Length of stay: 4 days
Visited: April 2024
Point Pelee National Park is the southernmost point of the Canadian mainland. Its name in French means bald point, which it gets for its long sand spit on Lake Erie where no vegetation grows, giving it a bald appearance. It’s located in Canada’s Carolinian zone and is an important spot for migrating birds to rest and refuel before continuing their journey. Besides being one of the best places in the province to bird watch, the park also contains more than 12km of trails that wind through the different habitats in the park, including marshes, forest and sandy beaches.
Day 1: Signs of Spring
Regular readers will know that we’ve visited Point Pelee a lot over the past few years. We typically come during the off-season to avoid the crowds, but more importantly, the bugs. We visited late last fall to enjoy the last of the fall colours. So this year we decided to return in the early spring.
It was overcast and lightly raining when we left home. We drove through the worst of the weather as by the time we arrived in Point Pelee, the clouds were starting to clear. We checked in at Camp Henry, the single campground in the park. It contains 24 oTENTiks, a permanent shelter that’s a mix between a cabin and a canvas tent. They are heated, have electricity and come fully furnished with beds and a seating area. They also have dishes and cooking equipment, along with a BBQ outside to use.
All the sites are walk-in only. After picking up the keys to our oTENTik, we loaded our gear and the baby into a couple of the wagons that are provided by the park, and headed off to find our site. We unpacked and settled in as this would be our home for the next few days.
After eating a late lunch we were eager to stretch our legs and go for a hike. We opted for the Woodland Nature Trail (2.75km loop, rated easy) as we can walk to the trailhead from the campground. The trail starts by the Visitor Centre, which is a few hundred metres from Camp Henry. The path winds through the forest along a wide path and crosses a few boardwalks and bridges over several swampy areas. It’s marked with 20 numbered posts.
Even though it was early April, it was quite mild outside. We could already see signs of spring emerging in the forest. And the songbirds were in their element.
Once we wrapped up our hike, we returned to our site to get started on dinner. One of the nice things about visiting in the spring was just how long the days are. The sun didn’t set until after 8pm.
Day 2: A Spring in our Step
We’ve been to Point Pelee so often that we’ve hiked all the trails in the park multiple times. So to shake things up, after eating breakfast, we decided to check out the nearby Hillman Marsh Conservation Area. By the time we returned from our excursion, it was lunch o’clock.
We headed out later in the afternoon to do some more hiking. It was quite blustery outside, so we kept to the forest for some protection from the wind. We started with the DeLaurier Homestead and Trail (1km loop, rated easy). The trail first passes a historic house that once belonged to one of the early settlers in Point Pelee, along with some old farming equipment.
The trail then winds through the forest. Along the way there were a few interpretive signs to explain how the area has changed over time. The land was initially used for agriculture before it became a popular spot for cottagers. Parks Canada then stepped in, established Point Pelee as a national park and started purchasing private properties. Over the years they restored the diversity of the ecosystem. This included removing roads and cottages, planting native plants and removing invasive plant species.
When farming stopped in the late 1960s, Parks Canada began filling in some of the canals that were used for irrigation or to create barriers between the marsh and farmland. Some of the canals still remain and can be seen along the trail.
Once we looped back to the parking lot, we returned to the campground. From there we could walk to the trailhead for the Tilden Woods Trail (1km loop). The trail weaves through a mature swamp forest and cedar Savannah, passing a few interpretive panels along that way that provide more information on why the park was created and how the habitat was restored. There’s also a short detour along the Shuster Trail (500m) to get to East Barrier Beach.
Once we completed the loop, we took the connector path back to the campground. It was time to get dinner started. We popped out later in the evening to watch the sunset at West Beach, which is located across the road from the campground. There’s always something so magical about watching the sunset over the water.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, we headed back to our oTENTik.
