Port Burwell Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide

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Port Burwell Provincial Park Reservations – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Making a reservation to camp at Port Burwell 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.

Registrations begin at 7 am EST.

We really didn’t have much trouble booking our site at Port Burwell. Of course, this was probably due to the fact that we visited the park at the end of September.

When we arrived at the park, we noticed that at least half of our campground was empty.

Port Burwell is open for camping from the middle of May until after the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in October.

Port Burwell Provincial Park Address:
9 Wilson Lane, Port Burwell, ON N0J 1T0
https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/portburwell

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Arriving at the Park

Once you arrive at the main entrance to the park, you will find several long RV parking spots available.

The gatehouse also doubles as the Park Store, which was much smaller than we normally find.

We were also able to grab a printed map, as well as purchase ice and firewood at the gatehouse.

This was the first park that was sold out of patches! I was pretty disappointed. Luckily I can order one online through the Ontario Parks Store.

We arrived just before the 2 o’clock check-in time, so we were lucky that our site was clear by the time we filled our rig with water.

Just a heads up, there are actually two gatehouses at Port Burwell. One is for the campground (the first one you will come across), and the second is in the day-use area just further down the road (more on this later).

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Port Burwell Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

We found that Port Burwell Provincial Parks was really easy to navigate.

There were plenty of signs to help you find your way around the park, as well as in the day-use area. There were also enough signs in the campgrounds.

The main park roads were paved. However, the smaller campground roads were a little more narrow and were gravel.

They were in decent shape for the most part.

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Parking

In general, we found the parking lots located throughout the park to be more than sufficient in size for this park.

There were a total of 5 large parking lots in the beach/day-use area, plus one at the entrance of each campground, one at the comfort stations, one at the gatehouse, and at least one inside the campground loops as well.

Because Port Burwell does not allow more than one vehicle per campsite, they definitely made sure that there was plenty of parking close by.

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Port Burwell Provincial Park Camping

Port Burwell 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.

Port Burwell Provincial Park has 3 main campgrounds – Alzora, Leander, and Iroquois Campground.

All in all, Port Burwell is home to 235 campsites.

All three campgrounds offer a mix of electric and non-electric sites.

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Group Camping

Port Burwell has a large Group Camping site located just south of the gatehouse and campgrounds.

There are 2 group campsites available. One can accommodate 20-80 people, while the other can hold 30-100 people.

A minimum of 20 people is required to secure a group camping site, however.

Flush toilets and water taps are available. Comfort stations with showers, and the beach, are located nearby.

Unfortunately, trailers of any kind are not allowed on the group campsites.

The sites can be reserved in advance online or by phone.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Port Burwell, we stayed in the Alzora Campground.

The campsite was one of the most private campsites we have ever had in a Provincial Park.

Not only could we not see our neighbours on either side or behind us, but even the site directly across the street was hidden from view. It was awesome!

While our site wasn’t huge, there were plenty of thick shrubs and some very mature trees for privacy.

It was overcast during our stay, but I imagine that the site would get plenty of sunlight.

The only spot on our site that wasn’t private, was where the electrical box was.

Because it’s shared between two sites, whenever our neighbours would plug something in, they had a full view of our site.

Not a big deal.

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What Amenities Does Port Burwell Offer?

Comfort Stations

There were 3 comfort stations with showers at Port Burwell. One was located in each campground.

The Alzora campground also had two additional comfort stations with flush toilets.

Vault toilets were located at the Play Field, as well as in each of the parking lots in the day-use/beach area.

The comfort stations were quite clean and well-kept. They looked pretty new/updated in comparison to some parks we have been to.

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Laundry

A coin laundry is available in all three campgrounds. They can be found attached to the comfort stations.

There were 2 sets of machines in the laundry at the Alzora Comfort Station. While the laundry room was very clean, I noticed that only one washer and one dryer were working.

Not sure what the situation was in the laundry facilities at the other two campgrounds.

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Park Store

As we mentioned earlier, the main Park Store is combined with the Gatehouse.

The store was pretty small, and very clean looking.

The park store sells Ontario Parks merchandise, clothing and souvenirs, as well as a small selection of items that you may have forgotten when packing for your camping trip.

I was surprised to learn that there was a second Park Store attached to the gatehouse in the day-use area.

This store was also rather small, with not much selection of items for sale.

However, this store did sell scooped ice cream! John was happy to learn that Port Burwell (just like Earl Rowe Provincial Park) carried Kawartha Dairy ice cream, his fave!

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Visitor’s Centre

There is no Visitor’s Centre at Port Burwell Provincial Park.

