Camping.
Pinery Provincial Park's three campgrounds — Burley, Riverside, and Dunes — sit inside about 21 square kilometres of remnant oak savannah and Carolinian forest along the Lake Huron shore. Roughly 1,000 sites are split across the three; the Old Ausable Channel runs through Riverside and Dunes, and seven day-use beach access points open onto the Pinery beach from inside the campground network.
The brief.
Pinery is an Ontario Parks frontcountry park. Daily vehicle permits or a seasonal Ontario Parks pass are required, and reservations are required for camping in peak season.
Burley sits inland in pine plantation; Riverside and Dunes sit along the Old Ausable Channel and closer to the Lake Huron beach access. Sites range from radio-free to electrical and serviced.
The 14-kilometre paved Savannah Trail threads the campgrounds, so cycling between sites and beach access is straightforward. Dark Sky Preserve lighting policy means low-glare fixtures throughout the campgrounds — useful for stargazing from the campsite.
Reduced operations through the winter months; full season runs roughly May through October.
3. places.
- 01
Burley Campground
Inland pine-plantation sites, the largest of the three campgrounds; furthest from Lake Huron beach but closest to several trailheads.
- 02
Riverside Campground
Sites along the Old Ausable Channel; canoe and kayak access directly from many sites.
- 03
Dunes Campground
Closest to the Lake Huron beach access; sand-and-oak setting on the dune side of the park.
Today's read.
Cold but firm — winter-ready conditions · light winds · clean air.
By the book.
- 01Pinery Provincial Park requires daily vehicle permits or seasonal Ontario Parks pass; reservations are required for camping in peak season.Source ↗
- 02Pinery's Dark Sky Preserve designation (RASC 2007) is supported by park lighting policy and dark-sky-friendly fixtures throughout the campgrounds.Source ↗