Day 3: To the Tip
Now that it was the weekend, the campground was noticeably busier. After eating breakfast we got right to it in the hopes of having some quiet time on the trails. We headed towards the tip of the peninsula, which is the southernmost point of mainland Canada. The main road through the park ends at the tip outdoor exhibit, but it’s closed to private vehicles from April to October. Instead we could either take the free shuttle from the Visitor Centre or walk a couple of kilometres to get there. It was a beautiful day and we opted to get our steps.
The outdoor exhibit provides more information about Point Pelee and how it’s an important area for migrating birds. In the spring the tip of the peninsula is the first significant landfall for many songbirds flying over Lake Erie at the end of a long journey from the south. Most stop here to rest and refuel before flying further north.
From there we found the trailhead for the Tip Trail (1km loop, rated easy). The wide gravel path follows the shoreline to the beach where the tip of the peninsula is located.
For a change of scenery we took the West Beach Footpath on the way back. The narrow path follows the shoreline and provides more glimpses of the water. We weren’t sure where the trail officially ends, but we took a short connector path back to the road to return to the Visitor Centre. We then followed part of the Woodland Nature Trail to return to the campground.
After eating some lunch, we headed back out later in the afternoon to enjoy the sunshine. We hit up the Marsh Boardwalk (1km loop, rated easy). The trail follows a boardwalk through a marsh and contains an observation tower that provides a bird’s-eye view of the area.
We still had some energy (and the baby needed to sleep more), so we went on another hike. We landed on the DeLaurier Homestead and Trail (1km loop, rated easy) since it’s located nearby. Even though we hiked this yesterday, we didn’t mind the repeat as it’s a fantastic trail. And this time the sun was out.
We headed back to our campsite to give baby M a break from her baby carrier and to get dinner ready to cook on the BBQ. Later in the evening I headed over to West Beach to catch the end of the sunset.
Day 4: One Last Hike
It was another beautiful day when we woke up. We took our time getting ready. After eating breakfast we went on one last hike along the Woodland Nature Trail (2.75km loop, rated easy), which can be accessed close to the campground. We hiked this trail on our first day when it was overcast and gloomy. It’s amazing how different the forest can look with a bit of sunshine and blue skies.
We returned to our campsite to clean and pack up. While we don’t have plans to camp in a tent with baby M any time soon, staying in an oTENTik was a nice compromise.
L
I crave for this solitary walking:)
Isn’t it the best!? It’s one of the reasons why we like to travel and hike during the shoulder seasons.
Indeed!
Some beautiful sunsets.
There’s always something so special about watching the sunset over the water.
All of the hikes look so inviting and beautiful; particularly the Marsh Boardwalk. Soon baby will be toddling along rather than being carried; they grow so fast!
Even though it’s short, the Marsh Boardwalk is my favourite trail in the park. That being said, I wouldn’t want to hike it later in the spring as I’m sure it becomes a blood bath with all the mosquitoes!!
In some ways it’s probably easier to travel with a baby when they are younger because they sleep a lot more. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like once she starts moving. She’s just starting to roll, so I guess we’ll find out soon enough!
Every day is an adventure with kids.
Oh absolutely. It’s the greatest adventure of all!
Yes, yes, beautiful park, etc. But baby M is absolutely adorable ❤️
That she is! Oh gosh, it’s crazy how much she’s grown since we visited Point Pelee.
Cherish her!
With an adorable face like that, it would be hard not to! She’s the best!
❤️
So beautiful! I love the photos you guys took, it’s nice to see that spit of sand again. I haven’t seen it since the 80s as I mentioned in another one of your posts. I’m glad that Parks Canada bought up properties and got rid of the roads too, this is a very delicate area for wildlife. Baby M is so adorable, hi baby! 🙏🏻☺️🇨🇦
Thanks!! It’s fantastic that this area around Point Pelee has been restored back to its natural habitat. It’s such an important spot for migrating birds. It’s also supposed to be a great spot to see the migrating monarch butterflies – something we hope to see someday. I’m glad we were able to share this experience with baby M. She’s been loving the outdoors!
Thanks for sharing! The camping arrangements sound cool.