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Day Use Area

Port Burwell has a pretty nice day-use area, which is not surprising given how beautiful the park is.

The day-use area is located outside of the campground area, just further down the main road.

This setup reminded me of Bronte Creek Provincial Park, only the entrances are not as far apart.

Once you head through the park gates (make sure to have your vehicle permit with you if you are driving there), you will find 5 parking lots.

Each lot has access to the beach.

You will find the Dog Beach off Parking Lot 1, an accessible wooden boardwalk to the beach off Parking Lot 2, and the Picnic Shelter at Parking Lot 3.

The picnic area is equipped with picnic tables, water taps, vault toilets and the above-mentioned picnic shelter.

One thing that I can neither confirm nor deny, is that the beach area off Parking Lot 5 is for nude sunbathing! That’s right… Port Burwell Provincial Park is home to a nude beach!!

How do we know?

John and I were a little confused by Google Maps while exploring the park. So much so, I guess, that we were approached by a very nice local gentleman.

He not only pointed us in the direction of all we wanted to see but also gave us the heads-up on Beach 5.

And while we had nothing to worry about on a rainy September weekend, I wouldn’t want you to accidentally stumble on this if you are visiting in July!

Full disclosure, we checked the lot and didn’t see any signage. Maybe it’s an unwritten rule??

A quick Google search told me that others know about this as well!

So if Parking Lot 5 is filled with cars, don’t be surprised to see waaay more skin than you may be used to (or maybe not… we don’t judge) if you choose to stay at that end of the beach!

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

If you want to visit the park for the day-use area only, you can reserve your daily vehicle permit to guarantee your day-use spot.

Permits can be obtained up to five days in advance.

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Play Field

Another thing that is definitely worth mentioning about this park, was the Play Field.

It was one of the nicest ones we have seen!

Tucked between the Alzora and Leander Campgrounds, this Play Field had enough to keep the family busy.

There was a really nice, large playground for the younger kids.

For the older kids and adults, there were volleyball nets, a basketball pad, disc golf nets, a horseshoe pitch, and a huge open field where you could play baseball, soccer, or just throw a frisbee around.

There were two vault toilets located on one side of the field and a full comfort station located on the other side.

The Play Field was also home to a pretty nice amphitheatre, as well as the Trailheads for hiking.

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Port Burwell Provincial Park Beach

Port Burwell Provincial Park is home to a huge sand beach along the shores of Lake Erie. The beach is sandy, shallow, and quite warm.

The beach is about a 4-minute drive from the campgrounds. John and I were able to ride our bicycles there in about the same time, so it really isn’t far.

While it was too chilly for us to swim during our visit, the water looked pretty clear, with a nice sandy bottom.

The lake was also quite calm at this beach (compared to the public beach outside of the park), so paddleboarding would have definitely been an option for us.

We accessed the beach from parking lot 3, and it was a bit of a walk along a packed dirt trail. This may not be easy if you have mobility issues or are pushing a stroller.

As I mentioned earlier, Beach 2 had a wooden boardwalk leading to the beach from the parking lot, which would make the trek much easier.

There are signs at all beach access points warning of no lifeguard on duty. But this is pretty common at all Ontario Parks.

Another thing to be aware of is that dogs are not allowed on the regular beach at any time.

But as I mentioned, the dog beach is right next to the regular beach and didn’t look any different.

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What Services Does Port Burwell Offer?

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

Water

There is one sanitation station at Port Burwell Provincial Park. It is located a short distance from the main gate, and right off the main road.

You will find two water fill stations, one after the other, in a single lane that runs parallel to the main road.

The water fills are both located on the passenger side. However, they both had long enough hoses that we had no problem reaching Nellie’s tank on the driver’s side.

The water fill station is completely separate from the dump station, so you won’t have to worry about waiting for people to dump their tanks.

You will find plenty of water taps located throughout the campgrounds, as well as in the day-use area.

There are no water hookups at the individual campsites.

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Dump Station

Just like with the fill station, there are two dump stations in the sanitation area.

It is located right across the street from the fill station and just a short distance from the gatehouse.

At the dump station, you will find two lanes, with a total of 3 hoses.

If your tanks are on the driver’s side (like with our rig), you can go into either lane to dump.

If you have your tank on the passenger side, then you will need to use the first lane closest to the road.

The sanitation area road was not very long. Meaning that even though we were third in line, Nellie was partially sticking out on the main road.

And just like at other parks, expect the sanitation area to be busy around check-out time.

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Garbage and Recycling

There was a garbage/recycling area located at the entrance to each campground.

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Wi-Fi

Just like at most Ontario Parks, Port Burwell has pretty spotty cell reception.

