#100 of 101
Wheatley Provincial Park Review
Southwestern Ontario
🗓️ May to October; April for spring bird migration; October for Halloween camping
Known as Ontario's 'deep south' provincial park, Wheatley sits at the same latitude as Northern California along the shores of Lake Erie. Established in 1971 and covering 241 hectares, the park is set within a beautifully wooded Carolinian forest threaded by a tangle of creeks. Campgrounds are nestled among these waterways, offering many coveted creekside sites. The park's southern location means warmer temperatures, a longer growing season, and a rich biodiversity of Carolinian species including tulip trees, hickory, and sassafras. It is a beloved destination for birders, paddlers, and nature lovers seeking an off-the-beaten-path Lake Erie experience.
Carolinian forest with tulip trees and hickory; creekside campsites along Sugar Creek and Boosey Creek; two hiking trails including a Creek Loop trail rated 4.3 stars on AllTrails; sandy Lake Erie beach access; excellent migratory bird corridor in spring and fall; Halloween camping tradition with decorated sites
Point Pelee National Park (20 min), Rondeau Provincial Park, Leamington (tomato capital of Canada), Pelee Island ferry, Chatham-Kent, Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary
"Really enjoyed this clean, quiet park! Good size sites, water available everywhere, 3 full trailer fill and dump sites. The creekside sites are absolutely magical — waking up to the sound of the water is something else."
"Beautiful park and nice large, grassy sites. Definitely bring bikes as the park is quite large. Beach still had shells everywhere which was lovely. The Carolinian forest is stunning — we saw tulip trees for the first time. Point Pelee is a short drive away and worth every minute."
"Ontario's deep south lives up to the name — it was noticeably warmer here than back home. The creek loop trail is gorgeous and the birding is world-class during migration. We spotted over 30 species in a single morning walk. Will definitely return for the Halloween camping event!"