On a triangle spit of sand jutting into Lake Erie lies the southern tip of Canada.
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Point Pelee National Park in Ontario is Canada’s southernmost tip. It’s on the same latitude as Rome. How’s the weather? Same as Rome!
This 9 km peninsula was the traditional home of Ojibwa, Odawa and Potawatomi First Nations. Plus a bunch of white settlers. Everybody got booted off the land in 1918 when the national park was commissioned – a dark part of Canada’s history for which they now apologize profusely.
A paved road will take you to the many beaches and attractions of the park. Or, there’s a fantastic bike trail which runs parallel to the shoreline. That’s the path I took.
Back in the 1960-70’s, Point Pelee was a popular spot. On the weekends 6,000 cars would drive on the beach and park in the dunes. By the 2000’s, a conservation effort was wisely enforced. No more beach driving. No trampling of the delicate shoreline ecosystem. Instead, a series of beach pavilions with paved parking were installed, keeping the sands pristine and natural. I stopped at every one of the public beaches.
Visitors are welcome at a First Nations picnic area (complete with teepee), and one of the old homesteads (complete with barn).
In the center of the peninsula is a protected wetland. Kayaks are for rent, and a wonderful mile-long boardwalk leads you around the cattails and pond lilies.
But of course, the big attraction is the southern tip. Here you walk on a long spit of sand, with Lake Erie on either side, and stick your toes in the point. It’s a photo op location. Everyone wants a picture at the point. There’s warning signs about the danger of drowning in the strong rip currents: No swimming! No wading! Which didn’t stop a couple of adolescent boys from venturing out over their heads. I held my breath until they returned to shore.
A long walk back in mushy sand to the tree line where I’d parked the bike, and then I could say I’d seen southern Canada for sure.
It was a nice ride back through the shady trails, past the shoreline neighborhoods, to reach my campground.
What a lovely place to spend a weekend!
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2 comments
Interesting place that I’d never heard of before. Appreciate your wonderful pictures, and that’s partly because I don’t have to do the walking or cycling myself! Beautiful place.
Thank you, Beth!