Looking to add some discovery to your upcoming park visit? The Discovery Department runs programs for visitors and campers of all ages throughout the summer season to showcase Awenda’s amazing natural and cultural history!
The park’s provincially significant geography can be explored with 30 km of marked trails and recreational opportunities to be enjoyed on foot, bike, cross-country skis, snowshoes and canoes!
Awenda offers a wide variety of programs for enthusiasts of all ages. Regularly scheduled guided hikes, children’s programs, special events and evening programs occur from late June to early Fall featuring the unique cultural history and the biology of the park.
Stay up to date on upcoming programs and events, and check out posting boards upon arrival!
Beach Trail – 4 km return (1.5 hours) linear, easy
This trail takes hikers along the Georgian Bay shoreline. Giant’s Tomb Island is visible from the trail. The contrast between the dry oak-maple forest of the campgrounds and the low, wet birch-cedar-hemlock forest below the bluff can be seen.
Beaver Pond Trail – 1 km (30 minutes) loop, easy, barrier free
Located in a nature reserve zone most of this trail is a boardwalk that takes you through an area altered by past and present beaver activity. Along the way you will see the remains of both a building and a bridge from the early logging days. The area also offers views of the dominant Nipissing bluff as well as excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife, wildflowers and many species of birds.
Bluff Trail – 13 km (3.5 hours) loop, moderate
This circular trail can be accessed from a number of locations within the park. It travels partly along a high bluff and partly through a low wetland. Views of Georgian Bay from sections of this trail are spectacular, especially during the late autumn, early spring leaf- free season.
Nipissing Trail – 1 km return (30 minutes) linear, moderate
The Nipissing Bluff is the dominant glacial feature in Awenda. It is a raised beach created 5,500 years ago by glacial Lake Nipissing. Today a 155 step staircase allows hikers to easily descend 32 metres down the face of the bluff, at times providing you with the sensation of being part of the forest canopy.
Brûlé Trail – 4 km return (1.5 hours) linear, easy
This trail passes through a portion of the park’s upland mixed deciduous forest. Lumbering and fires have obliterated the White Pine stands so that the majority of trees are now Sugar Maple and Red Oak. Lumbering on the peninsula was at its peak in the late 1800s. Since then the forest has been allowed to revert to its natural state but the White Pine has been unable to fully re-establish itself.
Robitaille Homestead Trail – 3 km return (1 hour) linear, easy
Hikers follow this trail to an ancient dune system. The age of these sand dunes has been estimated at 11,500 years, from the time of the last glacial retreat. The dunes are a very fragile environment and we ask that you do not climb the hillside, stand on the edge of the bluff or climb down the bluff. This will allow plants to re-establish themselves and will help us preserve this area for future park visitors. On the way to the dunes, this trail passes an abandoned farmstead originally built in 1902. Remains of the stone foundations and fence rows can still be seen.
Wendat Trail – 5 km (2 hours) loop, easy
This trail begins at Kettle’s Lake. This lake is thought to be a kettle lake formed by the gradual melting of a large buried piece of ice left by retreating glaciers. Today, this area is a favoured nesting spot for the Red-winged Blackbird and the Great Blue Heron is often seen in the swamps around the lake. The trail passes the foundations of the Brabant farmstead house and barn. Attempts to farm this area in the 1930s and 40s failed due to the poor, sandy soil.
Several kilometres of park roads are available for cyclists.
Bikes are only allowed on the Beach, Bluff and Brûlé Trails. Since these are multi-use trails, racing is not permitted and cyclists must yield to pedestrians and hikers.
Cyclists are encouraged to respect and protect the often sensitive environments that these trails pass through by riding only on the designated trail surface.
Awenda features several beautiful and natural beaches on the Georgian Bay shoreline within driving distance from the campgrounds. The most protected and sandiest beach area is at Methodist Point Bay (Third Beach). Swimmers are reminded that there are no lifeguards at the beaches.
Awenda has designated a stretch of its scenic Georgian Bay shoreline as a pet beach. Pet Beach (Second Beach) is the only public beach in the park where pets are permitted. At Pet Beach, owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets and keeping them on a leash.
See Park Facilities & Services below for information on PFD rentals.
Awenda’s quiet and scenic Kettle’s Lake is an excellent location for putting in your own canoe or one you rent from the park. This small motorboat free lake is ideally suited for the novice paddler or nature enthusiast.
See Park Facilities & Services below for information on PFD and canoe rentals.
Boating enthusiasts will find plenty of room to investigate Georgian Bay. Due to its size and exposed area, Georgian Bay winds can be unpredictable and quick to rise, so use appropriate caution.
The closest boat launch facilities are in Penetanguishene. Outboard motors are not allowed on Kettle’s Lake.
See Park Facilities & Services below for information on PFD rentals.
