Wheatley Provincial Park

Wheatley Beach is inside of the provincial park and available to campers and day-use visitors. With almost 2-kilometres of parkland running parallel to the beach, there is something for everyone. You'll find open lawn for groups and picnics, washrooms, shelters, and a volleyball court.

This is a great beach for people who want to spend time in the water swimming or paddling. There is canoe/kayak access to both Lake Erie and the park creeks at the furthest end of the road. Bring your own canoe from home or a nearby rental shop. The wide, deep creeks that surround the sites are full of heron and other marsh birds and make for an easy, beautiful paddle. You can end the day with a swim in Lake Erie to cool off.

The beach itself is gravelly, but it changes to sand once you get a few feet into the water. The water can be a bit deep for little kids or non-swimmers but is absolutely perfect for swimming, floating, playing catch, or other water sports activities.

It sits at the bottom of a bluff, which makes the beach feel secluded even when the park is busy. To get down to the water, look for access trails at either end of the parking area. The easiest one to find is all the way at the end of the road near the large picnic shelter and washrooms. The gravel parking lot has wheelchair accessible parking spots with board walks for those who need assistance.

While you are in the park, be sure to keep your eyes - and ears - peeled for birds. Wheatley is one of the southernmost parks in Ontario, near Point Pelee. This is one of the most important migratory bird routes in North America, so you'll find more birds here than many other parks. The air here is filled with the sound of bird-song.