Rondeau Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide

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

Making a reservation to camp at Rondeau Provincial Park is not difficult.

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 Rondeau. Of course, this was probably due to the fact that we visited the park on the last operating weekend in November!

When we arrived at the park, however, we were quite surprised by how many people were still camping this late in the season. Some in tents too!!

Rondeau is open for camping from the middle of April until about mid-November.

Rondeau Provincial Park Address:
18050 Rondeau Park Road, Morpeth, ON N0P 1X0
https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/rondeau

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Arriving at the Park

Once you arrive at the main entrance to the park, you will find a small gatehouse. While there weren’t any long RV spots to park in, we pulled off to one side.

There is a bike lane that runs along the right of the driveway into the park, so we ended up blocking that. It wasn’t ideal, but given the time of year, we had no issues.

Check-in was a snap. We were able to grab a printed map, as well as purchase ice and firewood at the gatehouse.

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

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Rondeau Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

As a smaller park, we found that Rondeau Provincial Park 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 since there are houses and people living in the area. However, the smaller campground roads were a little more narrow and were gravel.

They were in pretty good shape for the most part.

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Parking

In general, we found there were sufficient parking lots located throughout the park.

There were parking lots at the boat launch, the camp store, the comfort stations, the beach/day-use area, the Visitor’s Centre, plus a few others inside the campground as well.

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Rondeau Provincial Park Camping

Rondeau Provincial Park accommodates a variety of camping styles.

From car camping to tenting, 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.

Rondeau Provincial Park has 2 main campgrounds – North Campground and South Campground.

All in all, Rondeau is home to 262 campsites.

Both campgrounds offer a mix of electric and non-electric sites.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Rondeau, we stayed in the South Campground.

The campsite was not bad in terms of privacy. All things considered, it was late in the season so there were no leaves on the trees and shrubs.

We assume privacy would be a little better in the summer.

That said, we found the sites to be well-maintained and pretty spacious.

We did find it to be a little strange that the campground was surrounded by a residential area. As soon as you head onto the main road, you are passing by homes and cottages.

There are also two churches located on the park property.

What we did like, was that part of Rondeau Road is closed annually to vehicular traffic to protect at-risk species. This makes it perfect for biking. And we took full advantage!

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What Amenities Does Rondeau Offer?

Comfort Stations

There were three comfort stations with showers and flush toilets at Rondeau. One was located in the North Campground and two in the South Campground.

Both campgrounds also had vault toilets.

A comfort station without showers is located near the Park Store and is open year-round.

We found the comfort stations to be quite clean and well-kept.

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Laundry

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

There were 2 sets of machines in the laundry at the South Comfort Station. The laundry room was very clean, and the machines seemed to be in decent shape.

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Park Store

The Park Store is located near the entrance to the South Campground and not too far from the gatehouse.

The store seemed to be quite large with plenty of parking outside.

Unfortunately, the Park Store was closed during our visit, as it was the last weekend that the park was operating for the season.

I was able to purchase my park patch at the gatehouse, so I was quite happy.

During the regular season, the park store carries a variety of camping gear, park merch, and even some basic groceries.

So if you realize that you have forgotten something, you will have a good chance of finding it in the park store.

The Park Store is also where you will find a decent snack bar and grill, as well as an ice cream counter. Since it was closed during our visit, we can’t speak about the variety or brand of ice cream that you will find.

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Visitor’s Centre

The Visitor’s Centre at Rondeau Provincial Park is located 5 km outside of the campground area.

It’s about a 10-minute drive from the main campground, but is located close to a few of the hiking trails and is also easily accessible by bike (which is what we did).

The Visitor’s Centre is open during the regular camping season, as well as from late December until early January for winter break.

It’s a great place to learn about the local indigenous culture, flora and fauna, species at risk, and the bird migration that takes place in the area. They even have a birding window.

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Day Use Area

Rondeau has a pretty nice day-use area located just outside the South Campground.

