Sauble Falls Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide

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Sauble Falls Provincial Park Reservations – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Making a reservation to camp at Sauble Falls Provincial Park is simple enough.

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, you will first need to have an Ontario Parks account.

Registrations begin at 7 am EST.

We booked our October stay at Sauble Falls and had no issues getting a preferred site.

But from what we saw in the West Campground, I think you are pretty safe with most of the sites in this part of the park.

☑️ Expert Tip – Be sure to pre-register and check in online before arriving at the park. It definitely expedites the process once you arrive. This can easily be done by logging into your Ontario Parks account and heading to your reservation.

Sauble Falls is open for camping from the end of April until the end of October.

Sauble Falls Provincial Park Address:
1400 Sauble Falls Road, South Bruce Peninsula, ON N0H 2T0
https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/saublefalls

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Arriving at the Park

Once you arrive at the main entrance to the park, the gatehouse is right there.

There were no parking spaces before or after the gatehouse, so we were told to just drive through and pull to the side.

This wasn’t a problem in October, but it may get a little crowded during prime summer weekends.

The gatehouse is only used for registering guests, so it was pretty small. In fact, only staff are allowed inside.

We were able to check in, purchase firewood and ice, grab a printed map, and purchase my park patch.

I did notice a few miscellaneous items on the shelf behind the Parks employee, but not very much.

We arrived just before the 2 o’clock check-in time, and we were given the okay to head straight to our site.

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Sauble Falls Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

As I mentioned earlier, the park is pretty small. And so are the signs.

They are also few and far between.

While it’s pretty hard to get lost in this park, we did get turned around a few times.

Just something to keep in mind!

The roads in the park are all paved and in pretty good shape.

But they are all pretty narrow.

And none are really marked as one way.

I always worry about coming head-to-head with someone else and their trailer when on these tiny roads!

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Parking

For a small park, there is definitely no shortage of parking at Sauble Falls!

While there was no parking before the gatehouse, we noticed a large lot next to the gatehouse, as well as one near the playground and Falls access.

The comfort stations we came across all had sufficient parking as well.

I didn’t notice any overflow parking in either of the campgrounds, however.

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Sauble Falls Provincial Park Camping

Sauble Falls 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 and non-electric sites.

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

Sauble Falls is home to 154 campsites, situated in 2 campgrounds.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Sauble Falls, we stayed in the West Campground.

Our campsite backed onto the cliffs overlooking the river.

The campsite was huge, with a packed dirt pad. The driveway was a little awkward to back in the trailer, as it was narrow in places.

But given that we have a tiny Teardrop Trailer, it wasn’t too bad.

We had plenty of trees for shade, but only some privacy from the neighbours.

We had decent coverage on one side, with some cedars blocking the neighbour’s site almost completely.

However, on the other side, the trees were tall with little to no shrubs at eye level.

So we could pretty much see what our neighbours had cooking over their fire! And of course, this is the side that our trailer door opened onto.

All that aside, we still really enjoyed our site.

We noticed that most of the sites in this campground were pretty big. But some had a pretty good slope to them.

So make sure to look into that before your book!

The vault toilets were around the corner, and the comfort station was about a 5-minute walk from our site.

Of course, our Teardrop has a bathroom, so this really was no concern for us!

A water tap was located right across from our site. And our electrical pedestal was positioned perfectly at the rear of our site.

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East Campground

So the first thing that you need to know is that the East Campground has a separate entrance from the West Campground.

The entrance is just a few minutes down the road, and a little hidden. But at least there is a large sign!

That said, there is no gatehouse at the East Campground, so you would still need to come into the main park entrance to check in.

Just be careful when entering and exiting the East Campground.

The road is literally a single lane off the main roadway and goes around a blind corner.

On our way in with our trailer attached, we came head-to-head with another trailer.

They had to reverse a little so that we could get to another roadway within the campground, where we could both go where we needed to.

