don’t make the mistake we did. Do not forget to hit the fill station on your way to the campground!

We were told by the staff at the first gate to head to the campground, check in, then use a water tap to fill our rig.

However, unlike Bass Lake where there is a water tap at the garbage drop-off, there is no water tap to conveniently fill your RV in the campgrounds at Pinery (without blocking the roadway).

Once you arrive at your campground, you will need to go through a second gate. There, you can check in, get your vehicle permit (they have done away with the slip of paper to post on your site), and get a second map of just your campsite.

We arrived exactly at 6:30 on a long weekend and were STILL met with a bit of a line to check in.

Park Re-Entry

Just a heads up, re-entry into the park can be a bit of a hassle if you are there on a busy summer weekend (especially a long weekend).

We visited during the Civic long weekend, and the park did not have a bypass lane for those who were already checked in.

That meant when we left the park to go into Grand Bend for their farmer’s market, we had to wait in the long line of people trying to gain entry into the park (for camping or day use) when we returned.

Not fun!

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Pinery Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

Signage at Pinery Provincial Park wasn’t bad for the most part.

I will admit, we did get turned around a couple of times trying to find our campground as well as the beach.

At least the roads were in decent shape!

Parking

There are plenty of parking lots located throughout the park.

Each of the 9 sections of day-use beach has a parking lot, albeit on the small side. This is true for the two campground beaches as well.

You will also find additional vehicle lots in the campgrounds, parking at the comfort stations, by the park store, at the Visitor’s Centre, and even at some of the trailheads.

The lots get full quickly during the summer weekends (especially at the beach), so you may want to plan accordingly.

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Pinery Provincial Park Camping

Pinery Provincial Park accommodates a variety of camping styles. From car camping to tenting, group camping, and RVs up to 32 feet (9.7 metres), you will find it all.

You will also have the choice between electric or non-electric sites.

Unfortunately, not all types of camping can be accommodated at all sites, so you will need to watch for this when making your reservations.

Pinery Provincial Park has 3 campgrounds – Riverside, Burley and Dunes – with a whopping total of 1000 campsites.

Barrier-free campsites are also available.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Roofed Accommodation

If tent camping isn’t your thing, and trust me WE GET IT, then you will be happy to know that Pinery Provincial Park has several roofed accommodations to choose from.

Rustic Cabin

The first option is a Rustic Cabin. These are one-room cabins with a rustic wood interior.

Pinery has eight camp cabins. They can be found at sites 419, 420, 422, 424, 473, 479, 481, 489.

Soft Sided Shelters

Your second option is a soft-sided shelter called a Yurt.

These 8-sided tent-like structures are heated, furnished and available year-round.

Pinery has 6 Yurts. They can be found at sites 475, 477, 478, 480A, 480B, 480C.

We actually stayed in a Yurt before purchasing our Teardrop Trailer (though not at Pinery), and they were pretty cool.

Don’t forget, if you choose to stay in the Yurts, you will need to bring along your own bedding, cookware, dishes, food and other personal items.

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Our Campsite Experience

During both our weekends at Pinery, we stayed in the Riverside Campground Area 2.

The site was huge and could have easily accommodated a much larger trailer than our Teardrop.

Still, we had room for the camper plus two vehicles, and plenty of space for 5 of us plus a dog to spread out!

We found most of the campsites in Riverside to be pretty private, with plenty of trees to offer shade.

Our site was made up of packed dirt and sand. To my surprise, it did not flood or get mucky after a heavy rain!

One downside is that the fine sand gets in everywhere! While we don’t wear shoes in our trailer, it was full of sand by the time we got home.

I needed to wipe down all my shelves, clean all the nooks and crannies in the trailer, and shake out the bedding.

A small price to pay for a fantastic weekend of camping, though!

Oh… and watch out for the squirrels! We had one cheeky bugger break into our dining tent, rip a hole in the garbage bag that was HANGING in there, and raid what little garbage we had for some cleaned-off corn cobs!

This was during broad daylight, and while we were only gone for a short time!

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What Amenities Does Pinery Offer?

Comfort Stations

Comfort stations can be found at each of the three campgrounds.

They each have 7 showers (including one barrier-free), as well as bathrooms with flush toilets and a laundry facility.

We found them to be clean and well-maintained. But we definitely had to wait in line for the showers!

You will also find comfort stations at the Park Store, in day-use areas 3, 8, and 9, and at Burley Beach.

Flush toilets and vault toilets can also be found throughout the campgrounds and park.

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Park Store

Just like at Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Pinery is home to two different Park Stores.