The oTENTiks are a very convenient and comfortable way to camp, even during the offseason. Most national parks in Canada have them, which is a nice alternative to sleeping in a tent. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Linda
I learn something new each time I read about your park visits and hikes. Who takes the photographs?
Thanks!! My camera is practically glued in my hand while hiking (or travelling), except when I ask to have my picture taken every so often.
Wonderful! You take excellent photographs!
You are too kind. When the scenery is that beautiful, It’s hard to take a bad picture!
What a great get-away with baby. I love that you are introducing her to your hiking ventures at a young age. She looks quite at home.
It helped that we’ve been to this park before and knew what to expect in terms of the trails. We really lucked out with the weather considering it was in the beginning of April. Baby M did really well on her first “camping” trip and seemed to enjoy being outside. She mainly slept, but I’ll count that as a win!
A very good compromise indeed. You caught some gorgeous spring weather which made a beautiful place even more special.
Oh I know. The weather in early April can be a bit sketchy. I’m glad we lucked out as it was not only warm, but also dry.
I agree that going in spring or autumn when you can escape the bugs is best, especially if you have a little one along. I love returning to favourite places. Always such a joy. Baby M is beautiful Linda! She was perhaps looking a little unsure about that mode of transportation, though. 😉 Your photos are stunning but especially those of the sunsets! Beautiful.
Oh absolutely. I am very popular with the mosquitoes. And I don’t want to find out anytime soon how babies respond to bug bites. Ha, baby M sure is a cutie. She much prefers to be in her little baby carrier so she can be close to her mama. That’s her favourite way to nap … which is becoming a bit problematic now that she’s getting heavier!
What a great outing for you guys and good compromise! I can’t get over those sunsets and I love the boardwalk pictures too. Glad you had some sun, it really makes a difference! Baby M sure is precious 🙂
Thanks! We really lucked out with the weather as I don’t think hiking in the rain with a baby would be very fun! Baby M seemed to enjoy herself while we were hiking as she mostly slept. Oh what a life.
At the tip there’s a sense of end of the world. I’ve also been to Pelee Island, where it’s best to tour by bike, which can be rented on site.
We’ve never been to Pelee Island, but I’ve heard there’s some great wineries there. Good to know that it’s best explored by bike. Something to keep in mind for the next time we’re at Point Pelee. Thanks!
Nice place to stay for a long weekend. Baby M looks so comfy in the trolley.
It was great to visit a couple days before the weekend as we had the trails (and campground) mostly all to ourselves. It got busier on the weekend, but it wasn’t too bad since it was still early in the season. Baby M was living her best life. She loved being outdoors and in her baby carrier. That’s one of the few ways I can get get her down for a proper nap.
The park looks beautiful as it wakes up for the spring but the star of the show is definitely your baby daughter looking so cute snuggled up in that wagon Linda!
Haha, thanks! She definitely attracted a lot of attention on the trails! I must say, she did very well on this trip. It must be all that fresh air!!
Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wonderful place, photos and your baby is so beautiful!
Love how cute you looks, so a adorable family, congratulations Linda and thank’s for share.
Seem it was a very special experiece and your baby looks so happy too.
Have a relaxing time, keep well.
Elvira
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It’s been quite the adjustment, especially when it comes to travelling, but it’s been great making all these memories with the newest member of our family. She’s been quite the trooper! Take care. Linda
Always a pleasure visit your blog, thank’s for share Linda. That’s sounds wonderful to share with her.
She is adorable! Keep well too. Elvira
Thanks! She definitely is a cutie!
What a great getaway Linda. Spring can be so yucky with all the drab colours and dead leaves, but you managed to find the beauty of the site plus get in some important family time. Love the shot of your little one being hauled in like the rest of the supplies. So cute and a good traveler by the looks of it. Have a great evening and Friday. Allan
It’s always a tradeoff between the unpredictable weather during the early spring or waiting a bit longer and having to deal with the bugs. I’d take the rain or snow and even some mud over the mosquitoes any day. But thankfully we didn’t get any rain and the trails were all in excellent condition. And yes, nothing but the best for our precious cargo! She’s been an excellent traveller so far. The issue now is actually trying to get her down for a nap without being in her baby carrier or stroller! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Linda
Love those sunsets but especially loved getting to see Baby M about to go on an adventure! Bernie
And she did so well! It must be all that fresh air!