Not good!

The other thing to note is that the trailer fill and dump are both located in the East Campground (where we were headed in the above scenario).

That was inconvenient for us, as we had to go back and forth before being able to head to our site.

When we walked through the East Campground, the first thing we noticed was that many of the sites were pretty small.

We also noticed that many of the non-electrical sites were split-level. These would not work for a trailer at all!

The campground also has plenty of mature trees and forest, so it is nice in that way.

You will also find the trailhead for the only hiking trail in the park in the East Campground.

⚠️ Insider Tip – DO NOT book campsite 150! Not only was the ground quite uneven, but it is RIGHT across from the trailer dump! You will have an unobstructed view of (and smell) the dump station.

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Group Camping

There are two group camping areas at Sauble Falls, and both are located in the East Campground.

Located just past the trailer sanitation area, the group sites are nicely forested and pretty private.

One of the group sites accommodates 15-20 people, and the other accommodates 30-40.

Vault toilets are located on site, and water taps can be found nearby. Several picnic tables are provided at each site.

Both are within a five-minute drive to the beach and a three-minute walk to the comfort station.

Reservations can be made online or by phone.

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What Amenities Does Sauble Falls Offer?

Comfort Stations

The comfort stations at Sauble Falls were pretty decent, with flush toilets and separate shower rooms.

The one in the West Campground looked quite new, or at least, very well-maintained.

The showers were clean, the doors freshly painted, and the laundry room was immaculate and new-looking.

You will even find a dual-head level 2 EV Charging Station located outside of the West Campground comfort station.

In comparison, the comfort station located nearest the main gate was much older-looking.

The showers were clean, but the laundry room smelled damp and only had one set of machines (no sink or table to fold laundry on).

You will also find quite a few vault toilets scattered throughout the campgrounds, in the day-use area, and down by the Falls.

They were all in great shape, but not-surprisingly, stinky!

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Laundry

A coin laundry is available in all three of the comfort stations.

Depending on which comfort station you go to, you will find either one or two sets of machines.

As I mentioned above, the one in the West Campground was pretty nice. It had two sets of machines, a nice counter for folding your clothes, and a small sink.

The East Campground’s laundromat was also quite nice, with two sets of machines and a counter.

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Park Store

There is no Park Store at Sauble Falls Provincial Park.

As I mentioned earlier, you may be able to get a very limited amount of park merch from the gatehouse, but nothing more.

We did come across a small store next to the park that carried some camping supplies and groceries.

The store was pretty bare when we ventured in. But then again, we were visiting at the beginning of October.

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Visitor’s Centre

There is no Visitor’s Centre at Sauble Falls Provincial Park.

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Day Use Area

The day-use areas at Sauble Falls were quite nice, for such a small park.

As soon as you enter the park and pass the gatehouse, you will find two large parking lots.

The lots are across from a large green space containing a comfort station, a picnic shelter, the main playground, and plenty of picnic tables.

Next to the playground, just tucked around the corner, is a small basketball court with two nets.

The pad was in great shape, and it was mostly in shade, which is perfect for shooting some hoops.

Adjacent to one of the lots, you will also find a beach volleyball court, a horseshoe pitch, and a tetherball court.

We haven’t seen this many activities in one park since our visit to Port Burwell Provincial Park last year.

These areas were also well-kept and clean.

Along the far end of the playground, you will find several staircases and entries to get down to the river and see the Falls.

We were surprised to see picnic tables and even vault toilets overlooking the river on the south side.

If you head out of the park and go north of the river, you will find a third day-use parking lot.

To access the Falls Viewing Area from this lot, you are required to obtain a daily vehicle permit in advance.

The Falls Viewing Area has automated gates at the entrance.

To enter, scan the barcode on your advance daily vehicle permit at the automated gate.

If you are staying at the campground, I’m not sure how this would work, as we did not get any kind of parking permit when we checked in. Everything was paperless.