The park is not open for camping, but the trails and forests are available as a backcountry-style ski or snowshoe experience.
Cross-country skiing and Snowshoeing
Awenda offers 17 km of trails to explore. Ski trails begin at the Trail and Activity Centre, a rustic wood heated log cabin.
Although the ski trails may be packed and set with a single track, be prepared to occasionally track your own trails due to the backcountry intent of this self-use winter program. For current trail conditions at Awenda and other Ontario Parks check the Ski Report.
Dogs are not permitted on winter trails and visitors must provide their own equipment, rentals are not available.
Located adjacent to the Park Store, the Registration Office is your go to spot for campsite and roofed accommodation registrations, vehicle permits, rentals, and more.
Seasonal Hours of Operation: Daily from 9 am to 9 pm EST
Phone: (705) 549-2231 Ext. 227
Located adjacent to the Registration Office, the Park Store is your most convenient location for basic food staples, ice cream treats, quality souvenirs, field guides, ice, some camping supplies, and a propane cylinder exchange service.
Seasonal Hours of Operation: Daily from 9 am to 9 pm EST
Phone: (705) 549-6378
The park facilities include 333 well-spaced campsites nestled within a mature forest environment.
Awenda has six campground loops: Turtle, Hawk, Bear, Deer, Wolf, and Snake. Each campground loop has a comfort station with accessible showers and flushable toilets. The vault toilets in Wolf and Snake campgrounds, as well as some vault toilets in Bear and Deer are accessible as well.
Barrier-free sites: Site numbers 24 (Turtle), 96 (Hawk), 141 (Bear), 193 (Deer), 215 (Wolf), and 295 (Snake). These sites have a modified picnic table, and easy access to the comfort station and drinking water tap.
Electric sites: Certain sites in Hawk campground (401-409, 77, 96), and all of Wolf campground.
Radio-free sites: Bear, Deer, and Snake campgrounds
Pet-free sites: Snake campground
Playgrounds: All campground loops, except Snake, have playgrounds located near the comfort stations.
Laundromats: Washing machines are located in the comfort stations of Turtle, Hawk, and Bear campgrounds.
See Park Day Use & Overnight Fees below for pricing.
The Stone Cottage at Awenda is located directly on the shores of Georgian Bay providing guests with beautiful sunsets and unobstructed views of Giant’s Tomb, Hope, Beckwith and Christian Islands. This 1,000 square foot refurbished cottage has an exterior constructed of fieldstone and mortar with a warm inviting interior finished entirely in White and Red Pine. The cottage is heated by propane gas fireplaces, and solar panels provide electricity.
Amenities:
Please Note:
See Park Day Use & Overnight Fees below for pricing.
Awenda has free, non-motorized, all-terrain wheelchairs available at the Registration Office upon visit.
Barrier-free Campsites:
Barrier-free Access:
There is a large picnic shelter located at the Trail and Activity Center. It is available for all when not in use for Discovery programs.
Uncovered picnic tables can be found along the Wendat and Beach Trail.
Rental inquiries and payment are made through the Registration Office.
Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs): Visitors can borrow a properly fitted PFD with a $25 refundable deposit.
Canoes: Campers are able to rent canoes, complete with paddles and PFDs, for use on Kettle’s Lake at the fixed rate of $40 for 4 hours and a refundable damage deposit of $500.
Canoe rentals are only available for the months of July and August, and are only available for campers.
Day use vehicle permits can be purchased at the Registration Office during operating season, or online at reservations.ontarioparks.ca. (We no longer offer a Pay and Display Machine).
The following fees include taxes and are per vehicle.
Passenger Vehicles
Commercial Vehicles
Seasonal vehicle permits can be purchased at the Registration Office, or from the Ontario Parks Store website.
The following fees include taxes and are per vehicle.
Passenger Vehicles
Commercial Vehicles
The following fees include taxes, and are per vehicle and per night.
Electrical Sites
Non-Electrical Sites
Additional Vehicles
See Book Your Stay below for reservation information.
The following fees include taxes and are per night.
The Stone Cottage:
Please Note:
See Book Your Stay below for reservation information.
Campsite and roofed accommodation reservations can be made in-person at the Registration Office. All fees include taxes and are per reservation.
In-Park Reservation Fees:
Campsite and roofed accommodation reservations can be made by phone:
Hours of Operation: Open daily from 7 am to 9 pm EST (excluding Christmas Day and New Years Day)
All fees include taxes and are per reservation.
Call Center Reservation Fees:
Campsite and roofed accommodation reservations can be made online through the Ontario Parks Reservations website.
All fees include taxes and are per reservation.
Online Reservation Fees:
An extensive list of local attractions, activities, shopping, events, and experiences can be found on the Heart of Georgian Bay website.
The following information is up to date as of July 28, 2022.
Have any additional questions? Contact Us