I remember your other posts from Pelee, but I didn’t remember that it was the most southerly point in Canada. Looks like a great family weekend. Maggie
For such a small national park, there’s actually quite a bit to do here. The trails are all short and easy, which was kind of nice when we’re lugging baby M around in a baby carrier! We’re going to need to upgrade to one of those baby carrier backpacks soon!
Hi Canadians!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience at Point Pelee National Park! Your detailed account makes me feel like I was right there with you, exploring the beautiful trails and enjoying the unique wildlife. The oTENTik sounds like a perfect blend of comfort and adventure. I very much enjoy reading about your adventures. BabyM is lovely.
Best, Mike
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. The oTENTik is such a comfortable and convenient way to camp within the park without having to take as much stuff or worry about putting up and taking down a tent. Plus it is heated! Even though we’ve been to this park many times before, this visit was extra special as it was the first time coming here with baby M. And she did so well!
Thanks for an excellent site in the National Park. Anita
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. We had a wonderful weekend exploring Point Pelee. It also helped that we had such lovely weather for being outdoors.
Baby M looks confused in that wagon! 😆 It’s interesting to learn a bit of the history of this national park. It sounds like Parks Canada made the right decision to step in and purchase private properties. As a result, now this southernmost point of the Canadian mainland can be accessed by the public. It’s really nice to know that throughout your stay you were treated to such glorious sunny days and beautiful sunsets!
Hah! She’s such a trooper. I was honestly surprised at how well she handled the trip, including being in her baby carrier while we were hiking. It’s great that this area has been protected and restored back to its natural state given how important it is for migrating birds and monarch butterflies. The shoreline has been eroding though. I wonder whether Parks Canada will try to expand the park boundary. It’s a shame they didn’t acquire more land when they initially established this park as property prices have gone through the roof!
Great to see an action shot of baby M out and about with you. There’s some great variety to your adventure here with the various trails and homesteads. My favourite shots are from the beaches though, both of the moody sky and fabulous sunset.
She’s been such a good traveller so far and she did so well at Point Pelee. It helped that we had beautiful weather. It was way too early in the season for swimming, but we still enjoyed being at the beach.
You Canadians do have a knack for making the hiking experience more manageable with boardwalks and clever lodging arrangements. I was born right across Point Pelee, south of Lake Erie- Cleveland Ohio. By the way, thanks for liking my last blog.
Most national parks in Canada have oTENTiks. It’s such a comfortable way to camp without worrying about the weather or deal with the hassle of putting up a tent. They are becoming more popular though, so it can be challenging to book them. We actually visited Cleveland last summer for a few days and had a wonderful time. There was a lot more to do there than I expected. The Cleveland Museum of Art was exceptional. And I’m glad we managed to squeeze in a visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Awwww, hey Baby M!
Those are some great sunset photos, and the Marsh Boardwalk trail looks like one I would really enjoy!
She certainly puts up with a lot! She’s such a good baby. We really lucked out with the weather. It was quite mild outside, which was pleasant for hiking. And we got to enjoy some beautiful sunsets.
Beautiful and the baby is lovely დ
Thanks!! We couldn’t have asked for better weather to enjoy our time outdoors.
Beautiful pictures! But my favorite is Baby M in the wagon-so cute!!! 🙂
Thanks for your kind words. I’m surprised at how much Baby M puts up with! She did very well on this trip. It must have been all that fresh air!
I love that nothing gets in the way of your exploring and wandering around the world, not even a newborn! 😆
I love the photo of adorable baby M in your trolly. I just want to know what she must be thinking as she takes in all the sights around her.
Point Pelee looks so charming and love those boardwalk trails and lovely sunsets. Will be on our list to check out on of these days!