But then again, the only possible reason I would want to park in that lot while staying in the campground is for easier access to the river with my paddleboard.

You can reserve your daily vehicle permit up to five days ahead of your visit, either online or by phone.

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Boat Launch

There is no boat launch at Sauble Falls Provincial Park.

However, we did come across a small wooden dock located right off the East Campground comfort station parking lot.

Just look for a park bench overlooking the river. To the right is a small path down to the water.

I’m not sure how deep the water is at that point, but we did see a family pull up to the dock in a kayak.

It may take a little maneuvering, however, as the dock seemed a little too high for the kayak.

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Playground

You will find one main playground in the West Campground at Sauble Falls.

The play structure is located just after you enter through the main gate, and adjacent to the picnic shelter.

And it’s pretty awesome! Any little would love to spend time at this park.

On the other hand, we also noticed a lonely swingset located in the East Campground.

Had the wind been pushing the swings, I would have run for the hills! 😱😱

(Hey! It’s October and I’m bingeing Stephen King movies.)

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Sauble Falls Provincial Park Beach

Unfortunately, Sauble Falls does not have a beach located within the park boundaries.

That said, you are only an 8-minute drive from a gorgeous (and very popular) beach.

Saugeen Beach has white sand and the clear water of Lake Huron, making it a haven in the summer months.

Just a heads up, parking can be a little bit of an issue on the weekends, so you may want to get there early.

Closer to the park and only a 3 km drive, is Sauble Beach North. This beach is also quite nice, and a little less busy.

You could easily ride your bike from the campground to this beach.

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What Services Does Sauble Falls Offer?

You will find all the usual Ontario Provincial Parks services at Sauble Falls.

Water

There is one sanitation station at Sauble Falls Provincial Park.

It is located in the East Campground and cannot be reached through the main entrance of the park.

The sanitation loop is made up of one lane with two fill stations located at one end of the loop.

Unfortunately, only one trailer can fill at a time, as the nozzles are on opposite sides of the lane.

The good news is, no matter what side your tanks are on, you will have easy access to the water.

You will find 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

The trailer dump is located on the opposite end of the sanitation loop from the water fill station.

Again, it’s a single lane through the sanitation loop, and you will only find a single dump station.

Most trailers (those with tanks on the driver’s side) will need to pass through the water fill station in order to access the dump station on the correct side.

While it’s a small park, this area is not very large.

I’m guessing it gets quite busy during check-out time in high season.

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Garbage and Recycling

We found a small garbage/recycling area located just before you head into the West Campground.

You will find bins for garbage, recycling, as well as a small bin for recycling your small propane containers.

A second garbage area can be found in the East Campground as well.

This one is located outside of the sanitation loop.

It also has garbage, recycling and propane canister bins.

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Wi-Fi

We were pleasantly surprised at how great the cell reception was at Sauble Falls.

I was able to make phone calls, send texts, FaceTime the kids, go online, and even write this post, all while sitting in the comfort of our campsite.

And the great reception could be found in most areas of the park, including on the hiking trail.

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Things to Do at Sauble Falls Provincial Park

There were plenty of things to keep John and me busy during our stay at Sauble Falls Provincial Park.

1. Enjoy a Bike Ride

Unfortunately, Sauble Falls does not have any mixed-use or biking trails within the park.

You are welcome to ride on the campground roads, which, as I mentioned earlier, are paved and pretty smooth.

You could also choose to ride into town or to the beach.

While John and I did have our bicycles with us, we didn’t take them out during our visit.

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2. Go for a Paddle

While we had a nice, hot and sunny day during our October visit, we actually didn’t have our paddleboards with us.

We did notice several people canoeing and kayaking on the river.

Trust me, we were feeling a little sorry for ourselves that we couldn’t join them!

Aside from the small dock that we saw in the East Campground, we also saw people launching their kayaks from the opposite side of the river, near the day-use parking lot.