The Savanna Shores Nature Store is a gift shop located within Pinery’s Visitor Centre. This shop is operated by the Friends of Pinery Provincial Park and has items like clothing, souvenirs and books.

Profits from the Nature Store support many important projects and programs in the park. I found some pretty cool stickers, stuffies and park merch there.

The Pinery Park Store offers a wide range of grocery and convenience supplies. If you forgot something, chances are, you will find it here.

It’s also one of the biggest park stores we have come across! The refrigerated section was almost as good as some of the small grocery stores we have seen up north!

From camping gear to grocery items, ice, souvenirs, park patches, and more, this is the place to go.

You will even find a small restaurant within the store that offers hot meals, wraps, hamburgers, fish and chips and more.

And just like Darlington Provincial Park, you can find scooped ice cream at Pinery!

During our visit, the ice cream shop had been relocated to the rental building across from the Park Store.

There, you will find an ice cream window. You walk up, order your treat, and pick it up at the next window. It’s like a drive-through but without the car!

You will find Shaw’s brand ice cream sold at Pinery. During our visit, there were 8 flavours to choose from, as well as slushies.

It was quite disappointing to find not one dairy-free flavour! My only option was to purchase a frozen fruit bar/popsicle from the Park Store.

Hubby chose Cherry Cheesecake on a waffle cone, and it was delicious (yes… I snuck a small taste).

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Visitor’s Centre

Open since 1993, Pinery has a pretty neat Visitor’s Centre.

Inside, you will find exhibits on the park’s natural history, the Friends of Pinery Park Nature Store, and an indoor theatre featuring wildlife videos.

The Park Staff at the Information Desk can answer questions about the park, its facilities and natural features.

What’s great, is that the Pinery Visitor Centre even stays open on weekends during the winter and daily during the Christmas and March breaks.

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Day Use Area

Pinery is a perfect family-friendly destination for a picnic. Whether you choose to have it on the beach or along the Old Ausable Channel (OAC), you really can’t go wrong.

Not to mention that many of the day-use areas have either comfort stations or flush toilets.

There is one picnic shelter at Pinery located in the P9 day-use area. The shelter can be reserved in advance either online or by phone.

Don’t forget to purchase your daily vehicle permit to access the day-use area. It can be obtained up to five days in advance.

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Rentals

One thing we love about Pinery Provincial Park is the fact that they have all kinds of rentals available.

This is perfect if you don’t have a lot of room in your vehicle or RV to bring all this gear along on a camping trip.

From a variety of bikes (including trailers and attachments for the kids) to canoes, Corcls, stand-up paddleboards, and single or double kayaks, they have everything you need for a fun day in the park.

And just in case you are wondering, a Corcl is a round, plastic boat. Kids can go alone or with a friend to paddle, race, spin or relax.

And while our kids didn’t get the chance to try them out, they sure looked like a lot of fun.

If you are winter camping, Ski and snowshoe rentals are also available on weekends when the trails are operating.

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Pinery Provincial Park Beach

Pinery Provincial Park sits on 10 kilometres of incredible Lake Huron shoreline.

We couldn’t wait to set up our shelter on the beach!

Between the sand dunes and the turquoise water, you could actually imagine that you were somewhere tropical!

The sand was powdery and well-groomed, too. And the kids jumped right in with their shovels!

Considering they are TEENS, and that we had also brought age-appropriate games, this should tell you just how nice the beach was!

The beach did get a little rocky close to the water line, but it didn’t stop us from walking along the water before going in for a dip.

Besides, once you were in the water, it was all sand again. And it actually stayed pretty shallow for a good distance, too.

We also appreciated that there were comfort stations nearby. Our only complaint was that the parking lots were on the smaller side, so they filled up pretty quickly.

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What Services Does Pinery Offer?

Pinery has all the usual services found at other Ontario Provincial Parks.

As we mentioned, you will find electricity at many sites, but there are no water or sewage hookups at any of the campsites in the park.

Water

There are two separate sanitation stations for your trailer at Pinery.

One is located adjacent to the Riverside Campground, and the other is located near the Lookout Trail.

While there are two separate sanitation stations, each one only has a single lane.

This means that you may get stuck waiting behind someone who is using the dump station, while you just need to fill your water tank.

There are also plenty of drinking water taps at pretty close intervals located in all three campgrounds, as well as in the day-use areas.

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Dump Station

Just like with the fill stations, there is one dump station per sanitation area.

The sanitation area is set up as a pull-through road. This means you may get stuck in a lineup for both the water fill and the dumping stations.