You bet!! It helped that she was largely sleeping through the night at that point. She’s been such a good traveller so far and has put up with a lot from us! I often wonder what she thinks. Point Pelee is very family friendly and is worth adding to the list of places to visit, especially if you can book one of the oTENTiks.
So lovely, and baby M will definitely be growing up surrounded by the outdoors and loving it – too cute in the trolly 🙂
She’s been loving the outdoors. She actually naps way better when we’re hiking and she’s in her baby carrier than she does at home in her bassinet!
Oh how sweet to see baby M! I love the boardwalks and sunsets, so pretty.
It’s been so much fun to already visit some of our favourite parks with her. She seems to really enjoy the outdoors. It’s always very satisfying to watch the sunset at the end of the day, especially by the water.
Oh! Some of those first photos are giving off horror-movie vibes! Glad everyone is OK and the baby thriving on the clean air! Linda 🙂
It’s funny because she naps so much better in her baby carrier while we’re hiking compared to when she’s at home in her bassinet. It must be all that fresh clean air (and the motion)! While we had to bring a lot more stuff with us because of the baby, it was nice to get a change of scenery and spend time outdoors. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. Cheers. Linda
Super welcome! Enjoy the adventure!
While your oTENTiks are basic, it really has everything you may need (I especially like that it’s heated – especially for those cold days). Lovely photo of your husband and the little one in the wagon – what an easy mode of transport over a rocky road! You have done some beautiful hikes through the forest and were rewarded with colourful sunsets at West Beach. Great photos!
You bet! The fact that it’s heated means we can visit during the off-season, which is what we prefer. In many ways it’s much easier to still hike while baby M is so small as she still sleeps a lot. Once she starts moving I think it’ll be a game changer.
What an incredible place to stay. Absolutely stunning! And I love the make-shift baby wagon – amazing!
Even though we’ve been to Point Pelee so many times and have hiked all the trails, the scenery never gets old. This was our first time visiting in the spring and it was neat to see some of the new growth starting to appear. The park provides wagons to help lug your stuff to your campsite. They were also very convenient to transport the baby so we didn’t have to take the stroller. Thanks for reading. Linda
Congrats. on your little baby! Too busy now to blog all of your most recent adventures in the U.S.
Happy travels in life with her now.
I recommended Point Peelee to a birding fan in Minnesota. There’s enough in Canada we don’t promote very well.
Thanks!! Travelling looks a bit different these days and we have waaaay more stuff to bring with us. But so far she’s gone along on all our adventures without much of a fight. If anything, she naps better in her baby carrier than at home in her bassinet. I totally agree about how there’s so many hidden gems in Canada. But in some ways it’s kind of nice that certain spots aren’t known about!
Hope you had a wonderful time in the US. We actually just back from Colorado a few weeks ago.
Those are such beautiful photos. In spring the sun sets at 8pm ? 🤔 Wow
The sun sets even later these days, typically at around 9pm. The flip side is that we don’t get as much daylight in the fall and winter.
These are such beautiful photos, Linda 🙂 Especially the ones with your baby, the colourful sunset and the wooden boardwalk. You know, many people are struggling to get out the door with a baby for daily errands and not even considering a road trip, camping, or flying any time soon. But taking a trip with a baby is actually not that hard. Plus, you’ll score some amazing memories, killer photos, and probably a few funny stories out of it.
I am glad to see that you have decided to instil a love of travel and learning in your child. Even if your baby won’t remember the adventures you took when they were little, they’ll know that exploring the world is important to you and that can shape their own interest in new experiences. You are an inspiration! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, and have a good day. Aiva xx
Thanks for your kind words. I couldn’t agree more about how taking a trip with a baby isn’t too hard – you just have to do a bit more planning and be prepared to take waaaay more stuff. We planned our hikes around her nap schedule, which worked really well. I’m so glad the weather was really nice!
