Camping & Hiking · Scenic Views · Ontario
A popular Prince Edward County provincial park on Lake Ontario, known for towering sand dunes and long, shallow sandy beaches. Book day passes ahead and arrive early on summer weekends.
Sandbanks Provincial Park is famous for its sand dunes and long beaches on Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County, and most reviewers say it lives up to its reputation. The sand is soft and rock-free, the water clear, and the dunes feel almost like a desert.
There are three main beaches. Outlet Beach is the most popular for swimming, with a long, gradual drop-off and nearby washrooms, change rooms and a restaurant. Dunes Beach is the dramatic one for climbing the sand slopes, and Lakeshore Beach is long and quieter. Staff are friendly, and there are two park stores and snack bars. Campers who noticed the campgrounds said the sites looked good.
Beyond the beach, visitors walk the dune trail and other trails, and one group of cyclists found the multi-use paths firm and wide enough for recumbent trikes. The shallow water makes it good for families, and it's an easy add to a Prince Edward County trip.
It gets very busy. Summer day use requires booking in advance, beaches fill up and access can be slow, so come early. There are no lifeguards. The dune trail is mostly soft sand and tiring on a hot day, so wear decent footwear. One cyclist flagged a short stretch near the park office with no separate bike path.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 5,715 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Sandbanks Provincial Park directly.
