Length of stay: 2 days
Visited: February 2024
Pinery Provincial Park is located on the shore of Lake Huron. It protects a rare Oak Savanna and one of the longest freshwater coastal dune ecosystems in Ontario. With its beautiful sandy beach, it’s a popular spot to visit in the summer. The park also offers a variety of activities in the winter, including trails for hiking or cross-country skiing.
Day 1: The Beach
It’s been a dark and dreary winter in southern Ontario with not much sunshine or snow. It’s also been unseasonably warm. It’s been great for walking around the neighborhood, but not so much the trails because of the mud. So to make the most of a recent snowfall, we decided to head to Pinery for some easy winter hiking with the newest member of our family.
We arrived at the park in the early afternoon. It was overcast and the temperature was just below freezing. After flashing our park pass at the entrance, we headed for the visitor centre, which is open on weekends during the winter. There are a few indoor exhibits about the history of the park and the types of wildlife found in the area. But more importantly there are heated restrooms inside. The visitor centre also marks the start to one of two trails that are maintained during the winter. There was a light layer of snow covering the ground so we strapped on our microspikes.
The Cedar Trail (2.3km loop, rated easy) weaves through one of the rarest habitats of Oak Savanna in North America. The path is wide and relatively flat. It’s also signed with ten numbered posts to help with navigation.
Mid-way through there’s a turnoff for the Cedar Trail Extension (1km one-way) which leads to the sandy shore of Lake Huron. The trail continues to weave through the forest and contains a few wooden boardwalks and staircases.
After crossing the road, there’s one last long boardwalk through the sand dunes before reaching the beach. It was quite blustery outside and the shoreline looked icy, so we just admired the views from the viewing platform above the stairs.
We turned around and walked back the way we came to the Cedar Trail to complete the rest of the loop. There’s one other detour to a viewing platform of the river.
Once we wrapped up our hike we headed into Grand Bend to check into our hotel for the night. The weather forecast for tomorrow was looking more promising with clear skies, so we figured we’d save the rest of the trails for then. We also didn’t want to press our luck with baby M who remained oh so patient and asleep for the entire time she was in the baby carrier.
Day 2: The Sun
The weather forecast turned out to be accurate as we woke up to blue skies and sunshine. After eating breakfast, we drove through Grand Bend. Many of the main shops and restaurants were closed for the season. But the main attraction, the beach, was still open. Much of the shoreline was covered in ice.
After driving through a few of the neighbourhoods we returned to Pinery for some more winter hiking. We started with the Heritage Trail (2.5km loop, rated easy), which is located just past the visitor centre. The trail meanders through a rare Oak Savanna habitat and leads to a viewing platform that overlooks the Old Ausable Channel.
We then hiked the Pines Trail (0.8km loop, rated easy). This trail isn’t technically maintained in the winter, but since there wasn’t much snow, we were able to park behind the park office and walk a few hundred metres along the closed road to reach the trail head. There were other footprints in the snow to guide us in the right direction.
The trail loops through a dense forest of red pines, which is quite different compared to the Oak Savanna found throughout most of the park. A forest fire swept through the area in the late 1800s, which changed the composition of this part of the forest.
There are a few other trails in Pinery, but they would require a much longer walk to get to since most of the road was closed in the winter. And we weren’t really up for the challenge. So we ended on a high note and got ready to head home. Overall it was a successful first hike and overnight stay with our little one.
L
Congratulations on your baby girl, guys! I like that park, it would be easy to walk, and Lake Huron looks beautiful. I’ve boated on the Michigan side years ago. Happy weekend! 🇨🇦❤️
Thanks!! You’re absolutely right about how the trails in Pinery are easy to walk. That’s one of the main reasons why we went there. We figured we’d take things nice and slow for her first hike. And because I had to lug her around in the baby carrier, which added an extra 10lbs+ to my front. It felt like I was pregnant again! Enjoy your weekend as well. We’re currently busy with yard work and getting the garden started.
Enjoy being home! 🤙🏻☺️
Thanks! It’s always nice to sleep in your own bed again.
There aren’t that many parks maintained in Ontario during the winter, which is a real shame on a fine day like this. But it’s true that even without maintenance, it’s possible to find places to walk. Nice outing.
Oh I know. And the parks that are maintained in the winter are all very busy. It seems like a missed opportunity. This winter was quite mild so we didn’t have to worry about trail maintenance too much, just the mud!
Getting her started hinig early 😊 Your cheeks look pretty rosy on the first windy day.
You know it!! Might as well get her used to a life of adventure and being outdoors. And so far so good!