You’re right, even though she won’t remember any of this stuff, I think it’s still good to have some variety and introduce her to new experiences. Plus I think it’s important for us to get a change of scenery as well! Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day as well. Cheers. Linda
🥰🥰🥰
Love the photo of dad and baby. And the sunset and beach photos tug at my heart. I can see the beginnings of green. It’s always late where I live, but so welcome when it comes.
Ha! The wagon came in handy! It sure beat having to carry her in her car seat whenever we needed to head to the car! There’s just always something so special about watching the sunset over the water. The colours were stunning. And it’s amazing how quickly the landscape transforms once new growth starts to emerge. It seems like it happens overnight sometimes.
Wonderful Post and some Great Photos. Looks like you all had quite an adventure. Thank you for sharing with us.
It was lunch o’clock 😋 😌 ☺️ I love that!!!! And your photo of the baby awww what an absolute cutie pie. She is going to be another great adventure loving traveler, like you. I love the songbirds. There is nothing better sometimes than listening to the birds. We have a lot of Blue Jay’s around this August and now, September. It’s interesting. I’m loving listening to them in the mornings. The areas you went here look absolutely incredible. This was such an enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing. This is definitely a place I’d love to check out.
Thanks! She did so well on this trip and absolutely loves being outside in nature. It was nice to visit early in the spring when the forest was starting to awaken with new growth and the birds were all chirping. We haven’t seen too many Blue Jays. They must like where you live if you’ve been seeing a lot of them. I’m such a fan of Point Pelee. We typically come here at least once a year. I’d highly recommend it. Probably not later in the spring or summer as you’d get eaten alive by the bugs as the area is a bit swampy. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of the week.
I will take your advice on that. The bugs are rough this summer ! I will Definitely have to check it out some time. We love to travel and going some pla e new is so exciting! Thanks! I hope you enjoy your weekend 😊
I was out watering my garden the other evening around dusk and nearly got eaten alive by mosquitoes. I was surprised considering it’s September. What is happening!?! But yes, Point Pelee is definitely worth checking out. I’d also recommend trying to book one of their oTENTiks to stay overnight. They’re quite comfortable and cozy. They have heating, electricity and come equipped with a BBQ outside along with pots, pans, dishes and cutlery.
That sounds amazing !!! The oTENTik, lol, not the mosquitos biting you. Man !!! I kniw they’re a force this year! I was playing volley ball with my brother and mom and getting bit in the face, while swimming. It’s crazy . I’m grateful fall weather is in our bear future. I will definitely have to check it out. I’ve always wanted to try an oTENTik, ever since I read about them on your blog
Many of our national parks in Canada have oTENTiks. We actually stayed in a few of them last month when we headed out east to Nova Scotia. It’s such a more convenient and comfortable way to camp. Thankfully the mosquitoes weren’t too bad there, but that could have been because of the heat. I’m so looking forward to the fall as well. It’s thankfully cooled down considerably and it’s not super humid anymore. Some of the leaves are already starting to change colour.
Aw that’s so awesome! I’m surprised how many of our leaves have started to turn, too
I sometimes wonder if hotter summers bring the colors earlier?
Oh I know! The heat definitely has something to do with the leaves changing colour earlier. That and the fact that it’s been so dry, which puts the trees under some stress. I love it when the leaves are changing colour, but I’m not looking forward to raking them all up in my yard once they fall.
I know what you mean!! I would love if the leaves to stay up longer to enjoy them. Just like blossoms in the spring, they lose their leaves so fast.
Oh I know! All the more reason to make more of an effort to enjoy them!
That’s right !!!
Lovely pictures and well detailed post. And those sunsets are gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. There’s just something special about watching the sunset over the water. And I love the final burst of colour when the sun finally sets over the horizon.
You’re welcome. I agree with you. It’s like a beautiful canvas being painted right before your eyes.
For sure. And nature really is the best artist.
Just a point of clarification. I don’t see the links to comment for several of your recent blogs
Thanks so much for letting me know. That’s really weird as I haven’t closed the comment section on any of my posts. I’ll have to take a closer look.