Even with two dump stations, we still got caught up in a line around check-out time.

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Garbage and Recycling

There was a small area located next to the Park store with both garbage and recycling bins.

There were also garbage/recycling bins set up at the entrance to all campground areas. This was super convenient, as you could easily walk to the garbage area to dump your trash daily.

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Wi-Fi

What can I say, the Wi-Fi was definitely lacking at this Provincial Park.

Just like most parks that we have camped at, there was no cell reception in the campground.

We managed some connectivity at the Visitor’s Centre and at the Park Store.

We ended up heading there on a subsequent visit to the Park in order to check in with our teens, who were at home for the weekend.

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Things to Do at Pinery Provincial Park

1. Enjoy Some Hiking

One of our favourite things about Pinery Provincial Park is how many hiking trails there are.

Unlike Sibbald Point Provincial Park, Pinery is home to a total of 10 trails that are all manageable for beginners.

The trails are scenic, too! They take you along the Old Ausable Channel, to the beach, or through Carolinian Forest or rare Oak Savanna.

A few of the trails even offer viewing platforms, which are perfect for wildlife spotting.

We liked the fact that many of the trails have benches where you can rest or just enjoy the gorgeous surroundings.

This flat trail is an easy walk and perfect for families with younger children. The trail takes you along the Old Ausable Channel.

While there is a set of stairs, you will also find a view platform on this hike.

Just a heads up, this trail can get pretty muddy after a day of rain. Also, we found there to be quite a bit of poison ivy along the trail, so be sure to stay on the path.

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This beautiful trail is located in a floodplain forest. You will find plenty of wildflowers, tons of birds, a pond, and several viewing platforms along this trail.

There are also a ton of stairs on this trail. And while there are benches to rest, if you have mobility issues, it may not be the right trail for you.

We also found the trail to be quite narrow at times. Poison ivy also lined the sides of the trail for the majority of the hike.

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This trail takes you through the Oak Savanna, which is one of the rarest North American habitats. The trail itself is flat, well-maintained, has a viewing platform, and is open year-round.

We found the trail to be nice and wide, but like others in this park, we did spot plenty of poison ivy lining the path.

Be sure to do the 1 km trail extension which takes you right down to the beach. It’s amazing! Unfortunately, this part of the hike is not wheelchair accessible.

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This trail takes you through the rare Oak Savanna habitat. It is pretty flat and wide, making it easy for every level of hiker and fully accessible.

Once again, you will find poison ivy along the trail, so just be careful.

Be sure to explore the 0.6 km extension, which takes you to a wonderful viewing platform of the Old Ausable Channel.

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This short and sweet trail leads you along the Old Ausable Channel.

In fact, it’s perfect for younger children. Be sure to be on the lookout for the many turtles that live along the Channel.

You can also admire the ragged bark of the Shagbark Hickories and the seedpods of Bladdernut, or look out for a variety of bird species that call this forest home.

Just be aware that there are stairs along this trail.

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This short, hill trail offers an awesome viewing platform at the top of a dune. Just be aware, there are stairs on this trail.

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This steep trail will give you a bit of a workout (and calf burn) with its hilly terrain.

The Nipissing trail leads you to the top of Pinery’s oldest and largest dune ridge. From the viewing platform, you will be able to see most of the park, Lake Huron and adjacent farmland.

We did not like this trail. It was very narrow and not well-maintained. The poison ivy is extremely thick and almost unavoidable in many areas of the path.

In fact, even some of the benches along the trail were overgrown by poison ivy, making it difficult to utilize them.

We would also not recommend this trail for dogs or for young children.

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This short trail takes you through a dense section of Red Pines that is the result of a catastrophic fire in the late 1800s.

The trail is flat, easy, and pretty different from the Oak Savanna found throughout most of the park.

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This flat and easy trail will take you from dry upland oak/pine forests, onto the Old Ausable Channel floodplain.

Benches and viewing platforms make this trail ideal for nature-watching, young children, and those looking for a barrier-free path.

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The Wilderness Trail is Pinery’s longest trail and one of our favourites.

This wide and well-maintained trail takes you through some of the park’s oldest forest growth.

This path wanders through a Red Pine and mixed Oak Pine forest to a viewing platform that overlooks Lake Huron and the beach.

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2. Go for a Canoe Ride

Exploring the Old Ausable Channel by canoe is the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

The canoe launch can be found right across the river from the Park Store (use the Store Bridge).

Pinery also has a canoe rental shop, which is located next to the Park Store and conveniently right by the canoe launch.