And if you don’t have your own canoe or kayak, Sauble Falls Provincial Park has some that you can rent.

Canoe rentals are available on the north side of the Sauble River near the parking lot.

They also offer PFDs to rent if you don’t have your own.

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3. Splash Around in Sauble Falls

During our October weekend visit, the temperature soared to an unbelievable 28°C!

As a result, we saw plenty of people, including families with younger kids, splashing around in Sauble Falls.

The water is pretty shallow, and the current really isn’t that strong.

I would bring water shoes, however, because some of the rocks were a little slippery.

The Falls are quite nice to look at, and probably fun to climb as well!

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4. Take Part in the Discovery Program

Like the rest of Ontario Provincial Parks, Sauble Falls also has a Discovery Program for kids.

Through July and August, kids can pick up a Discovery Activity Book from the gatehouse to explore the park.

There is also a weekly calendar of events posted throughout the park, including children’s programs, special events and evening programs.

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5. Do Some Birding

While we are not avid birders, Sauble Falls does offer some opportunities to bird watch if you are interested.

Osprey can often be seen at the mouth of the Sauble River and are known to nest in the Isaac Lake area.

The park is also home to many bird species that can be found throughout the campgrounds and along the river.

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6. Try Your Hand at Fishing

If you are into fishing, you will find the areas adjacent to the falls to be excellent for trout and salmon fishing in the spring and fall.

Just keep in mind, the falls themselves are closed to fishing year-round.

During the spring and fall, you may be lucky enough to catch the spawning runs for Rainbow Trout and Chinook salmon.

Watch the fish struggle over each ledge of the cascading waterfall to spawn upstream.

Unfortunately, we missed seeing the fall run by a few weeks.

And if you don’t have your own fishing gear, Sauble Falls is part of Ontario Parks’ Tackle Share program.

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7. Go for a Hike

While Sauble Falls is only home to one hiking trail, we found it to be quite enjoyable.

The Sauble Trail travels mostly through a Red Pine plantation. However, there are many sections of deciduous forest and ancient sand dunes as well.

The trail head can be found in the East Campground, closest to site #139.

There, you will find a small bin containing an interpretive leaflet that explains current and historic forest management practices in the area.

While most of the trail is pretty easy, we found the first section to be more of a moderate hike with elevation changes, stairs, and rocky ground.

The rest of the trail was packed earth or beds of pine needles.

We loved how we could see the changing fall colours in some parts of the trail, while in others, we were walking through a pine forest.

There is also a pretty nice viewpoint over a small lake about halfway through the hike.

It only took us about half an hour to do the trail at a quick walking pace.

While there were some signs and trail markings, there were a few sections of the hike that were poorly marked.

And as I mentioned earlier, bikes are not allowed on the Sauble Trail.

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Is Sauble Falls Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the comfort stations, showers and laundry to be very accessible.

Not only were there accessible showers and toilets, but the West Campground comfort station also had a great ramp from the parking lot up to the washrooms.

However, we did not notice any sites in either campground that were designated as barrier-free.

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Are Pets Allowed at Sauble Falls?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Sauble Falls Provincial Park.

Pets are allowed at the campground, but must be leashed at all times.

Dogs are also allowed on the hiking trail and in the day-use area.

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Is There Winter Camping at Sauble Falls?

No. Sauble Falls Provincial Park is not open for winter camping.

The park is also not open for any winter activities.

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Our Park Rating

We give this park 3 out of 5 stars for having:

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Final Thoughts

We had a pretty nice time at Sauble Falls and would like to come back during the summer months.

We really enjoyed the beautiful hiking trail, especially with all the colourful fall foliage.

So if you are looking for a small Ontario Park with plenty of family-friendly activities and space to stretch out, then Sauble Falls might just be the place for you!

And as with most places, we wish we could have stayed for more than just a weekend.

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Pin This Post for Later!

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