Wheatley Provincial Park is a secluded estuary located in Canada’s Flower City, in the southernmost tip of Ontario. The beautiful park, decorated by creeks all around, occupies 241 hectares (596 acres) of land. There are many small waterways that run and flow through the park, allowing campers to enjoy the view as well as rejoice in the endless opportunities for water-based recreational activities.
The park is frequented by RV campers and those seeking a radio-free campground setting. The park is diverse in its offerings, allowing people to get the authentic raw experience of camping in the wild while letting others stay closer to their urban roots. Also nicknamed as Canada’s deep south provincial park, the Wheatley Provincial Park is at the same latitude as Northern California, and hence the blue and beautiful creeks exude even more charm lined up with Carolinian forest. That’s not the only thing that makes this park a magnet for the outdoor thrill seekers. Under the shaded and sunny canopy of Wheatley Provincial Park live many creatures, and over it fly many birds. Even migratory birds pass through the area to Point Pelee National Park, exciting enthusiastic birdwatchers in the process.
The drive to Wheatley Provincial Park is actually a pleasant one. As you make your way down the road, you’ll see the glorious view of the lake at one side and cute little houses looking over it. The park is located near the Wheatley Community that lies 12 kilometers east of Leamington. From here, one can simply follow the signs that lead to the park entrance.
Boosey Creek campground offers visitors a semi-wilderness camping experience without electricity or any other kind of hook-ups. The 58 non-electrical campsites are scattered in a series of camping loops in the campground. This area is intensely shaded with trees all over and very narrow roads that aren't suitable for larger sized RVs or motorhomes. It’s a campground for those looking for a true experience of camping in the wild. The campground has vault toilets, showers, comfort stations. Water taps for drinking water are also placed along a wooden footbridge that leads to the day-use parking area and the beach front.
This campground is home to 44 electrical sites and 31 non-electrical sites. The area in this campground is different with wider roads and more open areas as compared to the Bossey Creek. Comfort station, drinking water taps, playground, and laundry facilities are all close-by.
This campground has 51 electrical sites and some of them are Creekside. RV campers staying in this area find all sources of comfort such as the vault toilets, comfort stations, the playground and the drinking water taps within walking distance.
The reason why this campground is called Two Creeks is that it is surrounded by creeks on all sides and every RV camper here gets an exclusive Creekside view. There are 35 campsites located in this campground. Amenities include comfort station, vault toilets, water taps, and playground - all of them just a few steps away.
Wheatley Park is really one of the coolest parks since it has a kid's fishing derby arranged every year in the last week of August. This means that even kids can enjoy the thrill of fishing here along with the veterans. Lake Erie is teaming with fish and rewards anglers with some prized catches and thrilling experiences. There are smelt, perch, pickerel, rainbow trout and many other species in the lake. Boat fishing is also provided to those who like to float on the lake waters for a spot of fishing.
With all those creeks and winding pathways, canoeing is a recreational activity made for this park. The tangle of creeks flowing throughout the park allows the campers to launch their canoes from the access area nearest to them. The canoers can paddle for 3.2 km all the way from the Boosey Creek to Sugar Creek. While you do that, don’t forget to take a look around and appreciate the unique flora of the Carolinian forests that stands guard on the edges of the creeks.
Every July and August, the park hosts an excellent discovery program that allows camping enthusiasts the opportunity to explore the park and all the unique plants, animals, and birds that reside within it. The end of the program wins them a Ranger Pledge and a Discovery Ranger Button. The activity is a great way to connect with nature and learn while also having fun.
With such picturesque surroundings, there are bound to be hiking trails, and Wheatley Provincial Park doesn’t disappoint. There are two hiking trails located in the park that hikers can choose from. One of the trails creeps along with the landlocked creek system while the second trail takes hikers through a winding path amidst a mature Carolinian forest of tulip, oak, hickory, chestnut, and Sassafras. The simply mesmerizing fauna and flora that is home to this park make for some truly amazing hiking experiences.
There are no designated biking trails at the park but biking enthusiasts can feel free to use the paved roads that loop around the campgrounds and various park facilities. Cyclists can bike to their heart's content exploring the north shore of Lake Erie or ride along the creek area and campgrounds
Like we mentioned before, this park is loved by birds and is a place where herons and egrets are seen calmly wading in the shallow creeks and where migrating birds are spotted every season. As a matter of fact, Wheatley Provincial Park is located on a very important and crowded migrating route and allows birdwatchers some truly excellent opportunities to catch sight of rare and exotic birds. Fall and spring bring a flight of hawks, warblers, flycatchers, and thrushes.