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3. Try Your Hand at Fishing

If you love to fish, you will be happy to know that the Old Ausable Channel is the perfect place to enjoy this sport.

The Channel supports a warm-water fish community and is home to nearly 50 common species.

You will find many kinds of minnows, sunfish, catfish, perch and some top predators like Northern Pike and bass.

The OAC is also home to three species of at-risk fish: the Pugnose Shiner, Lake Chubsucker and Grass Pickerel.

Know what these look like so that if you happen to catch one, you won’t remove it. Catch and release is encouraged for all species in the park.

Keep in mind that Ontario fishing regulations and seasons apply at Pinery.

A license is required for those 18 years of age and older, and there is a ban on the use of baitfish.

Boat motors (gas and electric) are also not allowed in the Old Ausable Channel at any time.

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4. Enjoy a Bike Ride

One of the things we loved about Pinery was that, just like Algonquin Park, we could rent bicycles!

On our second trip to Pinery, we were anxious to try out our new Jack-It Bike Rack!

Because we had our bicycles along, John and I were able to try out the 16-kilometre Savanna Trail.

The loop trail follows a path from the park store, through the day-use area, and around to the Visitor’s Centre, before returning to the Park Store.

Half the trail takes you through the forest on a fairly wide gravel path. We found the path to be in great shape, with only a few spots that were sandy or narrow.

While it’s mostly pretty flat, there were a couple of short, steep hills that gave my legs a good workout.

The second portion of the trail (taking you through the day-use areas) is actually out on the park road. However, this portion of the road only allows for one-way traffic.

Vehicles are given one lane, and the other full lane is reserved for cyclists, which is awesome.

It took John and I about an hour to do the full loop at a slightly quicker than leisurely pace (we left late and didn’t want to get caught out after sunset).

Of course, if you don’t have access to a bike of your own, you can always rent one at Pinery.

A variety of mountain bikes, coaster bikes and children’s bikes are all available. They even have tandem bicycles, bicycle trailers and bike attachments for rent.

You can even join Park Naturalists for a leisurely Bike Hike.

This 1 1/2 – 2 hour bike ride along the bicycle trail is perfect for families who want to explore and learn about the different park environments.

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5. Go for a Swim

With 10 kilometres of gorgeous Lake Huron shoreline at Pinery, there is plenty of opportunity to wade into this Great Lake and go for a swim.

We visited Pinery on a really hot and sunny day. And let me tell you, the turquoise water was just the right temperature to spend the day splashing around in.

And, as I mentioned earlier, you could go out a good distance before the water got deep, making it perfect for younger children.

And the nice breeze coming off the water was perfection.

We were even able to take our new paddleboards out for an inaugural paddle!

Just keep in mind that there are no Lifeguards on duty at any of the beaches.

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6. Do Some Birding

Pinery Provincial Park is a birder’s paradise.

Pinery’s rare habitats provide shelter for 319 different species of birds, 124 of which have actually nested in the park.

Visit the park in March to watch the migration of thousands of Tundra Swans. Or keep an eye out in May and June to see the warblers pass through.

Red-throated Loons can be seen off the beach in the spring. Or, if you walk the trails in summer, keep your eyes peeled for a Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole or Cerulean Warbler.

In the winter, Red-tailed Hawks and Tufted Titmice are common sights at the Visitor Centre feeders.

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7. Take Part in the Discovery Program

One of the best ways to discover Pinery is through the park’s extensive interpretive programs.

These programs are one of the reasons that we love camping in Ontario Parks.

From Bike Hikes to Evening Programs, Conducted Nature Walks, and even a Children’s Program, there is plenty to keep the whole family busy.

We really like the guided walks. Park Naturalists will take you on a leisurely 1- 2 hour hike where you will learn about Pinery and its special features.

Family-friendly themes may include butterflies, birds or even creepy crawlers.

Some walks include more general topics, like the need for fire in the Oak Savanna or the struggle of life on a sandy dune.

The Pinery for Kids program is perfect for families with younger children.

The programs are held from late June to Labour Day weekend and are packed with an hour and a half of hands-on nature discovery with games, stories and animals.

7. Go on a Scavenger Hunt

We had no idea that Pinery Provincial Park offers this awesome experience for families and kids.

Head to the park’s Visitor Centre, where one of the staff will get you all set up with a handout and instructions for your adventure.

The Great Savanna Scavenger Hunt is a self-guided activity which leads you around the park.

Visit all 8 boxes to learn about Pinery’s history, its ecosystems, and what makes it so special!

Once you have completed the scavenger hunt, head back to the Visitor’s Centre to collect your prize!