This meant that while I was able to make phone calls from our campsite, I really couldn’t do much else.

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Things to Do at Port Burwell Provincial Park

1. Enjoy Some Hiking

Port Burwell Provincial Park is home to two hiking trails. The trails were quite nice and very easy to manage.

In fact, I was only wearing Crocs and had no difficulty managing the trails in the rain, no less!

The trailheads are located behind the Amphitheatre building in the Play Field.

As I mentioned above, John and I hiked this trail on a rainy day.

The trail was wide, well-marked, and had a very nice canopy with plenty of tree coverage to keep us sheltered from the rain.

And we didn’t even find the trail to be too muddy even though it had been raining all day.

You will find several park benches along the trail, as well as markers to follow along.

While we didn’t pick up a brochure, this interpretive trail will tell you all about the forest, its inhabitants, and a little history of the area.

Just be aware, there are several staircases on this trail. The slope is very gentle, and the steps are low, so it is pretty easy to climb and descend.

The birding is awesome on this trail.

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The beach trail is accessed right off the Ravine Creek Trail. However, we did find another access point near the entrance to the park.

This easy trail will take you from the campground to the beach.

As you cross along the bluffs, you will find a pretty decent lookout point that provides an excellent view of Lake Erie and the beach below.

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2. Enjoy a Bike Ride

While there are no designated bike paths, and you can’t ride on the hiking trails, you are more than welcome to ride on the park roads.

The park roads were in pretty good shape. Just be aware that there is a hill going down from the campground entrance to the Day-use area.

And what goes down, must come back up! Ha!

As I mentioned earlier, John and I were able to ride from our campsite to the beach with very little effort.

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3. Go for a Boat Ride

Port Burwell Provincial Park does not actually have its own dock or boat launch area.

That said, boat launching and docking facilities are located near the park with access to Lake Erie available through the Big Otter Creek.

On the weekend we visited, the lake was pretty calm, so it would be perfect for kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding.

We also noticed that there were lifejackets for rent at the gatehouse in the Day-use area.

4. Try Your Hand at Fishing

While Lake Erie is quite popular for fishing, doing so from a boat is recommended.

In the park, there are only limited fishing opportunities along Big Otter Creek as it enters the lake.

Perch, pickerel (walleye), trout and salmon are just a few of the popular sport fish species found in the lake.

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5. Go for a Swim

As we mentioned earlier, our late September visit (on a rainy weekend) didn’t give us the opportunity to hit the water.

However, it did seem quite nice. John stepped into the water and said that it was actually quite warm.

And with the sandy bottom, I’m sure that it is quite nice to get into.

I did notice that the water was nice and clear as well.

And given that we saw a ton of campers with bathing suits hanging on their clotheslines, I’m gonna say that the swimming is pretty great!

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6. Take Part in the Discovery Program

From what we can see on the website, a basic Discovery Program is offered at Port Burwell.

During July and August, kids can pick up a Discovery Activity Book, and use the equipment and materials provided to explore the park.

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7. Do Some Birding

While we are not avid birders, Port Burwell is apparently one of the best locations along the Lake Erie shoreline to see spring and fall migration.

More than 85 species of migratory birds have been spotted here in the spring, with the parks’ bird checklist including 232 species.

Aside from the hawks, vultures, and eagles that prominently migrate through this park, you will also see the migration of Monarch Butterflies, Blue Jays and dragonflies.

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Is Port Burwell Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the buildings at Port Burwell to be pretty accessible.

All the comfort stations allowed for barrier-free access to both flush toilets and showers.

Both Park Stores/Gatehouses were also barrier-free.

However, we did not notice any designated barrier-free campsites in any of the campgrounds.

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Are Pets Allowed at Port Burwell?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Port Burwell Provincial Park.

Pets are allowed at the campground and on the hiking trails but must be leashed at all times.

As we mentioned earlier, you will find a small pet beach area off Parking Lot 1 in the day-use area.

The dog beach was just as sandy and pleasant as the regular beach.

However, dogs are not allowed in the other areas of the beach.

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Is There Winter Camping at Port Burwell?

No. The park is not open for winter camping.

However, cross-country skiing and hiking are permitted on the park roads.

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Our Park Rating

We give this park 4 out of 5 stars for having:

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Final Thoughts

Port Burwell was a wonderful experience.

This park was very well maintained, with plenty of activities available to keep the whole family busy.

We really enjoyed the beautiful forests and the extremely private campsites.

I also couldn’t get over how peaceful the park was, especially at night!

Our only regret was that we didn’t book our stay during the summer months.

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Pin This Post for Later!

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