Awenda Provincial Park is a beautiful beachfront park set on a peninsula that juts out over Georgian Bay in Tiny Township, Ontario, Canada. Spread over 7,000 acres of protected forested land on the edge of Georgian Bay and Kettle’s Lake, this Natural Environment Park is home to five scenic beaches including a designated pet-friendly beach. Tucked beneath dense sugar maples and red oaks, there are six shady public campgrounds with approximately 330 campsites for tents, RVs and trailers as well as three group campsites for 20 to 40 people camping together.
The campgrounds within Awenda Provincial Park are family-friendly with some offering electrical hookups and most offering children’s playgrounds. Summer temperatures can reach a high of 77⁰ F (25⁰ C) which makes the park’s beaches incredibly popular for sunbathing on a sunny day. Hang out at the closest First Beach, or walk further up the coast to find four more sandy beaches, one of which is reserved specially for dogs. Campers can also enjoy summer interpretive programs, go canoeing on the lake and explore 19 miles (31 km) of picturesque hiking trails.
The campground is closed for the winter, but 10 miles (17 km) of the park’s hiking trails are groomed for back-country skiing and snowshoeing enthusiasts in the winter months when temperatures drop below freezing. No matter what time of year you visit, you can expect to spot a variety of interesting bird and wildlife. Awenda Provincial Park is home to chipmunks, garden snakes, and deer as well as over 120 species of breeding bird species. Don’t forget your binoculars!
Awenda Provincial Park is located on a peninsula that juts out into Georgian Bay in Tiny Township in Ontario, Canada. The entrance to the park can be found along Awenda Park Road off Concession Road 16E.
The main road into the park is paved with several parts of it near the campground great for cycling. Keep your eyes peeled for any low-hanging branches as you park your big rig. Once you’ve set up your RV camp, you can get around by hiking or biking along the various multi-use trails or launching your boat and exploring from the water.
Parking is available in each of the campgrounds if you are staying overnight, or otherwise at First Beach and at both the northern and southern sides of Kettle's Lake.
Awenda Provincial Park offers three group campsites for tents only, catering for groups from 20 to 40 people. Each site is serviced with a water tap, central fire pit, several picnic tables and vault toilets. These group campsites can be reserved in advance. Park facilities include a central dump station and garbage area, children's playgrounds, picnic areas, and a nature store stocked with the basics, such as milk, eggs, cool drinks, canned food, ice and firewood.
Turtle Campground is one of the southernmost campgrounds and furthest from Kettle’s lake. Facilities include a comfort station with laundry facilities, two vault toilets, a parking area, and water taps within the loop. Park facilities include a central dump station and garbage area, children's playgrounds, picnic areas, and a nature store stocked with the basics, such as milk, eggs, cool drinks, canned food, ice and firewood.
Some of the campsites within Hawk Campground offer electrical hookups. Facilities include a comfort station with laundry facilities, two vault toilets, a parking area, and water taps within the loop. Park facilities include a central dump station and garbage area, children's playgrounds, picnic areas, and a nature store stocked with the basics, such as milk, eggs, cool drinks, canned food, ice and firewood.
Bear Campground is a radio-free campground in Awenda Provincial Park. Facilities include a comfort station with laundry facilities, two vault toilets, a parking area, and water taps within the loop. Park facilities include a central dump station and garbage area, children's playgrounds, picnic areas, and a nature store stocked with the basics, such as milk, eggs, cool drinks, canned food, ice and firewood.
Deer Campground is a radio-free campground in Awenda Provincial Park. Facilities include a comfort station, three vault toilets, a parking area, and water taps within the loop. Park facilities include a central dump station and garbage area, children's playgrounds, picnic areas, and a nature store stocked with the basics, such as milk, eggs, cool drinks, canned food, ice and firewood.
