As the most populated province in Canada, Ontario is home to many attractions, appealing to both locals and tourists alike. You are likely familiar with the capital city, Toronto, as it offers a diverse and vibrant culture, an amazing food scene, and a wide range of activities. With all this in mind, a common misconception is that people think Ontario is cold and does not have any places for swimming outdoors.
A little-known fact about Ontario is that there are over 100 designated beaches scattered throughout the province, perfect for the average summer weather of 20-30 degrees Celsius. With summer quickly approaching, it is a good idea to become acquainted with these beaches so that you can include them in your next trip.
Best Beaches for Swimming
Wasaga Beach
Wasaga Beach is a town located in Simcoe County, Ontario. Here, you can find the world’s longest freshwater beach, stretching for 14 kilometres along the southern shore of Georgian Bay. These are divided into several smaller beaches, with the main one found right in the center of town.
The water at this beach very consistently passes quality tests, indicating that it is safe for swimming. The beach is also quite shallow at the shore, which contributes to its relatively warm temperature. With shallow water, the sun has fewer barriers and provides more heat than with deeper water. In addition to this, the beach is sheltered from strong winds due to its location on Georgian Bay, making it overall warmer.
In the summer, visitors to Wasaga enjoy activities such as swimming, sunbathing, boating, paddle boating, and fishing. Due to the warm temperatures and shallow water, this beach is typically a family favourite.
Sandbanks Provincial Park (Outlet Beach)
Outlet Beach is a beautiful beach showcasing soft white sand and clear blue water. It can be found within Sandbanks Provincial Park. This park is in the popular tourist destination of Prince Edward County, well-known for its wineries and historic sites.
Outlet Beach is situated on the shores of Lake Ontario and is the largest and most popular beach in the park, spanning over 3 km in length. It offers plenty of space for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing with family and friends.
The park does tend to get busy in the summer months, but the range of recreational activities, such as hiking, cycling, bird watching, fishing, and camping make it worth a visit. The park is home to over 500 campsites, so you can choose to stay overnight if you wish.
In addition to its natural beauty and recreational opportunities, Sandbanks Provincial Park is also known for its rich history. The park has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years and has been the site of numerous archaeological discoveries. Today, the park offers visitors a chance to learn about the history and culture of the region through various interpretive programs and exhibits.
Grand Bend Beach
Grand Bend Beach is a popular destination located in the town of Grand Bend in southwestern Ontario. The beach is situated on the shores of Lake Huron and is another location that offers soft, white sand and crystal-clear water.
Grand Bend Beach is approximately one kilometre long and is backed by sand dunes and grassy areas that provide a natural habitat for a variety of wildlife. The beach offers plenty of space for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying water sports like kiteboarding and paddleboarding. There are also volleyball nets and picnic areas available for use.
Aside from the beach, Grand Bend is a vibrant town that offers visitors a range of recreational activities, such as hiking, cycling, and golfing. The town has a lively arts and culture scene with many galleries, studios, and festivals that celebrate the creative talent of the region.
Grand Bend Beach is also known for its sunsets, which are some of the most beautiful in Ontario. Visitors can often be found gathered on the beach in the evenings to watch the sun dip below the horizon.
Sauble Beach
Although not the winner for being the longest freshwater beach in the world, Sauble comes close at 11 km in length. A personal favourite of my own, Sauble Beach welcomes family, couples, individuals, and groups of friends, as there is always plenty to do. I love this beach because my friends and I used to pack a picnic lunch, grab our swimsuits and frisbee, and then spend the day outdoors. Days spent at Sauble Beach remain some of the best memories of my childhood and young adult years, and I look forward to the day when I can bring my own children here!
The beach is backed by sand dunes, which provide a natural habitat for a variety of plant species. The dunes also offer visitors a unique landscape to explore and are home to several hiking trails. In addition to this, visitors have the chance to spot wildlife, including shorebirds, monarch butterflies, and turtles.
If you are looking for more sightseeing opportunities, the Bruce Peninsula is home to many beautiful waterfalls, including Inglis Falls and Jones Falls, which are just a short drive from Sauble Beach.
The town of Sauble Beach is located near many other attractions on the Bruce Peninsula, such as Bruce Peninsula National Park, which offers hiking trails, campgrounds, and stunning views of Georgian Bay, and Fathom Five National Marine Park, which is home to many shipwrecks and underwater wonders.
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Kincardine Beach
Kincardine Beach is a picturesque destination located on the eastern shore of Lake Huron in the town of Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. The beach is a long and wide shoreline that spans over 1.6 kilometres and is known for its soft, golden sand and beautiful blue water.