There, you will find a picnic area equipped with picnic tables, water taps, vault toilets a picnic shelter, and a children’s playground.

This section of the day-use area is located right across the street from the Park Store, as well as being adjacent to the boat launch.

If you are interested in taking a dip in Rondeau Bay, you will find several access points near this day-use area. Just a heads up, there isn’t much of a beach here.

You will also find several picnic tables on the other side of the park off Lakeshore Road. Not all of these are near water taps or vault toilets, however.

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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Rondeau Provincial Park Beach

Rondeau Provincial Park is home to 11 kilometres of sandy beach along the Lake Erie side of the Rondeau peninsula. The beach is sandy, shallow, and quite warm.

The beach is about a 5-minute drive from the campgrounds. John and I were able to ride our bicycles there in about 15 minutes, 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.

There are 11 beach access points which can be found off of Lakeshore Road. You will find a parking lot at each access point.

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.

Instead, Beach Access 11 is the designated Dog Beach at Rondeau. Dogs must be on a leash at all times while on the beach but are allowed to swim freely.

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What Services Does Rondeau Offer?

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

Water

There is one sanitation station at Rondeau Provincial Park. It is located a short distance from the main gate and adjacent to the South Campground.

You will find one water fill station set between two lanes. This means that you will have to enter the appropriate lane, depending on which side you fill your rig on.

The water fill station is not separate from the dump station, so you may have to wait for people who are dumping 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 is only one dump station in the sanitation area.

It is located adjacent to the fill station and just a short distance from the gatehouse.

At the dump station, you will find two lanes with the sewer located in the middle.

This means that while two people can be pulled up to the dump station (one in either lane), you will have to wait for the person who got there first to finish their business.

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

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, Rondeau 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 Rondeau Provincial Park

1. Enjoy Some Hiking

Rondeau Provincial Park is home to six hiking trails. The trails were quite nice and very easy to manage.

In fact, we were able to bike a couple of them, which we did.

The trailheads are located throughout the park and are well-marked. Just a heads up, not all have parking spaces adjacent to the trailheads.

The Spicebush Trail is an easy and well maintained trail.

While there aren’t any viewpoints, there are plenty of wildflowers, butterflies and birds to spot during your hike. There are even several benches on the trail to just sit and take it all in.

This trail also goes across boardwalks and is a great option if you are looking for a short walk.

The trailhead can be found near the Rondeau Road and Bennett Avenue intersection.

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The Black Oak Trail is an easy hike that loops through a beautiful oak savannah and woodlands.

We found the trail to be really easy, a little on the narrow side, and well-maintained.

If you are a birder, then this is an excellent trail for bird watching.

This route begins near the Lakeshore Road and Bennett Avenue intersection.

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The Tulip Tree Trail is one of the shortest albeit scenic hikes in the park. The trail takes you through a mature Carolinian forest as well as through some marshy areas.

With the majority of the trail being boardwalk, it is super accessible for people with reduced mobility.

One of the best reasons to do this hike is to see examples of some of Ontario’s rarest Carolinian trees such as tulip trees, sassafras, and Shagbark Hickory.

And if you are into birding, it’s also the best trail to see the endangered Prothonotary Warbler.

This trail can be found off the Visitor’s Centre parking lot. So parking and bathrooms are available.

Our advice is to wear plenty of bug spray, as the mosquitos and ticks are pretty prevalent on this trail.

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The Marsh Trail begins on Water Street, adjacent to the Marsh Building, and runs along Rondeau Bay, through the wetland area.

Just a heads up, this route follows a mostly unmaintained trail. So some of the boardwalks may not be the easiest to cross, and the trail itself may be overgrown.

We chose not to do this hike as the ticks were still out in full force. I would imagine the mosquitos would be pretty bad during the summer as well.

Many species of turtles, frogs, and birds are seen along this trail, as well as some Species at Risk like the Spotted Gar, Bald Eagle and Swamp Rose Mallow.

