Point Pelee National Park of Canada

Been here in all times of the year. Summer-​gone swimming, winter-​gone skating, spring and fall-​taken walks to watch birds and sometimes just for the fun of taking walks. The staff that I’ve met up with have been good, the accommodations were also good. I especially enjoyed the long nature trails. During autumn this is a tremendously busy place, what with all the out-​of-​state birders coming in, but there’s usually still some secluded areas.

This place is awesome, great biking trails and lots of hidden beach spots to discover!

Before this weekend, I did not know this park even existed. But then I have only passed through this general part of Ontario a few times in the distant past, on the way from MI to NY, the northern route. Luckily for us, the weather was good on Sat so we did see a fair amount of what we planned before the weather turned on us. Birds and beaches and woods and a really big snake! A four foot long fox snake just sunning on a branch safely (I hoped) beyond the boardwalk we were on. Had we had more time, there is some good hiking and some pretty beaches. It looks like an ideal place to bring a bike as there are good trails with typical coastal flat terrain. But lots of mosquitos and beach flies, so come prepared with insect repellent.

Faire du canoé ou du kayak dans des marécages remplis de nénuphars, un des petits plaisirs qu’on peut se faire dans ce parc national dont la latitude est celle de Rome ! C’est ici la point la plus méridionale du Canada, un petit paradis en plein lac Érié.

Fun place, lots to see and do. Great board walk, the shuttle, the museum all great. On vacation to visit family in leamington, grew up in the area so visited the point often. Spent a lot of time there on my vacation. Lots of pics! The staff is very friendly always happy unlike some parks (Rondeau provincial park) very rude staff there but it’s all good. Will be back next year point pelee!

This is a beautiful National Park, with plenty to see and do! We had a fabulous day here, and it’s fabulously maintained.
I went with a good friend and my teenage son, and it was $ 20 for the three of us to get in for the day. First we went all the way to the end of the point, to take the tram down to the «Point». Upon reaching the visitor center (where you catch the tram) we went inside to use the washroom and find out about tram schedule. The washrooms were mediocre, but hey, it was a washroom. The visitor’s center has a little shop (trinkets, water/​soda, etc), an information desk, and a cute little park-​room with info about animals in the park.
We caught the tram which runs pretty frequently (I think every 15 minutes?). I was surprised to see dogs on the tram with us — it seems you can bring your dog with you! Which I personally find really cool! That would never happen at a U.S. National Park, so I was impressed. The tram took like 5 minutes to get down to the point. The point itself is pretty cool. You walk through the woods on a path, and eventually come out on a little beach, and walk out to the point which is literally just that — a tip of sand, like a sand-​bar. I hear that it changes daily based on the currents.
After that, we went up to the spot where you take the walk through the Marsh. It’s a nice walk, on a series of wooden floats. After the walk, we decided to rent a canoe, and went out for about an hour. It’s a lovely, calm location to take a canoe and have some fun. (This was my son’s personal favorite).
After the canoe, we drove up a couple more stops, and went to the beach for an hour or so. It was a pretty desolate beach. Not too many people, lots of BBQ stands, and a few park benches to sit on. I personally wasn’t a huge of this particular beach because it was real rocky.
Overall, this park offers so much and is really large! There’s plenty of walking /​biking paths, lots of different little stops you can make based on what you’re interested in doing, etc. This is definitely a day-​trip. There’s plenty to do and explore, and is a great family activity!

Point Pelee is a premier bird migration hot spot. Located on a point that juts far into Lake Erie the park is a magnet for tired northbound birds especially in May. You will see colorful warblers, orioles, tanagers, indigo buntings and much more.
I go with my sisters and brother every year. We stay at one of the local B&Bs but there are also great camping and cabin sites nearby. It only takes 2 hours to get there from Ann Arbor. I don’t pretend to be a bird watching pro but you don’t have to be. The guides are great. It is a well tended Canadian National Park but you see people from all over the world. I once saw a French family oohing over a robin. I guess they don’t have them France.

If I don’t make it to Pte. Pelee at least once a summer, I feel cheated. The main thing I love is the expanse of beaches; this is the southernmost tip of Canada, and there are great natural beaches on both sides. Sometimes Lake Erie gets real choppy too, which makes for great body surfing!
There are other activities. The park has bike rentals, so you don’t need to haul yours over the border and back. The roads and trails are wonderful fun, slightly hilly and winding through the Carolinian woods. (Yes, there is detailed conservation info both in the brochure they give you when you enter, and at the Nature Center at the Point, for us geeky types. There’s also a gift shop for those inclined to buy the tee shirt.)
The park is also a migration point for Monarch butterflies and several species of birds. There is a local Monarch festival, I think in late July-​early August. The park also has a terrific marsh boardwalk. If you go quite early in the morning, several varieties of birds can be seen. You can also rent a canoe to go through the marsh by water.
The only drawback is biting fly season, which occurs when the weather is still and warm, just when you want to go to the beach. They don’t spray pesticides at this national park, so it can get pretty intense. Try to go when the winds are high (flies can’t land on you), bring your own pesticide*, and always ask for fly status at the gate.
*(Not that it will do any good. The flies seem to really enjoy pesticides.)
Warm up your passport and get thee to the Point! It’s easy to spend the day here. Pick up dinner in Leamington on your way home (cool Mexican restaurants in town), and don’t forget the Loonies. Bienvenu Canada!