Kincardine Beach is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports such as windsurfing, paddleboarding, and kiteboarding. The beach is also patrolled by lifeguards during the summer months to ensure visitors’ safety.
Kincardine Beach is also known for its lighthouse, which is one of the town’s most iconic landmarks. Visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse for a panoramic view of Lake Huron and the surrounding area. The beach is also located near many other attractions, such as the Kincardine Arts Centre, the Kincardine Museum, and the Bruce Nuclear Visitors’ Centre. Another feature of this beach (if you enjoy bagpipes) is the evening bagpiper. Every evening during the summer months, a Scottish bagpiper dressed in traditional Highland dress marches down the beach at sunset, playing the bagpipes as part of a longstanding Kincardine tradition.
In another nod to Scottish heritage, Kincardine Beach hosts the Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games each summer, which is a celebration of Scottish culture that features music, dancing, and traditional Scottish games such as caber toss and hammer throw.
Long Point Beach
Long Point Beach is a stunning destination located on the north shore of Lake Erie in southern Ontario, Canada. The beach stretches for over 2 kilometres and is shallow near the shore, making it safe for swimming. The beach is groomed regularly during the summer months to ensure that the sand is clean and free of debris.
The beach is part of the Long Point Provincial Park, which is a designated UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve due to its unique ecology and biodiversity. Long Point Beach and the surrounding area are known for their natural beauty. The beach is part of a sand spit that extends 40 kilometres into Lake Erie and is home to many rare and endangered plant and animal species.
One of the main attractions of Long Point Beach is the Long Point Bird Observatory, which is located nearby. The observatory is a research and education center dedicated to the study of bird migration and conservation. Visitors can take a guided birdwatching tour or participate in other educational programs to learn more about the importance of protecting the area’s unique ecosystem.
The Long Point area is also known for its rich cultural history, with evidence of Indigenous occupation dating back thousands of years. Visitors can explore the Long Point Eco-Adventures zipline and aerial park or take a guided tour of the area to learn more about its history and ecology.
Singing Sands Beach
Singing Sands Beach is a beautiful and unique destination located in the Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario, Canada. The beach is known for its soft, white sand that makes a distinct “singing” or squeaking sound when walked upon, giving the beach its name. This occurs because of a unique phenomenon called “bimodal grain size distribution.” This means that the sand at the beach contains two different grain sizes, coarse sand, and fine sand. When pressure is applied to the sand by walking on it, the grains of sand rub against each other and create friction that causes the squeaking sound.
The beach stretches over 2 kilometres and is surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise water. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing on the beach while taking in the stunning natural scenery of the park.
One of the most popular attractions in the Bruce Peninsula National Park is the Grotto, a stunning cave formation that is accessible by a short hike from the beach. The Grotto features a clear pool of water and is a popular spot for swimming and cliff jumping.
Visitors can also explore the park’s many hiking trails, including the Bruce Trail, which offers stunning views of the Niagara Escarpment and Georgian Bay.
Port Dover Beach
If you are around Lake Erie, you might want to stop to check out Port Dover Beach, located in the town of Port Dover. This beach features golden sand that is relatively compact and firm, which makes it easy to walk and play on. It’s also great for building sandcastles and other beach structures. During the summer months, the beach is groomed regularly to ensure that the sand is clean and free of debris.
The water at Port Dover Beach is generally clear and calm, which makes it a popular destination for swimming and water sports. The beach is also known for its gentle slope, which means that the water is shallow near the shore and gradually gets deeper, making it ideal for families with children. Travellers often have only good things to say about the beach, with many reviews mentioning the breathtaking sunsets and lookout locations. Other travellers appreciate the proximity of the beach to casual restaurants such as fast food and pizza shops, making it simple to grab a quick dinner after a day at the beach.
One of the most popular attractions in Port Dover is the Port Dover Harbour Museum, which features exhibits on the town’s maritime history and the Great Lakes shipping industry. Visitors can also take a stroll along the Port Dover Harbour Marina to see the many boats and yachts that dock there.
The town also hosts several events and festivals throughout the year, such as the Port Dover Summer Festival and the Port Dover Friday the 13th Motorcycle Rally, which draw visitors from around the region.
Wrapping Up
When it comes to choosing a beach destination in Ontario this summer, you certainly have plenty of options! All the beaches listed above are generally safe to swim in but be sure to check the weather and environmental conditions beforehand. This may also depend on if lifeguards will be present that day or not.