Wow! Such a beautiful place, love the beach! It looks very quiet and relaxing.
Weel a little cold but nice, your photos are amazing and both looks like a lovely couple.
Keeps happy, wealthy and well Linda. Thank’s for share it.
Do you want a cup of hot chocolate with cookies?
Take care, Elvira.
Thanks for your lovely comment. I’m such a fan of the beach, even if it’s in the winter. It was neat to see all the frozen ice formations along the shore. The only thing missing was a cup of hot chocolate! Great suggestion. And same with the cookies!! Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Linda
Always a pleasure visit your blog Linda thanks for share. I can imagine those frozen ice formations looks awesome. Well next time you will enjoy your cup of chocolate and cookies. Have a lovely relaxing evening too! Elvira
You are too kind. I’m actually sipping a cup of hot chocolate now and it’s hitting the spot. Yum!
Thank’s Linda for your comment.
That’s wonderful, please enjoy another and cheers. Keep well.
So extraordinary winter 🥶 photos from Pinery Provincial Park with dear you couple so gorgeous 🌷🙏👍🏻
So legend trees , sea stones specially make the patten very attractive to view and shine of explanations 👏
Yours winter hiking boots most valuable ✌🏼💕Happy weekend wishes my dear friend 👏✍️❤️💐
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. We have walked a lot of miles in our winter hiking boots and they’ve served us well over the years. Despite the cold, I don’t mind hiking in the winter as the trails are typically much quieter. Hope you had a wonderful weekend as well. Linda
Thank you so much for so lovely return comment message and most welcome 🙏 my dear friend ❤️💐 stay Blessed 🖖🌷
Yay for a successful first hike with little M!
Thanks! We figured we might as well go for it! Pinery seemed like the perfect spot since the trails are all short and sweet. And it’s by the water. I was pleasantly surprised at how well she handled being in her baby carrier.
Congrats on this first family hike! I’ve heard a lot about Pinery Provincial Park, but I didn’t know it could be enjoyed in winter too!
Thanks! I’m glad it went well as we’ve been able to go on a few hikes since then. Pinery is one of the few parks that remains open in the winter and offers snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals. It also has a few yurts and cabins, but we figured that was a bit too soon with the baby (plus they are super tough to reserve, even during the winter).
Beautiful hikes and photos, particularly the family photo with your newest addition; congratulations! We took our daughter hiking when she was just a youngster too; and she’s still hiking 32 years later.
Thanks!! We figured we might as well get her used to a life of adventure while she’s young! Glad to hear you did the same. And that your daughter still enjoys hiking!!
Baby M will grow up to be a great lover of the outdoors! Such a great late winter
To finish my comment which mysteriously decided to publish itself!
Such a great late winter outing and you got some good weather, too. Lovely family photo, Linda. 😊
WP can be so silly sometimes! Pinery was a perfect first family outing as the trails are all easy. We’re hoping she’ll love the outdoors as much as us. And so far so good. She actually really enjoys being in her baby carrier. We’ll have to upgrade to one of those backpack carriers soon though as she’s getting heavy!
After reading this I couldn’t help but think of how Canadian babies are exposed to the cold, icy air since early age, just like how Indonesian babies are exposed to the tropical heat and humidity. It looks like you did a reasonably good hiking given that now there are three of you.
I’m a firm believer that fresh air is good for you. I know it’s quite common in Norway and Sweden to leave babies outside to nap in the winter (when they’re all bundled up of course) as the cold is thought to help them sleep longer and strengthen their immune system. I’m happy to say that baby M is around five and a half months old now and has yet to be sick! Hopefully it stays that way!
Wow looks absolutely beautiful, the photos are stunning.
Thanks for your kind words. Even though it’s cold, I actually don’t mind hiking in the snow as the forest looks so magical. And it’s nice and quiet.
Nice looking trail. Must have been cold near the ocean when you were there.
It wasn’t too bad when we were hiking through the forest, but it was a bit blustery down by the water. Either way, it was still nice to get some fresh air!
So glad you are getting Baby M out in the forest, Linda. An appreciation of hiking and nature is a good thing to impart. We were lucky to do this with grandbaby F in Vancouver in April and they were in wonder as they touched the tree trunks and new leaves. You hikes in this park look wonderful for winter. Blustery or not, those lake views are well worth it. Happy Sunday. Allan
We figured we might as well get baby M used to a life of hiking and enjoying the outdoors as early as possible. In many ways it was nice that we had a mild winter in southern Ontario as it meant I could take her for a stroll around the block nearly every day. It’s so much better being in the forest though. Glad you got to do the same with the grandbaby when all the flowers were starting to bloom. Hope you enjoyed the long weekend. Linda
I’m glad you had a positive first winter hike with the wee one. I am amazed that you had to flash your park pass in the winter. Here, you can go into provincial in the winter without a pass. Of course, at -35, not many out there! Love the shot on the beach.
