Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Sandbanks Provincial Park is located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario near Picton, Ontario, within Prince Edward County. Established in 1970, the park spans over 1,520 hectares and features some of the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world, which are protected alongside diverse habitats including beaches, forests, and wetlands. The park’s rolling sand dunes provide a unique landscape uncommon in the region and support fragile ecosystems with specialized plant and animal life. Visitors can explore kilometres of well-maintained walking trails that wind through the dunes and forests, offering stunning lake views and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, notably shorebirds and migratory species. Sandbanks also provides three main sandy beaches — Outlet Beach, Dunes Beach, and Sandbanks Beach — recognized for their warm water and gentle lake breezes, making them ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and picnics. The park’s campgrounds accommodate tent and trailer camping with modern facilities, attracting thousands of visitors each summer. Sandbanks is popular for fishing, kayaking, bird watching, and cycling, with nearby Prince Edward County offering charming local culture, wineries, and farm-to-table dining. The park’s geological formations and its ecological importance as a rare freshwater dune system make it both a recreational destination and a significant conservation area. Seasonal changes bring vibrant wildflowers in spring, lively beach activity through summer, and quieter, reflective visits during fall and early winter.