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The Harrison Trail was originally a road and was constructed over 100 years ago. The road was built to provide access to the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula.

The trail, which runs the length of the park, is closed to vehicular traffic, making it perfect to bike on.

We enjoyed the fact that it was a straight path on flat ground. The path is nice and wide, so also perfect if you are riding with the kids, or walking with a large group.

This trail is mostly through the forest, so expect to see plenty of birds and wildlife.

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Be mindful that the middle part of this trail is currently washed out.

We combined the South Point Trail with the above Harrison Trail during our bike ride. We did an out and back, due to the washed-out section.

This trail follows an old roadway track around the tip of the Rondeau peninsula and through an extensive Oak Savanna.

If you are on foot, you could possibly climb around the fallen trees on the shoreline to complete to hike. The rocks get slippery, so it’s not really recommended.

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2. Enjoy a Bike Ride

John and I had a blast riding around Rondeau Peninsula on our bikes.

Not only are the main roads in great shape, but the section of Rondeau Road that is closed to vehicular traffic makes it even better (and safer).

And as I mentioned above, we also took our bikes through two of the longer hiking trails in the park.

The trails were wide, relatively flat, and easy to ride. We saw plenty of families with younger kids biking on the roadways and trails.

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3. Go for a Boat Ride

Lake Erie is a great boating destination for sailing, motor boating and kayaking.

And while Rondeau Provincial Park does have a boat launch, it is only meant for smaller watercraft. The launch is located on the Bay side of the peninsula.

If you are looking for boat launching and docking facilities with access to Lake Erie, they are available in nearby Erieau.

Of course, if you want to do some kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding, Rondeau Bay is a lot calmer and more suitable than Lake Erie.

You can even rent lifejackets from the gatehouse and park store if you forget to bring your own.

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4. Try Your Hand at Fishing

Rondeau is unique when it comes to fishing, as you have two separate bodies of water to choose from.

The warm, vegetation-rich waters of Rondeau Bay offer excellent opportunities to catch Largemouth, Perch, sunfish, crappie, catfish, and pike.

And if you choose to fish in Lake Erie, then Salmon, walleye, and perch are the most popular fish to catch.

And if you didn’t bring your own gear, Rondeau offers a Tackle Share program where you can borrow basic fishing equipment including a rod, reel and tackle from the main park office.

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5. Go for a Swim

As we mentioned earlier, our mid-November visit didn’t give us the opportunity to hit the water.

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

The beach itself was nice and sandy with plenty of dunes. And during our brief walk on the beach, I did notice that the water was nice and clear as well.

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6. Take Part in the Natural Heritage Education Program

Rondeau has an active Natural Heritage Education (NHE) program that runs from spring to late fall.

During the summer months, the park provides a variety of daily programs, including hikes, evening programs, slide shows, children’s programs and campfires.

The Visitor Centre has an indoor theatre, interactive displays and live animals that are also included in the program.

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7. Do Some Birding

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

More than 334 species of migratory birds have been spotted in the park, and 134 of these have been recorded breeding.

During the spring and fall, the park is filled with numerous species of warblers, thrushes, flycatchers and other songbirds. Rondeau Bay is also home to thousands of ducks and Tundra Swans in the spring and fall.

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Is Rondeau Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the buildings at Rondeau to be pretty accessible.

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

Both the Park Store and Visitor’s Centre were also barrier-free. The Tulip Tree Trail is also fully accessible.

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

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Are Pets Allowed at Rondeau?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Rondeau 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 Beach Access 11 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 Rondeau?

No. The park is not open for winter camping.

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

And as I mentioned earlier, the comfort station located near the Park Store is open year-round.

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Our Park Rating

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

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Final Thoughts

Rondeau was an awesome experience and a memorable way for us to end our camping season.

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

We really enjoyed the beautiful forests and great biking opportunities.

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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