There’s a few provincial parks, like Pinery, that are maintained in the winter. These typically still charge an entrance fee. Some of them even require a day use pass that’s reserved in advance in an effort to prevent overcrowding. Goes to show that there’s a huge demand for winter hiking or other winter activities. Yah, I don’t think many people would be out hiking when it’s -35C! That’s a bit too cold, even for us!
When one has a dog one becomes adjusted to walking no matter the weather. About the only time she is keen to come home is if it’s a blizzard like we had this spring. Bernie
Good point! One of the reasons why we’ll never get a dog (but largely because we like to travel and like cats)!
Dogs are indeed part of a lifestyle, and unfortunately, people don’t always recognize that before they buy one. Ps we have garage 2 cats as well but they don’t require us to stay home!
And you can’t really do take backs once you get a pet. Cats are so much lower maintenance than dogs.
Our son and daughter in law have a rescue dog. He was taken to the kennel for the weekend and left. They obviously paid and gave false info. They apparently thought he was a beagle. He is an English foxhound. Vastly different. Yep it’s a commitment.
It’s sad to hear how people just abandon their pets. It sounds like this dog is in a much better home now!
I can feel the blistering February wintry cold from those photos! 😆 I love that you two with baby M ventured out. She’s going to a hiker in no time.
Pinery is a beautiful park. I remember camping there and remarking how beautiful the beach is in the summertime.
We didn’t have too many cold days this winter, so I can’t complain too much. It wasn’t too bad when we were hiking in the forest, but it was a bit blustery out when we were down by the water. Baby M didn’t seem to mind too much as she was fast asleep! She quite enjoys being in her baby carrier. We’re going to have to upgrade to one of those baby carrier backpacks soon though as she’s getting heavy!
Yes you this snow in the Park Ontario. Your baby is in the carrier. Nice outing. Anita
It was a wonderful outing with our little one. I’m glad she didn’t mind being out in the cold. If anything, she seemed to enjoy it as she was fast asleep.
Congratulations to your newest family member for doing so well on the first hike!
Thanks!! She did very well on her first hike. She was also really good with her first overnight stay in a hotel too. I think she’ll do just fine fitting in with our lifestyle of adventure and enjoying the outdoors!
I was looking forward to reading about your first hike with your baby – and was glad to see it went so well (even in cold snowy weather – brave parents)! Baby M is definitely going to be an avid hiker … may this be the first of many-many hikes with her.
Thanks! We figured we might as well get right to it. Besides, she’s only going to get heavier!
It was nice to get a change of scenery and some fresh air. I’m glad to say we’ve been able to do some more hiking with her since this trip.
Congrats on Baby M, Linda! M if off to a great start. Such a lucky child to be growing up in an adventurous family! 🙂
Thanks so much! So far baby M has proven to be a wonderful travel companion and has been enjoying spending time outdoors.
A great first vacation and hike with sweet Baby M! I’m sure it felt great to get out of the house too and have a change of scenery in the long, dark winter. So exciting to think of all the hikes ahead for your family 🙂
This seemed like a great place to go for our first hike as the trails are all short and flat. You’re absolutely right, it felt amazing to leave the house, which I was starting to refer to as my prison. I think we all needed it!
So nice to read baby M was ‘relaxed’ during her first hike. These stories of yours are going to so fun to read when baby M is all grown up… 💕
She quite enjoys being in her baby carrier (more than the stroller) as she gets to snuggle in real close to me. She’s becoming a bit heavier to hike with though so we’ll need to upgrade to one of those baby carrier backpacks soon!
It looks beautiful in the snow, and even more perfect as the first overnight stay as a three – lovely 🙂
There’s always something to magical about hiking in the snow. And the trails are typically quiet. We weren’t sure how this trip was going to go, which is why we only stayed for the one night. But I was pleasantly surprised with how it worked out. She’s a natural when it comes to travelling!
yay for baby’s first of many adventures 🙂 So glad it all went so well. I really love wintery hikes and that cool air and beautiful views
Me too!! I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous for our first overnight stay in a hotel. But I figured the worst case scenario was that we could just drive home if she wasn’t feeling it. I was pleasantly surprised at how she handled things. I guess the cold fresh air was good for us all!