While we did not find out about this activity until just before leaving, the kids would have had a blast with this.

The Scavenger Hunt is available from Saturday, June 29, to Wednesday, October 02, 2024.

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Is Pinery Provincial Park Accessible?

Pinery Provincial Park is pretty good when it comes to offering barrier-free amenities.

You will find 6 barrier-free campsites that are conveniently located adjacent to a comfort station.

These sites include Riverside Campground campsites #608 and #609, Dunes Campground campsites #45 and #46, and yurts #474 to #481.

I really wasn’t too impressed with their barrier-free sites.

While Earl Rowe Provincial Park has awesome concrete pads and ramps on their accessible sites, Pinery just offered flat sites with nothing more.

If you weren’t actually looking, you would never tell these sites were different. Don’t get me wrong, the sites were flat with packed dirt, but nothing more.

In fact, some of the tent sites that were sloped actually had platforms so that you would have a flat surface to put your tent on. I found these sites to be far more impressive!

The Visitor Centre, outdoor theatre, park store, rental building and canoe dock are also barrier-free.

As for hiking, the Cedar Trail, Heritage Trail and Riverside Trail are all accessible.

♿ Insider Tip: A three-wheeled chair is available at the bike building for accessing rugged or sandy terrain.

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Are Pets Allowed at Pinery?

Yes. Pinery Provincial Park is considered very pet-friendly.

Dogs are allowed in most of the campgrounds, on the trails, and on one section of the beach.

There is also a pet exercise area located at the P1 Dog Beach.

Dogs are not allowed in Area 4 of Dunes Campground as it is designated as pet-free camping.

They are also not allowed in certain public buildings in the park.

Dogs must be on a leash at all times, even while on the beach.

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Is There Winter Camping at Pinery?

Yes! As we mentioned earlier, winter camping is available at Pinery Provincial Park.

While most of the campgrounds are only available during the regular season, you can book campsites, Cabins, and Yurts in Area 1 of the Riverside Campground during the winter.

You will have access to the comfort station and laundry, as well as the vault toilet located in that campground.

Even the Visitor’s Centre is open during the winter.

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Winter Activities

There are several activities to keep you busy if you are winter camping at Pinery (and even if you are just visiting the park for the day):

Cross-Country Skiing

You will find some of the area’s best cross-country skiing at Pinery.

With 38 kilometres of packed and groomed ski trails across 5 trails, choosing one to suit your skill level shouldn’t be a problem.

If you are winter camping, Ski rentals are also available on weekends when the trails are operating.

Skating

Pinery also has a large outdoor rink that is open from morning until after dark. Of course, this is weather permitting.

The best part is, that Pinery even has a Winter Chalet. The Chalet contains washrooms and is kept heated for winter use.

Snowshoeing

If you like to snowshoe, then Pinery is the place to be. along walking trails or in other areas of the park.

Ungroomed roadways and walking trails in the park are the perfect place to spend a winter afternoon exploring by snowshoe.

Just be sure to avoid steep slopes and environmentally sensitive areas.

Snowshoes are available for rent on weekends when the trails are operating.

Tobogganing

And if you happen to be winter camping with the kids, Pinery has a good-sized toboggan hill located near the Winter Chalet.

It is lit during the evening and open daily throughout the winter (conditions permitting).

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Pinery Provincial Park – FAQs

Why is Pinery so Popular?

Pinery Provincial Park is very popular for its gorgeous beach, extremely rare and fragile Oak Savanna and Coastal Dune ecosystems, and for extraordinary sunsets.

Where is Pinery Provincial Park?

Pinery Provincial Park is located on Lake Huron near Grand Bend, Ontario.

Is There Cell Service at Pinery Provincial Park?

Cell service in the park is limited to a terrace outside the Park Store and is not extended to campsites or wilderness areas.

Is Pinery Provincial Park Open?

Pinery is open year-round for both day use and camping.

Is Pinery Provincial Pet-Friendly?

Yes. Pinery is extremely pet-friendly. Dogs are allowed in most campsites and trails, and there is even a separate dog-friendly beach. Pets must be leashed at all times, however.

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Our Park Rating

We give this park 5 out of 5 stars for having:

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Final Thoughts

Pinery Provincial Park was our favourite place to camp with our Teardrop Trailer.

From a fabulous beach to nice hiking trails and amazing campsites, you really can’t go wrong. And, it’s really pet-friendly!

We can honestly say that we are really looking forward to returning again this coming season.

Hopefully, with our park guide and review, we have made a convincing case for you to add Pinery Provincial Park to your must-see campground list!

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