Fall is almost here again – time to think about prime leaf-viewing locations!

Awenda Provincial Park is a truly amazing provincial park. It has it all. Stunning shoreline, beaches, hiking trails, canoeing and large, private campsites.

It is located on Georgian Bay, near Penetanguishene and Midland.

Our Experience

We stayed one night in Snake campground, site 277 on Thanksgiving weekend, 2014. We chose Snake because it was radio-free. It is also a dog-free campground.

I was impressed with the sites. All the ones I saw were large, well-treed and private. We chose one with a “good” privacy rating. At Awenda, they really mean it! Though I think even a rating of “poor” at Awenda wouldn’t be too bad! The only bad thing about the site was the acorns. Thousands of acorns covered our entire site. We had a few tumbles before perfecting “The Acorn Shuffle”. It took awhile clearing space for the tent and walking paths. I suggest bringing a rake, if camping in the fall.

The park is large and sprawling. Which is great, but be prepared to drive within the park. I didn’t mind, but I could see how this may be more of a hassle in the future if we stay for more than a couple nights, or camp in the summer and plan on hitting the beach every day.

Recreation

There are seven trails, all of them rated easy or moderate. We did the Beach Trail and the Beaver Pond Trail with our 2 kids, aged 4 and 6. Both were wonderful and great for kids. Beaver Pond Trail is pretty much all boardwalk, rather pretty and informative. Great easy stroll with kids. It is rated easy and is a 1 km loop. The other trails look fantastic. I’m particularly looking forward to hiking the Bluff trail with its scenic views of Georgian Bay from the high bluffs. It is a 13 km loop, rated moderate.

I am also looking forward to renting a canoe and paddling around Kettle’s Lake. We spent some time by the look-out there. The fall colour was beautiful and I wished we had more time to explore the area. There are no motor boats allowed on the lake and it is so peaceful. Next time!

The closest boat launch to access Georgian Bay is in nearby Penetanguishene.

Awenda Provincial Park is open for day use only during the winter. With 17 km of cross country ski trails, I’m sure it is a delight for those who live close enough to explore the ski trails!