It’s hard at first to adjust to traveling with a baby and trying to anticipate what is needed, but it just gets better and better with every adventure 🙂
That’s very true. Then there’s the amount of extra stuff you need to pack when travelling with a baby! We definitely learned a lot from this overnight visit and have since worked our way up to some longer trips. Glad to hear it gets a bit easier!
How lovely that you took your little girl all wrapped up warm and snug on a winter hiking trip. Mud is the worst and we’ve had more than our fair share of it this winter with all the heavy rain. Thankfully for you the ground was firm and the sun shone beautifully on your second day too. The first of many family adventures!
Even though we have proper hiking boots, I just hate hiking in the mud. I much prefer when it’s a bit cooler and the ground is frozen. The snow was just an added bonus. I’m glad it was a successful outing. We have since gone on a few more trips with baby M.
Awwww, baby M’s first hike!! Love it!! Also, the ice patterns on the beach are so cool!
There was some initial resistance when we first put her in the baby carrier, but once I started moving, she pretty much slept the entire time. The ice formations along the shore were pretty neat. They looked like ice pancakes.
It looks like a great place to explore. I am not sure to see frozen sea. It is nice 🙂.
Our baby will love exploring with you.
That would be nice! Hopefully our babies will enjoy hiking as much as us! I’m a firm believer that getting some fresh air is good for you. Plus it’s just nice to get a change of scenery.
Congratulations! How fun to be out on your first hike with Baby M. I hope it all went well. Before you know it, she’ll be walking right alongside you both. The photos were beautiful.
Thanks!! It felt really nice to be back out on the trails a few months after giving birth. Baby M pretty much slept the entire time she was in the baby carrier. We have since been able to do a bit more hiking and travelling and she seems to really enjoy being outside. I think she’ll fit in just fine with us!!
I have a 4-year-old grandson who, every time he sees me asks me to go hiking. I love it. 🙂
Awww. That’s very cute!!
Wow, what a beautiful place to explore with the newest member of your family. There’s just something alluring about winter’s shadows – I find that stillness allows time for quiet reflection and tranquil moments of peace. I hope that Baby M very much enjoyed the fresh snow and being on the trail. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
I’ve come to really enjoy hiking in the winter. The forest is always so peaceful and quiet. And there aren’t many people around. Baby M did very well on the trails and pretty much slept the entire time she was in the baby carrier. The fresh cold air was good for us all! Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Linda
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I needed to look up ‘hinig’ via Google and found it means ‘honey’ in German. That can’t be right (he thinks), but not being Canadian, who knows. But I like the idea of hiking in an off season way, it seems so perfect photographing snow and ice on a beach. It somehow makes me think of Robert Frost poems. Thanks for sharing.
Ah, it could be that I had some typos in my post as I had no idea what “hining” means either! Thanks for pointing that out. Hiking in the offseason is the way to go. The trails are typically quieter and there are no pesky bugs. And I’d much rather deal with some snow or ice than the mud or puddles. Thanks for reading. Linda
Wow this looks so fun!
I’ve come to enjoy hiking in the winter. The forest looks so magical with all the snow and everything feels so quiet. It’s also neat to see all the interesting ice formations by the water. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Linda
So glad to hear that baby’s first adventure was a success, I can imagine such a project would have initially caused you a bit of anxiety. I’m sure in years to come Pinery Provincial Park will be a place you can look back on and say this is where a long history of adventuring together started. I love all the wintry vistas you were treated to, especially once the sun came out and brightened everything up.
Oh my gosh, me too! We figured the worst case scenario was that we’d just drive back home if the baby wasn’t feeling it. Thankfully it never came to that. This was the first of a series of smaller trips to work up to something bigger. I hope I don’t jinx things, but so far M has been a wonderful traveller.
It’s kind of nice as I already have a long history with this park as I used to go camping here every summer with my sisters. Now it’s even more special is this is where M went for her first hike.
Yay, glad to hear your first outing with baby M went well! Although it looks like it could be hard going on the icy beach and snowy steps.
I was pleasantly surprised (and very relieved) at how well she handled being in her baby carrier and staying the night in a hotel. It was a short trip, but it was a good way to figure out what to pack and how to schedule our activities around when baby M nurses and naps. I’m glad we brought our microspikes, which added a lot of stability on the snow and ice.
I feel like we passed by this ! Matt and I will have to check this out the next time we come! Im happy little m slept well for you both. Your photos are beautiful! I love seeing frozen bodies of water. They’re so mystical looking
Hi Linda and Family:
We are off on a five week road trip tomorrow and am looking forward to hearing from you concerning the destinations we visit. Stay well..
Safe travels! I saw your itinerary on your last post and am curious to see some of the places on your list. I’m always looking for great ideas for a road trip!