Point Pelee National Park

About Point Pelee National Park

Point Pelee National Park occupies a narrow, sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie from southwestern Ontario, its tip being the southernmost point of mainland Canada. Despite its small size, the park protects a rare mix of marsh, dry forest, and savanna habitats. Its location along major migration routes makes it one of the most famous birding destinations in North America.

The Visitor Centre introduces the park's ecology, and a shuttle in season carries visitors toward the Tip, a shifting sand spit where the peninsula narrows to a point and two currents meet. Walking out to the end is a classic experience, though swimming there is dangerous. The marsh boardwalk winds through cattails and open water, and a canoe circuit lets paddlers explore the wetlands more closely. Park beaches line both sides of the peninsula. In May, songbirds pour through on their way north, and in late summer and early fall, monarch butterflies gather before crossing the lake. The park is also a dark-sky preserve.

Point Pelee suits birders, naturalists, and families. Nearby Leamington offers food and lodging, and the Pelee Island ferry leads to Canada's southernmost inhabited island, with Lighthouse Point and Fish Point nature reserves and the Pelee Island Winery Pavilion. Summers are warm and humid.