When the campground is closed during the off season, 10 miles (17 km) of Awenda Provincial Park’s many multi-use trails and forests are groomed for back-country skiing and snowshoeing. Trails start at the Trail Center and usually have a single track, but as it’s a self-use winter trail programs many new tracks are often created by back-country skiers. Snowshoeing is popular but there are no designated snowshoe trails in the park. Ski gear and snowshoes rentals are not available at the park so visitors have to bring their own equipment.
Awenda Provincial Park is a fantastic location for birding enthusiasts with more than 120 species of breeding birds. The upland forests of Awenda Provincial Park are a critical habitat haven for the endangered Cerulean Warbler. Take a stroll through the park’s forests, wetlands, shorelines and campgrounds and you’ll find all sorts of fascinating birds and wildlife.
Anglers can enjoy fishing in Georgian Bay and Kettle’s Lake at Awenda Provincial Park, Ontario. Fish such as bass, northern pike, pickerel, and smaller panfish can be found in the waters between Awenda and Giant’s Tomb Island, while bass and panfish can also be found in Kettle’s Lake. Please make sure that you have applied for the relevant fishing licenses beforehand.
All of the campsites within Wolf Campground offer electrical hookups. Facilities include a comfort station, two vault toilets, a parking area, and water taps within the loop. Park facilities include a central dump station and garbage area, children's playgrounds, picnic areas, and a nature store stocked with the basics, such as milk, eggs, cool drinks, canned food, ice and firewood.
Snake Campground is a dog-free and radio-free campground in Awenda Provincial Park. Facilities include a comfort station, two separate toilets, a parking area, and water taps within the loop. Park facilities include a central dump station and garbage area, children's playgrounds, picnic areas, and a nature store stocked with the basics, such as milk, eggs, cool drinks, canned food, ice and firewood.
A parking area is available for motor homes and trailers near First Beach. It isn't clear whether this is always available for camping overnight so do call ahead and check. According to past campers, there are RV sites in the park that can cater for vehicles up to 50 feet in length but be aware that these larger sites have limited maneuverability. Facilities near this parking area include two vault toilets and a picnic area.
Park facilities include a central dump station and garbage area, children's playgrounds, and a nature store stocked with the basics, such as milk, eggs, cool drinks, canned food, ice and firewood.
Georgian Bay is a popular spot for boating enthusiasts. You can rent a boat, pontoon or wave runner here, but be aware that there are many hidden rocks dotted around the islands. The closest boat launch facilities are available at Penetanguishene. No outboard motors are permitted on Kettle’s Lake but you can canoe, paddle and kayak on the peaceful waters. Canoes with paddles and floatation devices (with a refundable deposit) are available for campers to rent at the park campground office during July and August.
With over 19 miles (31 km) of scenic multi-use trails, Awenda Provincial Park is great for enjoying a little outdoor recreation. Stroll along the two-mile (4 km) beach trail that leads to all the beaches along Georgian Bay which can be done in about an hour and a half. Other nature trails include the half-mile (1 km) Beaver Pond Trail, half-mile (1 km) Nipissing Trail, two-mile (4 km) Brule Trail, the two-mile Robitaille Homstead Trail, and the three-mile (5 km) Wendat Trail. For a challenge, there’s the eight-mile (13 km) circular Bluff Trail that leads through a low wetland and offers amazing views of Georgian Bay. Cycling can also be enjoyed along the trails and on the park's paved roads.
With five natural beaches within driving distance of the campgrounds, sunbathing and swimming are the most popular activities at Awenda Provincial Park. First Beach is a pebbled beach that tends to be more crowded because of its close proximity to the parking lot, while Second Beach, Third Beach and Fourth Beach are a bit of a further walk away and offer lovely sandy stretches. Third Beach is the most protected beach with the best sand. The small Pet Beach next to First Beach is dog-friendly and is the only spot in the park where dogs can be let off their leash. As some of the beaches are rocky, aqua shoes are recommended. Please note that there are no lifeguards on duty so swimming at these beaches is at your own risk. Flotation devices are available at the park with a refundable deposit.
